Zalomka
Zalomka Zalomska River, Đerope, Kolješka River | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Municipality | Gacko, Nevesinje |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Brajićevići |
• coordinates | 43°13′54″N 18°29′14″E / 43.231768°N 18.487102°E |
Mouth | |
• location | estavelle in Biograd |
• coordinates | 43°10′57″N 18°07′30″E / 43.182488°N 18.125078°E |
Discharge | |
• location | estavelle in Biograd, Nevesinje |
• average | 110 m3/s (3,900 cu ft/s) |
Basin features | |
River system | Neretva-Trebišnjica |
Landmarks | Ovčiji Brod bridge |
Tributaries | |
• left | Batuša, Markov Creek, Novaci, Jamnik, Sopiljski Creek a.k.a. "Babova pit", Zovidol River, Bukovik, Vučine |
Waterbodies | Alagovac Lake |
Bridges | Ovčiji Brod bridge |
The Zalomka (
Geography
The Zalomka is a karstic
The Zalomka's major tributaries are the Batuša, Markov Creek, Novaci, Jamnik, Sopiljski Creek a.k.a. "Babova Jama" (Jama=pit), Zovidol River, Bukovik, Vučine.[3]
The Zalomka River basin, particularly as part of the Nevesinjsko Polje, is a tectonic depression that is bounded by mountain ranges of different heights and highlands. The southern reaches of the
Hydrology
Throughout its course the Zalomka empties certain part of its waters into numerous
The Zalomka retain its waters for roughly 200 days per year. During the dry season, Zalomka dries up significantly on most of its course, leaving fish-rich pools also suitable for swimming. During late winter and most of the spring, water level gets significantly higher.[3]
Upper Horizons Hydroelectric Power Stations System
Regardless of high ecological value and even higher vulnerability, the plans of harnessing
The basic concept of the HES "Upper Horizons" project consists of diversion of most of the waters from Gatačko Polje into the Zalomka River. Then, a dam will be constructed on the river in Nevesinjsko Polje at Pošćenje, just three kilometers upstream of the main estavelle (sinkhole) in Biograd. A part of the Nevesinjsko Polje will end up submerged, but most importantly the Biograd sinkhole will be left dry. Part of water from this reservoir should be used for planned HPP Nevesinje, and part should be diverted through a planned tunnel to existing spring of Vrijeka in Dabarsko Polje, where another power plant, HPP Dabar, will be constructed. From the Dabarsko Polje, these waters would go through another tunnel to Fatničko Polje and then channeled through the polje to the tunnel that will finally divert these waters to Bileća and existing Bilećko Lake on the Trebišnjica river.
HPP Dabar and HPP Nevesinje are practically the principal facilities of the HES "Upper Horizons" project, however, it is planned that construction of HPP Bileća would follow, as well as an upgrade of the existing facilities on Trebišnjica River, since diversion would maximize and stabilize annual discharge of the river, namely HPP Trebinje 1, HPP Trebinje 2, and HPP Dubrovnik 1 in Plat near Cavtat in Croatia, with construction of yet another power plant, HPP Dubrovnik 2, on Ombla deep within its wellspring cave. This attempt was criticized already by Dubrovnik region community, with several NGO's leading the way – their main argument is too high of a cost, if ecological value and high biodiversity of the Ombla's wellspring cave system is going to be destroyed in exchange for some additional electricity produced.
Hydropower projects and threats of karst-environmental degradation
In addition to the usual multiple negative effects of hydro-technical and hydro-engineering projects undertaken in karst, where karst-environmental degradation has occurred as a result, with the main concern being destruction of underground ecosystems by drying or submerging, and the destruction of the highly endemic biodiversity, HES Upper Horizons will take from the Neretva direct flow cca 15 m3/s (530 cu ft/s) through tributaries the Buna, the Bunica and the Bregava (that's average discharge of Bregava River alone). This will affect the Lower Neretva, where eventual destruction of the ecosystem has become an obvious threat to the lives of people.[3]
The main argument in environmental circle is that concept of HES "Upper Horizons" and decision on its feasibility is based on researches and opinions made more than seventy years ago.(Kraška polja... 1967).[3][5]
See also
References
- ^ "Gatačko Polje - Devon Karst". devonkarst.org.uk. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- ^ "GATAČKO POLJE - The Karstography of the DINARIC KARST IN BiH". The Devon Karst Research Society. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Dragan Marijanović (30 November 2014). "Priče iz Hercegovine: Kad zavičaj postaje roba". Kamenjar (in Croatian). from Oslobođenje. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ ISSN 0350-0519. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ Zavod za vodoprivredu d.d. Sarajevo -Broj ugovora 03-21-185-3/11 149 -STUDIJA UTICAJA NA ŽIVOTNU SREDINU I DOKAZA ZA IZDAVANJE EKOLOŠKE DOZVOLE ZA HIDROENERGETSKO POSTROJENJE DABAR