The Tahtalı Dam (Turkish: Tahtalı Barajı) is an earth-fill embankment dam located on the Tahtalı River in İzmir Province, Turkey. Situated approximately 40 kilometers (25 mi) south of the city of İzmir, near the village of Develi, its primary purpose is to supply drinking water to the metropolitan area of İzmir, one of Turkey's largest cities. It also contributes to irrigation, flood control, and has a minor hydroelectric power generation capacity.
History and Construction
Planning for the Tahtalı Dam began in the 1970s to address the growing water demands of İzmir. Construction commenced in 1987 and was completed in 1991. The dam was designed and built by the State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), the governmental agency responsible for water management in Turkey.
Technical Specifications
- Type: Earth-fill embankment dam with a clay core.
- Height: 50.8 meters (167 ft) from the riverbed.
- Crest Length: 470 meters (1,540 ft).
- Volume of Fill: Approximately 2,750,000 cubic meters (97,000,000 cu ft).
- River: Tahtalı River.
- Reservoir Capacity: 306,000,000 cubic meters (248,000 acre⋅ft) at normal water level.
- Reservoir Surface Area: Approximately 24 square kilometers (9.3 sq mi) at normal water level.
Purpose and Operation
The main function of the Tahtalı Dam is to provide a reliable source of potable water for the city of İzmir and its surrounding districts. It has an annual water supply capacity of approximately 180 million cubic meters. In addition to municipal water supply, the dam also supports limited irrigation in the lower Tahtalı River basin, helps regulate river flow to prevent flooding, and contributes a small amount of electricity to the national grid through its 1.3 MW hydroelectric power plant.
Environmental Considerations
The construction of the dam created a significant reservoir, which impacted local ecosystems but also provided new habitats for certain aquatic species. The dam's operation is managed to ensure sustainable water resources for the region, balancing urban consumption with environmental needs. The surrounding areas are subject to water protection zones to maintain the quality of the reservoir water.