Environmental aspects of proposed engineering solution for inter-basin transfer in east herzegovina

Abstract

East Herzegovina (in Bosnia and Herzegovina) is characterized by considerable water resources, whose main feature is abundant precipitation from October to May. As a result, the karst poljes of East Herzegovina experience significant and protracted floods during this period, while the water budget in the summer months exhibits a recharge deficit and streams often dry out. This renders the karst poljes, which are the largest arable lands in the area, virtually useless during most of the year. To address this issue, the idea was born to build multi-purpose systems-the Trebisnjica Hydropower Scheme in the so-called Lower Horizons and Upper Horizons, the ultimate and primary goal being the management of water resources in the area. The scheme, which encompasses hydraulic structures, surface reservoirs, hydroelectric power plants, irrigation systems and drinking water supply facilities, was largely completed in the 1970s. The remaining project in Upper Horizons, which includes the transfer of water from the Neretva River Basin to the Trebisnjica River Basin, is still under evaluation. The hydraulic model and preliminary environmental impact assessment indicate that there will be no significant adverse impacts.