Legacy of Extreme Hydrometeorological Events on the sedimentation of small lakes in Dominican Republic

Abstract

In Dominican Republic, extreme hydrometeorological events (EHE) have increased in frequency and/or intensity affecting the structure and the functioning of dam lakes, by altering the sedimentation processes and the inputs of major and trace elements. Studies carried out in two reservoirs located near the higher mountainous zone (Cordillera Central), with identical lithology in the drainage basins and distinct climatic conditions (Tavera, at North, and Sabana Yegua, at South), tried to evaluate the influence of the climate and EHE in their sedimentation. These studies concluded that the multiple factors that generally affected sedimentation in lakes worldwide, are superimposed by the extreme climatic conditions that are annually registered which led to high rates of particles leaching from basins and a high hydrological and sedimentary dynamism.