Erosion on the Rio Coca and its tributary, the Rio Loco (foreground), after a waterfall collapse, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
USGS Continues Support to Ecuador on Catastrophic River Erosion Hazard
By International Programs
February 8, 2024
USGS scientists Dr. Amy East and Molly Wood traveled for the second time to Ecuador in January 2024 to advise the Ecuadorian government on a river erosion natural disaster and on sediment monitoring to support maintenance and sustainability of Ecuador’s largest hydropower facility.
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USGS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and other federal agencies are working with Ecuadorian government officials from the Electric Corporation of Ecuador (CELEC) on strategies for managing sediment and erosion in the Río Coca basin after the 2020 collapse of the 144-meter-tall San Rafael waterfall.
The river valley has been eroding catastrophically upstream of the waterfall collapse, causing landslides and infrastructure damage. The erosion is rapidly migrating upstream and threatening approximately $3 billion of Ecuadorian infrastructure, including the Coca Codo Sinclair (CCS) hydropower facility. A new journal article, Major fluvial erosion and a 500-Mt sediment pulse triggered by lava-dam failure, Río Coca, Ecuador, documents this historic event.
During the January visit, USGS scientists observed substantial river channel shifts and upstream migration of the erosion front since April 2023. The erosion front is now about 7 kilometers downstream of the intake to the CCS hydropower facility. USGS and USACE scientists also visited and assessed the extent of sediment migration to the lower reaches of the Río Coca, downstream of the waterfall collapse. In addition to effects of the 2020 waterfall collapse, the same hydropower facilities are threatened by reservoir sediment accumulation upstream of the CCS intake.
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USACE and USGS scientists briefed new leadership of CELEC, Paúl Urgilés (CELEC General Manager) and Raúl Lopez (CELEC Río Coca Commission Director), as well as U.S. Embassy staff in Ecuador, regarding U.S. agency support to Ecuador in responding to the hazards. CELEC leadership expressed support for continued U.S. government assistance and for a USGS proposal to implement a watershed monitoring plan for sediment and streamflow. These data are needed by CELEC for sustainability assessments of infrastructure and implementation of sediment- and erosion-management strategies.
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Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Related Content
Assessing River Erosion and Sedimentation in Ecuador
In cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USGS is helping Ecuadorian government officials from the Electric Corporation of Ecuador (CELEC) develop strategies for managing sediment and erosion in the Río Coca basin after the 2020 collapse of the 144-meter-tall San Rafael waterfall.
Landscape Response to Disturbance
This project characterizes and measures sediment-related effects of landscape disturbances (such as major storms, drought, or wildfire) and river management. We focus primarily on the U.S. west coast, and our work relates to natural hazards and resource management.
Confluence of Rio Loco and Rio Coca near El Chaco, Ecuador Jan 2024
Erosion on the Rio Coca and its tributary, the Rio Loco (foreground), after a waterfall collapse, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Molly Wood at a viewpoint on the Rio Coca, Ecuador, where substantial erosion and landslides have occurred
linkMolly Wood at a viewpoint on the Rio Coca, Ecuador, where substantial erosion and landslides have occurred.
Molly Wood at a viewpoint on the Rio Coca, Ecuador, where substantial erosion and landslides have occurred
linkMolly Wood at a viewpoint on the Rio Coca, Ecuador, where substantial erosion and landslides have occurred.
Sediment deposits at the discharge outlet of a hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador.
Sediment deposits at the discharge outlet of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Sediment deposits at the discharge outlet of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Sediment and flow monitoring station on the Rio Quijos, Rio Coca watershed, Ecuador
Sediment and flow monitoring station on the Rio Quijos, Rio Coca watershed, Ecuador. Rio Quijos joins Rio Salado to form Rio Coca upstream of a hydropower facility. The station is jointly operated by the Ecuador National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Electric Corporation of Ecuador (CELEC). (Molly Wood, USGS)
Sediment and flow monitoring station on the Rio Quijos, Rio Coca watershed, Ecuador. Rio Quijos joins Rio Salado to form Rio Coca upstream of a hydropower facility. The station is jointly operated by the Ecuador National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Electric Corporation of Ecuador (CELEC). (Molly Wood, USGS)
Rapid erosion of hillsides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador after collapse of a lava dam.
Rapid erosion of hillsides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador after collapse of a lava dam, April, 2023. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Rapid erosion of hillsides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador after collapse of a lava dam, April, 2023. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Streambank erosion on the Rio Coca after a waterfall collapse, Ecuador.
Streambank erosion on the Rio Coca after a waterfall collapse, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Streambank erosion on the Rio Coca after a waterfall collapse, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Regressive erosion on the Rio Coca upstream of the former San Rafael waterfall site, Ecuador
Regressive erosion on the Rio Coca upstream of the former San Rafael waterfall site, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Regressive erosion on the Rio Coca upstream of the former San Rafael waterfall site, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Upstream diversion dam at Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador
Upstream diversion dam at Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Upstream diversion dam at Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Erosion and landslides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador
Erosion and landslides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador, February 9, 2023. (Amy East, USGS).
Erosion and landslides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador, February 9, 2023. (Amy East, USGS).
Related Content
Assessing River Erosion and Sedimentation in Ecuador
In cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USGS is helping Ecuadorian government officials from the Electric Corporation of Ecuador (CELEC) develop strategies for managing sediment and erosion in the Río Coca basin after the 2020 collapse of the 144-meter-tall San Rafael waterfall.
Landscape Response to Disturbance
This project characterizes and measures sediment-related effects of landscape disturbances (such as major storms, drought, or wildfire) and river management. We focus primarily on the U.S. west coast, and our work relates to natural hazards and resource management.
Confluence of Rio Loco and Rio Coca near El Chaco, Ecuador Jan 2024
Erosion on the Rio Coca and its tributary, the Rio Loco (foreground), after a waterfall collapse, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Erosion on the Rio Coca and its tributary, the Rio Loco (foreground), after a waterfall collapse, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Molly Wood at a viewpoint on the Rio Coca, Ecuador, where substantial erosion and landslides have occurred
linkMolly Wood at a viewpoint on the Rio Coca, Ecuador, where substantial erosion and landslides have occurred.
Molly Wood at a viewpoint on the Rio Coca, Ecuador, where substantial erosion and landslides have occurred
linkMolly Wood at a viewpoint on the Rio Coca, Ecuador, where substantial erosion and landslides have occurred.
Sediment deposits at the discharge outlet of a hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador.
Sediment deposits at the discharge outlet of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Sediment deposits at the discharge outlet of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Sediment and flow monitoring station on the Rio Quijos, Rio Coca watershed, Ecuador
Sediment and flow monitoring station on the Rio Quijos, Rio Coca watershed, Ecuador. Rio Quijos joins Rio Salado to form Rio Coca upstream of a hydropower facility. The station is jointly operated by the Ecuador National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Electric Corporation of Ecuador (CELEC). (Molly Wood, USGS)
Sediment and flow monitoring station on the Rio Quijos, Rio Coca watershed, Ecuador. Rio Quijos joins Rio Salado to form Rio Coca upstream of a hydropower facility. The station is jointly operated by the Ecuador National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Electric Corporation of Ecuador (CELEC). (Molly Wood, USGS)
Rapid erosion of hillsides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador after collapse of a lava dam.
Rapid erosion of hillsides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador after collapse of a lava dam, April, 2023. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Rapid erosion of hillsides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador after collapse of a lava dam, April, 2023. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Streambank erosion on the Rio Coca after a waterfall collapse, Ecuador.
Streambank erosion on the Rio Coca after a waterfall collapse, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Streambank erosion on the Rio Coca after a waterfall collapse, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Regressive erosion on the Rio Coca upstream of the former San Rafael waterfall site, Ecuador
Regressive erosion on the Rio Coca upstream of the former San Rafael waterfall site, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Regressive erosion on the Rio Coca upstream of the former San Rafael waterfall site, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Upstream diversion dam at Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador
Upstream diversion dam at Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Upstream diversion dam at Coca Codo Sinclair hydropower facility on the Rio Coca, Ecuador. (Molly Wood, USGS)
Erosion and landslides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador
Erosion and landslides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador, February 9, 2023. (Amy East, USGS).
Erosion and landslides along the Rio Coca in Ecuador, February 9, 2023. (Amy East, USGS).
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