Detailed map of the Ceyhan River Basin (Opens in new browser window)

This is seventh of up to 10 such case studies of dams in major river basins to be undertaken by the Commission in preparation of its June 2000 final report on the global experience in large-scale dams. These studies are a key element of the global, cross-sectoral research programme undertaken by the WCD as it charts the future course of water resource management in this new era of sustainable development. Each study will take six to eight months to complete and will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team supervised by the WCD.

"Given the time pressure we face in producing our report, we'd like to express our appreciation for the favorable response we received from the Government of Turkey to our request for cooperation," said the WCD Chair, Professor Kader Asmal, who is also South Africa's Minister of Education (formerly Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry). "Turkey is a country that has extensive dam-building history with over 600 dams, and many more under construction or planned. The Commission can learn a lot from this experience".

The Aslantas dam was conceived as part of a river basin development plan put forward in the mid nineteen-sixties following an extensive study managed by the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI) and an American company, IECO. Funding for the earthfilled dam, 78 metres high, was obtained in part through loans from the World Bank. The project aimed to promote irrigation of 97,000 ha of land, control damaging floods, and generate hydropower with an installed capacity of 138 MW.

The Aslantas dam is a medium sized dam that in many respects may be considered typical of the numerous, relatively uncontroversial, multi-purpose projects world-wide that provide services to rural and urban populations.

While governments and their agencies are among the key stakeholders to be consulted in the studies, "it must be reiterated that the Commission carries out its work independently," said Achim Steiner, WCD Secretary-General. The case studies will give ample attention, for example, to the views of non-governmental organizations involved in social and environmental aspects of river basin management; to small-scale as well as large-scale farmers; to hydrologists, engineers and utilities; and to people living both upstream and downstream of existing dams. To that end, interested parties involved in the Ceyhan basin are invited to contribute to this unique, consultative process.