Send an Email to the Government of Panama
La carta en Español

To the government of Panama,

I am writing on behalf of ocean-lovers all over the world in the hope that you will listen to suggestions regarding the Hydroelectric Dam Project under construction on the River Teta, Panama, which is being constructed by “Hidroelectrica San Carlos.” We believe that the ecological damage that this project will create does not justify the meager power that will be generated by the dam. The reduced flow in the Rio Teta will have many devastating long-term consequences on the environment and tourism in this region. Damming the river will drastically reduce the amount of sand and silt coming out of the river. This could lead to coastal erosion along much of the coast, which could rob the beaches of sand, ruin the surfing waves, and have a negative impact on the local tourism economy.

Damming the river will also have detrimental affects on a vibrant riparian ecosystem that relies on the natural flow of the Rio Teta. The dam could turn this ecosystem into nothing but a drainage ditch. Besides the sand, the sediment is rich in nutrients that fertilize and feed the whole ecosystem from the hills to the ocean. Saltwater intrusion into the estuary could affect wells in the area of the river and surrounding coast, which would create a fresh water shortage in the area. Forests will be affected by this intrusion causing a man-made desert effect. The estuary is the breeding ground of many species of fish and other sea creatures that will no doubt be severely impacted.

These are just a few of the many problems attached to the hydroelectric Project in San Carlos, which will ironically only generate enough energy to support a few seaside villas around the mouth of the river that the project threatens to destroy.

There are alternatives methods to create energy for this region, such as run-off-the-river schemes, during the rainy season, combined with wind mill generators, during the dry season, if the true purpose is power generation instead of commercial land development and the sale of water.

We urge you to consider alternatives for the San Carlos hydroelectric Dam Project. The ecological stability and the future of the tourism industry of the San Carlos region depends on the natural and regular flow of the Rio Teta.

Signed,

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