| Cerrón Grande Hydroelectric Dam | |
| Name Official: | Central Hidroeléctrica Cerrón Grande |
| Dam Crosses: | Lempa River |
| Res Name: | Embalse Cerrón Grande |
| Location: | Chalatenango (El Salvador) |
| Operator: | CEL |
| Dam Length: | 800 m |
| Dam Height: | 90 m |
| Opening: | 1976 |
| Res Capacity Total: | 2,180 million m³ |
| Res Surface: | 135 km² |
| Coordinates: | 13.9401°N -88.9004°W |
The Cerrón Grande Hydroelectric Dam (Spanish: Central Hidroeléctrica Cerrón Grande) spans the Lempa River 78km (48miles) north of San Salvador in the municipalities of Potonico, (Chalatenango) and Jutiapa (Cabañas) in El Salvador.
The concrete gravity dam has a height of 90m (300feet) and a length of 800m (2,600feet). The dam's reservoir has a surface area of 135km2 and a capacity of .[1]
The hydroelectric power plant was fitted with 2 x 67.5 MWe Francis turbines with a total capacity of 135 Mwe. Major maintenance work carried out between 2003 and 2007 included replacing the turbines with 2 x 85 MWe units with a total capacity of 170 MWe, which generate 488 GWh per year.
See main article: Cerrón Grande Reservoir.
The Cerrón Grande Reservoir (Spanish: Embalse Cerrón Grande), locally known as Lake Suchitlán, is the largest body of fresh water in El Salvador.[2] [3] In 2005, the reservoir and approximately 470km2 of adjacent area was listed as a "Wetland of International Importance" under the Ramsar Convention. The area provides a habitat for large numbers of waterbird, duck and fish species.[4] [5]
Because of the construction of the Cerron Grande Hydroelectric Dam, over 13,000 people were displaced with many cantons or townships, caserios or hamlets, churches, cemeteries, and over 20 significant archaeological sites being lost in the process including Canton El Tablon and Canton San Juan in Suchitoto, Cuscatlan.[6] [7] [8]