Investigation of the impacts of the Sadak Dam (Upper Kelkit River Basin) on the geographical features of the dam basin

It is thought that the dams have an impact on the geographical features of the basins where they are built. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Sadak Dam, located in Gümüşhane province and built on upper Kelkit stream, on the geographical features of the dam basins. In this regard, the physical and human characteristics of the dam before and after the dam construction were examined in the study area and the effect of the dam on the basin was investigated. Climate data (temperature, precipitation) of the basin were obtained from Kelkit, Gümüşhane and Erzincan meteorological stations. Temperature and precipitation charts for 1989-2019 have been established. In addition, the land cover maps of 2012 and 2018 were produced using the Corine land cover classification system. Landsat 7 satellite images of 100 meter resolution were used in the maps. Maps were created with Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques. In the GIS program, spatial analysis was performed with the Hydrology tool, and the streams belonging to the Strahler method of the basin were determined. Slope, aspect and elevation maps were produced using the 3D Analyst module. As a result of these studies, the basin properties before and after the dam were evaluated. After the construction of Sadak Dam, it was observed that the temperature values of the basin increased and the rates of the land cover types changed. After the dam, some agricultural areas were flooded and the amount of water in the basin increased. It has also been determined that Sadak Dam has not yet affected the human characteristics of the basin.