Level change and anthropogenic effects in Keban Dam Lake

Keban Dam Lake; It is located in the Upper Euphrates Section of the Eastern Anatolia Region. The lake emerged with the establishment of the Keban Dam between 1965-1975 in order to generate hydroelectric energy on the Euphrates River. Elazığ province is located in the south and east of the dam lake, Tunceli and Erzincan provinces in the north and Malatya province in the west. It is the largest artificial lake in Turkey after Atatürk Dam Lake. One of Turkey's first giant investments in terms of energy, Keban Dam alone met 20% of the electricity produced in Turkey when it was established. In addition to electricity generation in Keban Dam Lake; The people living in that region also carry on fishing and agricultural activities. In addition, there is a ferry to the Çemişgezek and Pertek districts of Tunceli over the lake. Due to the global climate change, the effect of which has been felt more in the world and in our country in recent years, water resources, which are of great importance for the continuity of life, are increasingly at risk and disappear. Keban Dam Lake, which is the study area, was also affected by this situation. Keban Dam Lake, which is valuable for our country and contributes to the country's economy in many ways, is experiencing changes in its level due to both natural and human factors. In order to reveal the level changes experienced and to minimize the problems that will occur in the future, the spatial change that occurred in the Keban Dam Lake between 1985 and 2020 was determined by LANDSAT satellite images. The results obtained are interpreted in scientific and geographical methods and explained with graphics and maps. In addition to natural factors, anthropogenic factors were also effective on the areal level change of the dam lake. When we look at the results of the analysis made to determine the spatial change of Keban Dam Lake between 1985 and 2020; While the year with the highest area in 1985-2020 was 1987, the year with the lowest area was 2001. In 20.06.1987 (maximum level), the level of the lake was 845 m and the area it covered was 66,936.1 Ha; In 06.03.2001 (minimum level), the level of the lake is 823 m and the area it covers is 42,096.8 Ha. The elevation difference between the maximum (1987) and the minimum (2001) level is 22 m, which corresponds to approximately 24.839.3 Ha. Around Elazig Uluova, which is one of the areas where the spatial change difference is most clearly seen, a difference of 6 km has emerged. The fact that the spatial change difference is so large brings risks with it. For example; In addition to experiencing problems in energy production, it poses a danger to the local people who make their living from fishing and agriculture. According to the monthly spatial change analysis results of the Dam Lake in some years (1992-2001), while the level rises in the months when the precipitation increases and the snow melts, there is a decrease in the level in the dry months when the precipitation decreases. For many years (1985-2020), Keban Dam Lake does not have a regular course in the level. In some years, there is an increase in the level, while in some years there is a decrease. Climate and anthropogenic factors (dams and agricultural irrigation) have a great impact on the change in the lake level so much. In years when precipitation, which is the source of water, increases, increases are observed in the dam level in months, while decreases in dam level are observed in dry years and months when precipitation decreases. When the level analysis and total precipitations are considered together and compared, it has been revealed that there is a direct proportionality between the areal change and precipitation. However, in some years, despite the increase in precipitation, there is a decrease in the level. Here, however, anthropogenic effects come into play. The beginning of water collection in the dams built on the Euphrates River to serve various purposes causes a decrease in the level of the lake despite the high rainfall in that year (eg, 2014). In addition, the unconscious use of water as a result of agriculture by people on the lake shore and the wastes used on the lake shore or when the level is drawn are anthropogenic factors that both affect the level and cause pollution of the water. In the Keban Dam Lake, which has a great value for our country, the need for water, especially fresh water, will increase gradually in the coming years, so that the investments made are not wasted, in short, in order not to be exposed to great material and moral damages and losses, people should be more conscious by taking precautions in a short time.