Chile’s current Minister of Energy is finalizing a Watershed Mapping Study to prioritize hydro development in conflict watersheds. If implemented as policy, the study would facilitate construction of several large dams in the Yelcho Watershed, as well as dams in at least six other major watersheds. In the Yelcho watershed, the company which owns the water rights and would benefit from the policy is Endesa, the same company which dammed the Bio Bio River and was a partner in the HidroAysen project which was defeated in 2014. If the Minister of Energy is allowed to implement the study as national policy, it will make it easier for Endesa to gain approval for building dams in the Yelcho watershed, particularly along the Futaleufu River. The study has produced significant conflict in the Comuna of Futaleufu, which rejects national efforts to sacrifice its rivers for hydropower. |
This Study is threatening at least seven major watersheds with hydro development. If it is allowed to become national Energy policy, it will generate significant conflict in these "sacrifice watersheds"
| Name of conflict: | Yelcho Watershed targeted by Ministry of Energy’s hydro plans, Chile |
| Country: | Chile |
| State or province: | Provincia de Palena, Region de Los Lagos |
| Location of conflict: | Comunas of Futaleufu, Palena and Chaiten |
| Accuracy of location | MEDIUM (Regional level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Water Management |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Water access rights and entitlements Transport infrastructure networks (roads, railways, hydroways, canals and pipelines) Land acquisition conflicts Interbasin water transfers/transboundary water conflicts Dams and water distribution conflicts |
| Specific commodities: | Land Electricity Water |
| Project details | Three major waterways in the Yelcho watershed are at risk of being diverted if this study is implemented as policy, as well as rivers in at least six other major watersheds in Chile. While the final results of the study have yet to be released, the most recent hydro project announced in the watershed by Italian-Spanish conglomerate ENEL-Endesa consisted of three large dams totaling 1,390 MW of energy. |
| Project area: | 1,098 |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | Unknown |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Start of the conflict: | 11/03/2014 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Endesa (Endesa) from Italy - Private actor which controls water rights in the watershed and needs national energy policy to favor construction of large dams. ENEL Group (Enel) from Italy |
| Relevant government actors: | Ministry of Energy; Ministry of the Environment |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Patagonian Defense Council; Futaleufu Riverkeeper; Ecosistemas; Kayak Stewards Alliance; Fundacion Terram; Futaleufu Mountainfilm; Patagonia Inc. |
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers International ejos Local ejos Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Pastoralists Social movements Women Recreational users Local scientists/professionals Religious groups Fisher people |
| Forms of mobilization: | Artistic and creative actions (eg guerilla theatre, murals) Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Development of alternative proposals Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Referendum other local consultations Shareholder/financial activism. Street protest/marches Arguments for the rights of mother nature Appeals/recourse to economic valuation of the environment Enlistment of filmmakers and celebrities to champion the cause of local communities. |
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Desertification/Drought, Floods (river, coastal, mudflow), Global warming, Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Noise pollution, Soil contamination, Soil erosion, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity, Other Environmental impacts |
| Other Environmental impacts | Degradation of biological diversity and habitat for endangered species; Impacts to marine ecosystems which depend on nutrient deposits |
| Health Impacts | Potential: Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Violence related health impacts (homicides, rape, etc..), Health problems related to alcoholism, prostitution, Occupational disease and accidents, Infectious diseases |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Other socio-economic impacts Potential: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Militarization and increased police presence, Social problems (alcoholism, prostitution, etc..), Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
| Other socio-economic impacts | Destruction of major tourism destination |
| Project Status | Proposed (exploration phase) |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Under negotiation |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Proposals for Chile to move towards 100% renewable energies with no new hydro, submitted by the Mesa Ciudadana del Cambio Climatico (Chile), a coalition of over 20 NGOs; Proposals for Chile to establish Wild & Scenic Rivers Designation and permanently protect key waterways in at-risk watersheds, being developed by International Rivers (global) and several local Chilean NGOs and attorneys. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | The Watershed Mapping Study is being finalized and will be presented in September 2016. While the methodologies used in the study has created some conflict in the seven watersheds being prioritized for hydro development, the full outcome of the study will only be seen if it is allowed to become national energy policy. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Other comments: | This is a local, regional, national and global conflict. Several watersheds in Chile are threatened by the same Watershed Mapping Study. These are rivers that deserve protected status, and it is expected that conflicts in Chile surrounding water rights will continue indefinitely until the country establishes new wild & scenic rivers legislation. Please review the map for information on the other watersheds at risk should the study become energy policy. |
| Contributor: | Director, Futaleufu Riverkeeper, [email protected] |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 2305 |