Carrizal hydroelectric dam construction will not affect sábalo migration, ENDE claims

The planned Carrizal hydroelectric dam will not harm the migration or spawning of the sábalo fish, according to Pablo Mendoza, a biologist with the National Electricity Company (ENDE). Mendoza asserted that scientific evidence gathered by ichthyologists indicates the fish's bio-physical environment is located far below the dam's proposed site.

Mendoza, speaking in Tarija alongside ENDE projects director Juan Veimar Vásquez, aimed to clarify technical details of the large-scale project. He refuted claims by environmental groups that the dam would disrupt the sábalo's migration or affect the Pilcaya canyon. Mendoza characterized the Carrizal project as compatible with development and environmental respect.

To address lingering doubts, ENDE is scheduling a meeting in Villa Montes for August. This session will engage with civil institutions and indigenous peoples to discuss concerns. Mendoza highlighted key variables such as altitude, water temperature, river width, and depth, emphasizing that the dam's location is significantly upstream from the fish's critical biological cycle points. He noted that the sábalo faces greater challenges downstream, not upstream, from such projects.