Page - 522 - in Book of Full Papers - Symposium Hydro Engineering

yet, it is crucial to assess variations of discharge in this basin, under climate change condition and its impact on hydropower generation. Therefore, this research investigates the changes in hydropower generation in two major hydropower plants in the Dez basin. This assessment provides useful information to modify water resources management strategies with regards to the climate change impact on surface water resources in the Dez Basin. 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1. STUDY AREA The Dez Basin is located in the Southwest of Iran (31°35′51″ – 34°7′46″ N and 48°9′15″ – 50°18′37″ E) and is the upstream catchment of the great Karun catchment. The basin is comprised of four sub-basins namely Tireh, Marbereh, Sazar and Bakhtiari. The latter is where the Bakhtiari dam is being constructed that its major purpose is to generate electricity. The catchment is located within a mountainous region which provides appropriate head needed for hydro-electric generation. Dez dam is located in the downstream of Bakhtiari and receives two rivers of Sazar and Bakhtiari those join at Tange Panj station which is located just before the lake of Dez Dam. The storage of this reservoir provides water for domestic, agricultural and industrial sectors and also is used to generate electricity. Fig. 1 Study area of the Dez Basin and location of rain gauges, hydrometric and temperature gauging stations 522