Thread by @davidhelms570

1/ Who is operating the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (K-HPP)? What have K-HPP operator done that has caused the Kakhovka Reservoir to drop to 30 year low levels risking drinking water for millions and irrigation for 250 million hectares? A #NAFOWeather 🧵

2/ Kakhovka HPP is the 6th (and final) dam on the Dnipro River. The purpose of the dam is to provide water for irrigation, drinking, industry, shipping. K-HPP maintains Kakhovka Reservoir at 16m above MSL providing water for irrigation canals (e.g. NCC) & the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

3/ Who is operating the Kakhovka HPP?
Russians have occupied & operated the K-HPP since about March 1, 2022. Initially, the Ukrainian dam operator, @Ukrhydroenergo, provided technical assistance to Russian operators, but competent staff technical advise ceased after spring 2022.

4/ On 11 NOV 2022, Russian occupiers were forced to retreat from the Dnipro River right (west) bank. Russians had accused UAF of planning to blow up the K-HPP dam, but it was the Russians who set charges to destroy the road and rail deck to block UAF.

5/ The Kakhovka Reservoir water level has lowered over 2 meters since October 2022. What have the Russian HPP operators done to cause the water level to drop to 30 year lows?

6/ Some Kakhovka HPP geography:
2-Gantry Cranes: Manually lift/lower sluice gates to control reservoir water levels
28-Sluice Gates: Barriers that can be opened to reservoir discharge water
6 -Electric Turbines: Generate 357 MW (all became inoperable during Russian HPP operation)

7/ Russians destroyed the road and bridge decks on 11 NOV 2022 during their retreat from the right bank. @Maxar image shows road and rail deck destruction; blast may also have damaged sluice gates 1-3 which appear to be leaking water. Note gantry crane position left bank side.

8/ Does leaking water from Sluice Gates 1-3 explain the reservoir water drop? No.
The following tweets will show Russian operators intentionally lower the reservoir level by opening multiple sluice gates. Already on 13 NOV 2022, operators have moved Gantry Cranes & opened gates.

9/ Russian intentional discharge of K-HPP water:
5 NOV 2022, 10 NOV 2022, and 11 NOV 2022
By NOV 11 mid-day (12 hours after blast), @Maxar imagery shows damaged Sluice Gates 1-3 and Gantry Cranes far south-side (away from blast). All Sluice Gates are closed.

10/ Russian intentional discharge of K-HPP water:
Immediately after the November 11 blast, Russians have opened Sluice Gates nearest to their positions on the Dnipro River left bank (south side) closest to their positions.
Video: 13 NOV 2022
Sentinel 2: 15 NOV 2022

11/ Russian intentional discharge of K-HPP water: In January 2023, Russian operators opened additional Sluice Gates on the left bank side of the K-HPP allowing water to discharge more rapidly from Kakhovka Reservoir.

12/ Russian intentional discharge of K-HPP water: Table summarizes Gantry Cranes and Sluice Gate position/water discharge. The table shows Russian operated ACTIVELY worked to release water from Kakhovka Reservoir long after their retreat from the right bank on 11 NOV 2023.

13/ Anecdotes of Kakhovka Reservoir dramatic water level impact - Water Utility Advisory (1 FEB 2023)

14/ Anecdotes of Kakhovka Reservoir dramatic water level impact - Unusual sand bars and exposed beach (24 JAN 2023)

15/ Anecdotes of Kakhovka Reservoir dramatic water level impact - New sand bars and shoals near Kamianske Islands, north Kakhovka Reservoir (26 JAN 2023)

16/ Russians intentionally released 50% of Kakhovka Reservoir's useful storage volume, >3 cubic kilometers of water critical for irrigation, drinking water, & industry. This water release is consistent with Russian attacks on Ukrainian water & energy civilian infrastructure. /end

@threadreaderapp unroll

.@DefenceU @Ukrhydroenergo @energoatom_ua @pwebbr @iaeaorg @novakakhovka_ua @bayraktar_1love @ResponsibleSci @eugenesimonov2 @NFLAUKandI @BrianKuns @FrancisDearnley @tom_bike

Confirmation of lowering reservoir level by @iaeaorg
iaea.org/newscenter/pre…

Confirmation of lowering Kakhovka reservoir lowering by @iaeaorg
iaea.org/newscenter/pre…

@mattmbigg