Al Wahda Dam (Morocco)

Al Wahda Dam, formerly known as M'Jaara Dam, is an embankment dam on the Ouergha River near M´Jaara in Ouezzane Province, Morocco. It was constructed for flood control, irrigation, water supply and hydroelectric power production. It is the second largest dam in Africa and the largest in Morocco. It was described by Land Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ) as "the second most important dam in Africa after the High Aswan dam."

Background
In 1988, the Board of Water and Climate considered the dam and eventually it was recommended for development. Construction began in 1991, the dam began to create its reservoir in 1996 and was inaugurated on March 20, 1997, by King Hassan II. A total of 14000000 m3 of material were excavated during construction.

Specifications
The dam is an earthen embankment type made of 28000000 m3 of material and 720000 m3 of concrete. It is 88 m tall at its highest point and the main portion of the dam is 1600 m long. Directly to the north and adjacent to the spillway is a saddle dam that is 1000 m long and 30 m high. The dam's spillway, in its center is controlled by six floodgates and has a discharge capacity in excess of 13000 m3/s.

Power plant
The power plant, at the dam's toe and adjacent to the spillway is supplied with water via a 10.8 m diameter and 247 m long pipe which in turn transfers the water into three penstocks. Each of which is 5.7 m in diameter 60 m in length. This scheme provides 62 m of hydraulic head and up to 450 m3/s to the Francis turbines. Each turbine powers an 80 MW generator for a total installed capacity of 240 MW.

Impacts
The dam has had a positive impact downstream by supplying water for drinking and irrigation. In addition, it has helped reduce floods in the Gharb region along the Ouergha and Sebou Rivers by 90%. It provides water for the potential irrigation of over 110000 ha. Electricity produced by the dam's hydroelectric power station also alleviates the burning of 140000 MT of fossil fuels a year along with serving peak energy demand. The dam's reservoir though has a high rate of siltation and it is estimated to lose 60 e6m3 of storage each year. The silt trapped in the reservoir also doesn't reach the coastal estuary which increases erosion along the coast.