Lessons from Yanacocha: assessing mining impacts on hydrological systems and water distribution in the Cajamarca region, Peru

ABSTRACT

A major concern of mining activities is their influence on hydrological systems. This article highlights impacts on water flows and distribution in the Mashcon catchment in Cajamarca, Peru, one of those most affected by the Yanacocha mining project. Some important concerns are identified regarding changes in water flows, lowering of water tables, and decrease of base flows. These considerations indicate deficiencies in distributing actual water uses in relation to the allocation of water rights. Finally, the article discusses challenges for regulation of mining, including democratic processes for water management that require clear accountability in the context of local social needs.

KEYWORDS:

• Mning
• water distribution
• water rights
• Yanacocha mine
• Cajamarca
• Peru

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to GRUFIDES, the Ecological and Economic Zoning (ZEE) project coordinators from the Gobierno Regional Cajamarca, Autoridad Local del Agua- Cajamarca, Junta de Usuarios de Riego de la Cuenca del Rio Mashcon, COMOCA, and Prof. Francisco Huamán of the Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca for valuable advice. We also thank Vijay Kolinjivadi, Kate Reilly, Carlos Cerdán and anonymous reviewers for their constructive review of previous drafts.

Notes

1. Additional water users relate to energy production and other industrial uses; however, they are not considered here, as they do not represent a significant value in terms of volume of water used or number of users.

2. Other small sources of water for SEDACAJ come from the Ronquillo River, which provides an additional flow of 0.060 m³/s. In the peripheral zone of the city water is provided by small aquifers.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge financial support from the National Secretary of Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (SENESCYT) of Ecuador.