LAND USE LAND COVER TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT ON RIVER DYNAMICS IN THE UPPER AMAZON

Hydroelectric power plants in the Upper Amazon are the leading renewable energy source. However, they can have negative impacts, such as altering fluvial systems dynamics. In Ecuador, the Coca Codo Sinclair Power Plant (CHCCS) constructed in 2016, covers 34% of country's energy demand. But since 2020, landslides have been reported near the Coca River. This study aims to assess land use land cover (LULC) below the CHCCS using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to identify current situation of fluvial dynamics around the Coca River. This project was developed in three stages: 1) Sentinel 2 satellite imagery processing, 2) LULC classification, 3) Analysis of classes associated to fluvial process. The results identified five areas most impacted by regressive erosion and one area affected by illegal mining. In addition, the use of water-associated spectral indices such as MNDWI and NDTI allowed the identification of turbidity variations in water bodies.