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Changes in the Motatan river delta related to human influence. Northwest of Venezuela-Trujillo State

Abstract:

The Motatán river flows into the southeast coast of the Maracaibo Lake, Northwest of Venezuela, Trujillo state; together with other rivers it has constructed a Holocene delta that modifies the coastal line. In the last 50 years, revival of the sedimentation is observed in the mouth of the Motatán, which caused the formation of a new deltaic lobe. In this work, the geomorphologic evolution of this lobe in the 1967-1996 period was analyzed. The methodology consisted of the bibliographical review, cartographic analysis and aerial photographic of missions of 1967, 1977, 1988 and 1996. The results indicate that the deltaic lobe showed an accelerated growth in the first 10 years, to subsequently diminish to negative rates, likewise, changes in the length and direction of the main distributary channel river were observed. The reason seems to be related to human influence: the canalization of the river at the final part and a damming 50 Km up-stream from the mouth.