Magat water elevation in critical level - NIA

By Charlie Lagasca

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Days of intermittent rainfall has again brought the water elevation of the Magat Dam along the Ifugao-Isabela border within the critical level, the National Irrigation Administration said Thursday. 

According to NIA engineer Saturnino Tenedor, the water level at Magat Dam as of 1 p.m. Wednesday was 192.67 meters, well within the critical level of 190 meters.

Tenedor said they have released water from the dam’s reservoir to prevent the dam from reaching its spilling level of 193 meters, which could pose threats of floods along the dam’s downstream areas. 

The dam was releasing water at a rate of 241 cubic meters per second, almost double the water inflow of 125 cubic meters per second. 

The dam provides irrigation to at least 80,000 hectares of farmlands in Isabela and parts of Quirino and Cagayan.

It also generates 380 megawatts of electricity, being the second largest hydroelectric power contributor among dams to the Luzon grid.