Chagres River - Upper Chagres River To Madden Dam

Upper Chagres River To Madden Dam

The upper Chagres River, its watershed, and the watershed of several tributaries lie within the Chagres National Park, created in 1985 to preserve the flow of water into the canal. The terrain of the upper Chagres watershed is rugged, with its mountain slopes exceeding 45 degrees in 90 percent of its territory. Some 98 percent of the park consists of old-growth tropical forest.

The upper Chagres and its seven tributaries flow into Lake Alajuela, the reservoir created by the Madden Dam. As these rivers contribute 45 percent of the total water for the canal, the lake is an essential part of the watershed of the canal zone. The lake has a maximum level of 250 ft above sea level, and can store one third of the canal's annual water requirements for the operation of the locks. Unlike Gatun Lake, Lake Alajuela is not part of the navigational route, so there are fewer restrictions on its water level. Water from the reservoir is also used to generate hydroelectric power and to supply Panama City's fresh water.