Field trip to Albania

29.08.2014

On our last day of this trip we entered the Devoll valley from upstream and our first stop was at Lozhan. At Lozhan, suspended load probes are taken in addition to the water level and the discharge. Below you can see the house where the data logger for the water level is stored.

Below you can see the access bridge for people going to the logger ……

… and leaving the place again.

On our continuous way down the valley we stopped twice for taking pictures and looking at the sediment laden slopes………

There was also an information table on how the access road along the valley pass Moglicë out to Gramsh is described.

Finally we reached the “dirty river” and its “mouth” leading down to the Devoll river.

We turned around and went back up the Devoll vally to reach the main road over the mountains down to Elbasan.

There we stopped for a coffee before continuing to Tirana where the trip ended. Thanks to Statkraft and to Devoll Hydropower Project.

 

 

 

 

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28.08.2014

The first half of today we went up the valley of Tomorrice River. Tomorrice River joins Devoll river just upstream of Gramsh. It is assumed that Tomorrice river carries more bed load then Devoll river. Below you can the river which crosses Tomorrice river just upstream the confluence. Here the team takes discharge and suspended sediment measurements.

On the way up the valley we saw a couple of severe eroded slopes

Also some vegetation in the river which protects the surface from eroding. Above a layer of coarser gravels you see a layer with fine material which deposited after a flood. On the layer, bushes and scrubs began to grow  to make the top layer very stable.

On our way into the valley we made it up to the feet of Tomorrice mountain, which you can see on the picture below in the background. In the front the to 4×4 of Devoll Hydropower Project.

And here you can see the view down in the river valley at that spot.

After a perfect lunch at Gramsh we left the valley of Devoll river towards Elbasan to turn east, all the way around the Devoll canyon to reach Korcë in the evening, where we spent the night.

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27.08.2014

Today we wanted to drive upstream along the Devoll river to identify a site for the dual frequency aDcp device. As soon as we reached Kokel bridge, I knew we found our spot.

At Kokel bridge there is already a gauging station sending the water level, air and water temperature hourly to the headquarters in Gramsh.

This is the Kokel bridge looking downstream Devoll river. On the left, below the bridge, you can see a concrete slab, where the aDcp is planned to be installed.

Everybody is happy that we found a suitable site for the aDcp device.

Hanne is looking for fine sediments.

Below you see the river upstream Kokel bridge. Just upstream the bend there is the dam site of the potential Kokel dam.

On our way home we got a beautiful view downstream on the valley of Devoll river.

Below you can see Agim, the hydrologist in the team of Pål Høberg, who was so kind to show us the different catchments of Devoll hydropower project.

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26.08.2014

We landed safely in Tirana and spent the night at Rogner Hotel. Next morning we got on a bus of Devoll Hydropower project and went to the construction site of Banja dam. We got an introduction to the HPP with lots of detailes presented by Bård Aspen.

We then got an overview of the site from the hills on the opposite side

Behind Bård you can see the bottom outlet where the river Devoll drainages to the downstream part.

We then drove up on the site itself and saw first the spillway which was under construction.

 

We also saw the grouting area of the asphalt core area……

the surge shaft of one of the turbines

and the bottom inlet tower.

We also saw the intake structure which will most likely be changed.

 

We then drove up the valley to Gramsh and on the way we had a beautiful look up the river valley with a lot of sediments in the river.

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24.08.2014

I am on my way to Albania. Statkraft is building a Hydro Power Plant at Banjë in the Devoll river. We are staying for a week to check out the location and get as much data as possible. I am part of a research group working on the sustainable sediment handling of this project. My responsibility will be to install more reliable and cost effective sediment transport measurement devices. I am cooperating with my colleague and friend Massimo Guerrero in this project. I will try to post pictures during the coming week…… we’ll see how that works out.