From the Amazon to the Andes: tracing water

— by Alessia & Heidi —

June 2024: Over two intense weeks of fieldwork, we travelled with our amazing research assistants, Elsa Izaguirre and Bruno Gonzalo, and the UTEC research team, from the humid Amazon lowlands to the towering Andes. Tracing the rivers in reverse, we passed through diverse landscapes: from lush floodplains to high-altitude valleys, gathering stories of drought and floods and learning how shifting water patterns are transforming lives across these regions.

Bajo Belen – Heidi Mendoza and Elsa Izaguirre interviewing a group of fishermen

Bajo Belén – The water level of the Itaya River is rapidly receding, exposing piles of garbage now encircled by mud.

Water level in the river Amazon at the Tamshiyacu station (date 14-o6-2024) compared to previous years

Transportation through boat on the river Amazon close to Tamshiyacu

PerfectSTORM team – from the left to the right: Bruno Gonzalo, Heidi Mendoza, Elsa Izaguirre, Alessia Matanó

This year, water levels have been erratic, with below-normal conditions during the Creciente and an earlier Vaciante, marked by a faster-than-usual drop in water levels. Drought, once a distant reality, seemed become an urgent challenge, threatening  fishing, transportation, and public health.

From the Amazon, we climbed to the Andes, visiting Yuracmayo at an altitude of 4,000 meters. Here, the conversation shifted to: water quality and quantity, under strain from mining activities and intense drought events. And then back to hydrology work: measuring water flow with a propeller, electroconductivity of the water and then installing sensors for water level.

Group photo of PerfectSTORM and UTEC researchers at the Yuracmayo reservoir  

Installation of a water level sensor to monitor inflow into the Yuracmayo reservoir

Finally, we wrapped up our visit by exchanging presentations at UNALM with the climate change group and at UTEC, where we shared our findings and discussed opportunities for future collaboration.

Climate change student circulo at the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM)

From the Amazon’s humid floodplains to the dry Andean peaks, this fieldwork reminded us of the deep connection between water and the lives it shapes. Each community we visited faces unique challenges, but their resilience and stories highlight the importance of understanding and protecting these vital water systems.