The government of the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil has announced the completion of the main structure of the Jaguari Dam in São Gabriel, marking a key milestone in a project first proposed nearly two decades ago.
State governor Eduardo Leite and vice-governor Gabriel Souza are scheduled to formally announce completion today. The project has received a total investment of R$365.7m from state and federal sources, with R$249m provided by the state government and R$116.7m by the federal government.
Located on the Jaguari Stream in the Suspiro district, the dam is designed to improve water management in a region affected by both droughts and flooding. It is expected to benefit more than 100,000 people in São Gabriel, Lavras do Sul and Rosário do Sul, and will operate alongside the Taquarembó Dam to extend water supply coverage across the wider region.
The dam is 25m high and more than 1km long. Once fully operational, it will create a reservoir capable of storing 138 million m3 of water across an area of approximately 1,798 hectares. The structure has been built primarily using compacted clay, supported by drainage, filtering and erosion protection systems, with controlled outlets and a spillway to regulate flows.
The project is expected to expand irrigation capacity and stabilise water availability for agriculture and livestock production. São Gabriel has seen rapid growth in soybean and rice cultivation, and irrigation is expected to increase productivity while reducing losses linked to climate variability. Sector data indicates irrigation can increase rice yields by up to 3.5 times and double soybean output.
Across Rio Grande do Sul, extreme weather events between 2020 and 2024 resulted in estimated losses of 40.6 million tonnes of grain, with associated economic losses exceeding R$100 billion. The Jaguari Dam is intended to reduce these impacts by regulating water supply and improving resilience to both drought and flood conditions.
The project was first announced in 2008 and construction began in 2009, but work was halted in 2012 due to contractual and environmental issues. Activities resumed in 2018, with progress accelerating after 2023 following changes to project management and coordination between state agencies. The final phase of construction was completed between 2023 and 2026.
The dam will undergo a staged commissioning process, including controlled reservoir filling and safety testing, before entering full operation. Additional works, including irrigation canal networks, are planned, with full operational capacity expected from 2027 and initial agricultural benefits anticipated from the 2028 harvest.
Environmental mitigation measures have been implemented throughout construction, including wildlife rescue, vegetation management and reforestation. The project also includes provisions for fish passage to maintain ecological connectivity.
The Jaguari Dam forms part of a broader programme to strengthen water infrastructure in Rio Grande do Sul and support economic activity in climate-sensitive agricultural regions.
