The objective of this work is to present a methodology that evaluates and quantifies the agricultural and livestock losses that happen when reservoirs for the electric power generation are constructed. Seven CEMIG reservoirs, located in Minas Gerais State were studied The agricultural and livestock production were obtained in agreement on with IBGE 2001 data. The municipal areas were calculated based in georeference data supplied by ANEEL. The externalities values were compared to the electric power cost and to municipal gross domestic product to evaluate the significance of the results. It was verified that as larger is the value of the municipal flooded area, more relevant is the externality. As example, the city of Grupiara has 40% of their lands flooded by the lake of Emborcação. Among all the cities studied, that was the one where the agricultural and livestock externalities were more significant.
Dams; externalities; agricultural and livestock; hydro power plants
