Poechos Reservoir, reservoir in Piura Department, Peru

Poechos Reservoir is a large body of stored water in the Piura Department of northern Peru, formed by a dam on the Chira River. It feeds a wide irrigation network that brings water to farmland across an otherwise very dry coastal region.

The dam was built by the Yugoslav contractor Energoprojekt, supervised by the Peruvian subsidiary of the British firm Binnie & Partners, under the military government of Juan Velasco Alvarado. Work began on 24 June 1972 and the reservoir was inaugurated on 4 June 1976. The rock-filled dam is 9 km long and about 55 m high.

The reservoir is a familiar landmark for people living in the Piura countryside, shaping rural life across generations. Along its shores, farmers draw water for fields that would otherwise be too dry to cultivate in this part of northern Peru.

The reservoir is easily reached from the nearby city of Sullana, which serves as a practical base for a visit. Sun exposure is intense in this region, so bringing sun protection and enough water is a good idea before heading out.

The reservoir lost a large part of its storage capacity after the severe flooding caused by the 1983 El Nino event, when massive amounts of sediment were washed into the basin. Since then, its usable capacity has been noticeably smaller than originally planned.