Hydropower Impact and environmental care taking. Øyvind Walsø Sigtuna September 2010

Transcription

1 Hydropower Impact and environmental care taking Øyvind Walsø Sigtuna September 2010

2 Antall TWh Hydro electrical production Vannkraftproduksjon i Norge pr 2008 Antall kraftverk Midlere årsproduksjon < 1 MW 1-10 MW MW MW MW => 200 MW Kraftverksstørrelse 0

3 Management tools The master plan for the management of watercourses in Norway consider the exploitation of the remaining watercourses in terms of a larger perspective, contrary to the earlier project-by-project policy. Based on a set of economic, social and environmental considerations. Covers 310 watercourses and 770 hydro-power project alternatives. States which projects should be considered first for a license when development is necessary. National protection plan for watercourses Protect river systems, or part of river systems against further hydropower development. 387 river systems or parts of river systems are included (118 salmon rivers or parts of such). National Salmon River and National Salmon Fjords 52 national salmon rivers and 29 national salmon fjords thus providing pecial protection to about 3/4 of the total Norwegian wild salmon production. In the national salmon rivers no permission for new activities that might be harmful to stocks of wild salmon.

4 Hydro electrical potential in Norway Total approx.186 TWh 63 % of the potential developed Developed Protection plan Masterplan cat 1 Masterplan cat 2 8 % 6 % 23 % protected from being exploited 14 % in the master plan Category 1 can be applied Category 2 can not be applied 23 % 63 %

5 Authorities Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate The Water Course Regulation Act (1917) The Water Resources Act (2000) Responsibility to follow up licences regarded the nature environmental obligations transferred to the Ministry of Environment - delegation of authority to: Directorate for Nature Management (rivers with anadromous salmonides) County Governor (rivers without anadromous salmonides)

6 Key aquatic ecology Salmon is important: Total salmon populations: 473 Populations eradicated due to hydropower: 22 Populations threatened: 26 Endangered species like European eel and Freshwater pearl mussel Biodiversity, including lichens, mosses, benthos, invertebrates, fish, bir ds, other animals

7 Concessionaire`s obligations according standard terms to ensure that the conditions in the River..., with connected lakes and streams, are such that indigenous fish stocks as far as possible maintain natural reproduction and production, and that the natural living conditions for fish and other naturally occurring plant and animal populations are reduced as little as possible, to take appropriate actions to compensate for damage to the natural recruitment of fish strains, to ensure that fish maintain the opportunity to migrate in the watercourse and that water intakes and outlets at power stations and tunnels used to lead water are so designed as to avoid fish losses, to ensure that opportunities for fishing are maintained as far as possible.

8 Concessionaire`s obligations to ensure that conditions for plant and animal life in the area directly and indirectly affected by the regulation are depreciated as little as possible and, if necessary, to carry out compensatory measures. to ensure that the utility and enjoyment values relating to outdoor recreation in areas directly or indirectly affected by construction work and regulation are taken care of as far as possible. If necessary, compensatory measures and special arrangements shall be implemented. to cover the cost of research concerning natural science and outdoor recreation in the areas affected by the developments and regulations. These may take the form of mapping, monitoring and long-term studies. The Concessionaire may also be liable to participate in joint funding of major studies that cover areas directly or indirectly affected by the regultation.

9 Following up standard terms Monitoring / Research Compensation for lost or degraded habitat Fish stock enhancement (stocking of stages of fish) Habitat improvement (weirs) Fish ladders / fish bypasses Other mitigating measures Water flow regulation (temporary permanent)

10 Alta River

11 The conflict The popular movement against development of the Alta-Kautokeino waterway founded in 1978 Several acts of civil disobedience and hunger strikes

12 Water flow regulations First regulation in1979, temporary for 5 years after the plant was put into operation. Plant started New temporary regulation from 1996 Prolonged from 2002 for 3 new years New prolongation from 2005 Permanent water flow regulation from 2010

13 The aim of the research activity Document possible change in the salmon stock after the construction of Alta power plant Find the reasons behind these changes propose measurements to mitigate the negative changes caused by the power plant Establish a scientific basis to describe and recommend a permanent water flow scheme

14 110 m concrete dam just above the stop point for salmon migration Reservoir (Virdnejav ri): HRV: 265 moh, LRV: 245 moh Two water inlets: upper 255 and lower 183 m above sea-level dam constructed Alta power plant put into operation may 1987 Two turbines: max capacity 33 and 66 m 3 /s Outlet from the powerplant uppermost part of where salmon migrate

15

16

17 Altautbyggingen

18

19

20 Summing up Decreased density of juvenile salmon in Sautso from 1985/1986 (lowest in the middle of the 1990th). Reduced production of smolt led to few spawning females and reduced salmon catches in Sautso from late 1980 th. After catch and release introduced in Sautso from late 1990 th increased number of spawners. Partly ice cover in Sautso from use of cold surface water during winter. Increased density of young salmon in later years (especially from 2001). Increased density of young salmon in the rest of the river the entire period.