Renewable energy developments and the EU Nature Legislation Good practice examples of ecological restoration measures at the rivers Inn and Danube

Transcription

1 Renewable energy developments and the EU Nature Legislation Good practice examples of ecological restoration measures at the rivers Inn and Danube Brussels, September 2018, Gerd Frik

2 The Alpine region: hydropower in the heart of Europe > 1,000 hydroelectric power plants 5 MW 60% run-of-river plants, > 30% storage power plants, < 10% pumped storage power plants Installed capacity: 63 GW 20 GW run-of-river 24 GW storage 18 GW pumped storage run-of-river storage pumped storage Generation: 166 TWh/a 99 TWh/a run-of-river 57 TWh/a storage 10 TWh/a pumped storage (only natural inflow) Source: AGAW 2017 hydropower the European asset points of contact to nature conservation page 2

3 VERBUND - Focus on Hydro Power Austria s leading electricity company leading in hydro power generation in Bavaria, no. 2 in Germany one of the largest hydro power companies in Europe 127 hydro power plants in Austria and Germany (Bavaria) installed capacity: approx. 8,2 GW 153 wind turbines with 0,4 GW total installed capacity in Austria, Germany and Romania page 4

4 Approach implementing the WFD (and supporting NATURA2000 goals) It became clear that for many water bodies fish passage per se is insufficient to achieve the ultimate goal of the good ecological status or good ecological potential required by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). One possibility to combine the goals of connectivity and habitat improvement are large nature-like fish passes. Such measures may be narrowed by space limitation or dam height. In order to achieve the objectives the improvement of aquatic habitat conditions is required to increase the fish biomass and diversity considerably. One of the key habitat types are permanently connected side arms providing spawning grounds and shelter from ship-induced waves along the river Danube. It is also important to co-ordinate all actions with the different types of usage of the Danube (energy, navigation, flood protection...) and the responsible stake holders. This successful approach will also be taken in the future. The strategy of VERBUND regarding the requirements of the EU-WFD and the NGP is a systematic approach which prioritizes the creation and connection of habitats before the implementation of pure fish passage. This leads to a lot of points of contact to other nature preservation actions. page 5

5 implemented (48) under construction (6) in planning stage (19) pending (14) Wherever possible nature like fish passes have been implemented Limitations: space, dam height page 6

6 INN HPP Wasserburg- Teufelsbruck- Gars Ecological structuring, optimization and fish passage Concept to protect and preserve fish population Büro Schober, (Gars, Wasserburg) Büro Aquasoli (Teufelsbruck) Fischökologie Büro Dr. Holzner Authorities: WWA Rosenheim, LRA Rosenheim (Naturschutz, Wasserrecht), Regierung von Oberbayern, Fachberatung Fischerei Portfolio of implemented measures open for scientific evaluation Freihamer Au page 7

7 Impoundment HPP Wasserburg, Freihamer Au 1971 abandonded channel, silted Isolated abandoned channel Silting up abandonded channel, silted VHP-DE/ETI/Loy page 8

8 Impoundment HPP Wasserburg, Freihamer Au 2011 abandonded channel, silted Isolated abandoned channel Silting up abandonded channel, silted VHP-DE/ETI/Loy page 9

9 Suction dredgers clear accumulated fine sediments from oxbows page 10

10 Impoundment HPP Wasserburg, Freihamer Au 2015 after implementation Islands as breeding ground for birds Removal of fine sediments Re-connection to the Inn River Terrestrialization of aquatic habitats - measures page 11

11 Fishpass HPP Gars, river Inn, Bavaria Gravel banks Within the HPP s Geldkirchen, Neuötting. Teufelsbruck and Gars a range of mitigating measures such as additional spawning grounds, habitats for juveniles and sediment variation were implemented to improve habitat for rare and endangered species. Example Nature-like fishpass HPP Gars with different habitats Aquatic habitats: Gravel banks in the river fish find the entrance easier Habitats for rheophilic fish within the fishway Addition of Gravel to provide spawning grounds Terrestrial habitats: Nutrient poor grassland (Magerrasen) Rohboden, gravel Temporary waters - amphibians Steep dynamic banks Kingfisher page 12

12 Fishpass HPP Gars, different habitats Gravel banks at the entrance of the fishpass Fishpass Gars, gravel banks, shallows, woody debris page 13

13 Fishpass Gars, spawning Danube salmon (Hucho hucho) Also grayling and bullhead (2018) page 15

14 HPP Ering-Frauenstein, river Inn, overview The project is located in the bavarian SAC Salzach und Unterer Inn (DE ) and in the Austrian SAC Unterer Inn (AT ). Sidearm downstream Project: Focus of the project are the protected fish species. Six FFH fish species will benefit significantly through targeted measures including connectivity measures and habitat creation. All other (semi)aquatic species will also benefit. We expect a significant increase in the area of 3220, 3240, and 91E0 habitats which will develop in the restored banks as well as within the backwater of Egglfing-Oberberg HPP at newly created sand bars. The habitat types 6210 and 6250 will significantly benefit from the meadow management. page 16

15 HPP Ering-Frauenstein, side arm system downstream Shelter during floods & winter habitat Year-round habitat for stagnophil species Shallow gravel banks as spawning grounds and nurseries for rheophilic fish page 17

16 HPP Ering-Frauenstein, river Inn, implementation ongoing Nature like system, length 2,5 km, dotation 2-12,5 m³/s combination of island- and sidearm system (habitat), fish pass, dotation of meadows Sediment removel app m³, redpeposition app m³ Return aof silty sediments into the river Inn Start of construction april 2018, construction time 1,5 years, cost app. 10 Mio page 18

17 Example nature like fishway Ottensheim-Wilhering, river Danube 15 km Große Rodl Bad ecological status Danube Pesenbach Powerplant Innbach-mouth Moderate ecological status Aschach Innbach Heavily modified stretch at the power plant Ottensheim-Wilhering page 19

18 Example nature like fishway Ottensheim-Wilhering, river Danube app. 14 km nature-like fish way, using natural water bodies Restoration measures within the water body Habitat improvement and creatiion Improved connectivity (lateral & longitudinal) Additional dotation from th Danube 2,5 200 m³/s In operation since May 2016, monitoring ongoing Costs about 8,7 Mio (UFG, LIFE+, Land OÖ, OÖ LFV) estuary Innbach into Aschach before (02/2014) and after restructuring (11/2016)

19 Example nature like fishway Ottensheim-Wilhering, river Danube Detail of the mouth of the fishway to ensure fish migration expected development Innbach Estuary Innbach into Danube May 2018, one of the best LIFE+ projects, category Conservation

20 Experiences and Challenges In most water bodies Fish Passage alone is insufficient to achieve the good ecological status or potential Where possible, the design of fish passage facilities should include other elements such as large scale connectivity measures and habitat improvements/creation First results are promising: even small scale nature like fish ways are used as spawning habitat. Monitoring results enhance knowledge of river ecology. integrative planning should including all stake holders (local authorities, fisheries science, fishery, navigation authorities, innovative planners) > this is not a match simply between Hydro Power and NGO s Land availibility to realize habitat creation or large scale connectivity measures Going public Further financial funding is necessary Good solutions need time Especially difficult sites Learning from implemented measures (monitoring) Development of new solutions page 23

21 Experiences and Challenges, EIA, Natura2000, Forestry law Extensive approval process under the EIA Act Increased and expensive efforts during project preparation Example Traisen: Time required for EIA preparations and EIA procedures > 2 years, additional costs app. 1,2 Mio for environmental measures Natura 2000: Degree of significance assessment obligatory Also for measures which are proposed in the Natura 2000 management plans The legal requirement to minimize impact may lead to sub-optimal restoration projects Costs for impact studies are up to 50% of total costs wrong way Forestry laws Minimizing impacts on forestry often contradicts optimal ecological solutions Best practical environmental option instead of overregulation -> listen to the Stake Holders Dialogue with ministry and federal government; Establishing a basis of confidence leads to a climate of highly constructive dialogue with optimated ecological solutions without neglecting economic limits page 24

22 Thank You for your attention