A conceptual framework for hydropeaking mitigation

Bruder, Andreas; Tonolla, Diego; Schweizer, Steffen; Vollenweider, Stefan; Langhans, Simone D.; Wüest, Alfred

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.032

Cited by 85 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…In addition, downstream flow regimes dominated by more frequent peak flow events, including day‐to‐day and subdaily variations, also have impacts relevant for the present study. Structural measures and dam operational rules to mitigate hydropeaking effects have been studied before, but “estimating and predicting their ecological benefit remains challenging” (Bruder et al., ). Examples of hydropeaking mitigation include operational improvement of peak discharges, such as diversion of peak flows to retention basins or downstream lakes, morphological restoration of riverbanks to avoid scouring effects and frequent variation between low‐ and high‐flow events (Bejarano, Jansson & Nilsson, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The abundance and distribution of guilds of riparian woody plants change in response to land use and flow regulation

Aguiar

Segurado

Martins

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Many riparian ecosystems in Mediterranean Europe are affected by land use and flow alteration by dams. We focused on understanding how these stressors and their components affect riparian forests in the region. We asked the following questions: (1) Are there well‐defined, responsive riparian guilds? (2) Do dam‐induced streamflows determine abundance and distribution of riparian guilds? (3) What are the main drivers governing composition and cover of riparian guilds in regulated rivers? We inventoried the cover of riparian woody species in free‐flowing rivers and downstream of dams. We performed a cluster analysis and ordination to derive riparian guilds, using abundance data from 66 riparian woody species and 26 functional plant traits. We used a reduced set of principal components for the environment, land use and hydrology, and general linear modelling to explore the effect of these factors (separately and combined) on riparian guilds. We found that: (1) four dominant guilds are responsive to disturbance in southwestern European streams, namely the obligate riparian, water‐stress tolerant, deciduous competitive and Mediterranean evergreen guilds; (2) a set of land use and hydrological variables differentially affect the diverse co‐occurring riparian guilds; (3) frequency and duration of high flow pulses and the low‐flow conditions were major drivers of change in landscapes dominated by intensive agriculture and forestry; (4) storage reservoirs reduced the cover of obligate riparian and Mediterranean evergreen guilds, and increased the abundance of water‐stress tolerant and deciduous competitive guilds, while run‐of‐river dams, having limited water storage, reduced both obligate and deciduous competitive guilds. Synthesis and applications. Future research in southwestern Europe should address the resilience of riparian guilds and the effects of interacting landscape factors and stressors on guild distribution. Streamflow regulations downstream of reservoirs should focus on specific flow components, namely the magnitude of flows, and frequency and duration of extreme flow events. For successful mitigation of the dam‐induced effects on riparian vegetation, river management plans must incorporate the environmental and land use site‐specific contexts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The abundance and distribution of guilds of riparian woody plants change in response to land use and flow regulation

Aguiar

Segurado

Martins

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Hydropeaking regimes downstream of hydropower plants are characterized by a sequence of peak events with several hydrological phases (Bruder et al ., ), ( i ) low base discharge, when no electricity is generated; ( ii ) rapid changes in discharge, when electricity generation is increased or decreased, and ( iii ) high peak discharge during periods of maximal electricity generation. Operating rules determine the duration and frequency of these phases, as well as the magnitude and rate of change of discharge in each phase, which all in turn lead to changes in hydraulic parameters such as water level, flow velocity, water turbulence, and bed shear stress (Shen & Diplas, ), as well as changes in river morphology (Vanzo, Zolezzi & Siviglia, ), water quality (Pulg et al ., ) and water temperature (Zolezzi et al ., ), both downstream and upstream of the hydropower facilities (Fig.…”

Section: Flow Regime In Rivers Affected By Hydropeakingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of hydropeaking on riverine plants: a review

2017

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Hydropeaking refers to frequent, rapid and short-term fluctuations in water flow and water levels downstream and upstream of hydropower stations. Such fluctuations are becoming increasingly common worldwide and are known to have far-reaching effects on riverine vegetation. Novel hydrology caused by hydropeaking has no natural correspondence in freshwater systems, and hence few species have adaptations to all its aspects. Here, we review the literature on hydropeaking effects on riverine plants and define the state of the information on this human alteration of riverine ecosystems. We focus on riparian plants, but also draw on information from aquatic plant species, which exhibit a wide variety of adaptations to inundation and associated processes. Riparian plants face both physiological and physical constraints because of the shifts between submergence and drainage, and erosion of substrates. At the population level, hydropeaking may favour dispersal within, but not between, reservoirs, but may hamper germination, establishment, growth and reproduction. At the community level, strong filtering towards easily dispersed, flexible, flood-tolerant and amphibious plants is expected, although few species share these traits. Hence, most riparian plant species are expected to disappear or be pushed towards the upper boundaries of the regulated river margin. Future research should examine more closely global variation in hydropeaking effects, including other taxonomic groups of species and the diversity of hydropeaking regimes. There is also a need for studies focusing on identifying the boundaries within which hydropeaking could operate without impairing plant life.

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“…Recolonization did occur, but densities in the ramping zone never reached the levels on other river sections, indicating a lowered substrate quality in the ramping zone. reducing the frequency of peaks, and (c) creating a step-wise discharge decrease and discharge increase (Bruder et al, 2016). However, such operational measures may affect the total amount and flexibility of electrical production.…”

Section: In the Surber Samples Especially Ephemeroptera (Dominated Bymentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of hydropeaking on benthic invertebrate community composition in two central Norwegian rivers

Kjærstad

Arnekleiv

Speed

et al. 2018

River Research & Apps

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Hydropower regulations can have dramatic impacts on river ecological communities. The operation of hydropower stations is related to power demands, but their releases in the receiving water body causes sudden changes in flow, which in turn affect the biota. The effects of such flow variations on benthic invertebrates is not fully understood. Here, we studied the effects of duration and intensity of hydropeaking on benthic invertebrates in two rivers over a 3.5‐year period. We used both quantitative (Surber) and semiquantitative (kick samples) sampling methods to compare the ramping zone with the permanently water covered zone downstream of the hydropower plant, and with corresponding unaffected upstream areas. The ramping zone had a different invertebrate community composition and lower benthic density than other areas, especially after hydropeaking. Mayflies and chironomids were most negatively affected by hydropeaking and oligochaetes largely unaffected. Chironomids and the mayfly Baetis rhodani were able to recolonize the ramping zone and almost reach densities similar to deeper areas within 48 days following hydropeaking. The relative abundance of filter feeders tended to increase and gatherers/collectors tended to decrease from the ramping zone towards the deep, permanently water covered areas. In corresponding areas upstream of the power plant, the relative abundance of different functional feeding groups was the same in the mid‐channel and shore sites. Our study shows that hydropeaking has clear impacts on the functional structure of benthic invertebrates below the power plants. The ecological impact of hydropeaking on invertebrate communities should thus be taken into account, for example, by reducing the amplitude and duration of flow fluctuations.

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A conceptual framework for hydropeaking mitigation

Cited by 85 publications

References 73 publications

The abundance and distribution of guilds of riparian woody plants change in response to land use and flow regulation

The abundance and distribution of guilds of riparian woody plants change in response to land use and flow regulation

The effects of hydropeaking on riverine plants: a review

Effects of hydropeaking on benthic invertebrate community composition in two central Norwegian rivers

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