Hydropeaking by Small Hydropower Facilities Affects Flow Regimes on Tributaries to the Pantanal Wetland of Brazil

Figueiredo, Juliane Stella Martins Costa de; Fantin-Cruz, Ibraim; Silva, Geovanna Mikaelle S.; Beregula, Renato Leandro; Girard, Pierre; Zeilhofer, Peter; Uliana, Eduardo Morgan; Morais, Eduardo Beraldo de; Tritico, Hans M.; Hamilton, Stephen K.

doi:10.3389/fenvs.2021.577286

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…For instance, the average loss of connectivity due to SHPs is much higher than that due to LHPs in Brazil (Couto et al., 2021). Great concerns have been raised about the large expansion of SHPs in rivers feeding the Pantanal wetlands, as these SHPs have affected the lateral connectivity between rivers and wetlands (Figueiredo et al., 2021).…”

Section: River Damming Impacts On Fish Physical Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

River Damming Impacts on Fish Habitat and Associated Conservation Measures

Chen,

Li,

Lin

et al. 2023

Reviews of Geophysics

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River damming has brought great benefits to flood mitigation, energy and food production, and will continue to play a significant role in global energy supply, particularly in Asia, Africa, and South America. However, dams have extensively altered global river dynamics, including riverine connectivity, hydrological, thermal, sediment and solute regimes, and the channel morphology. These alterations have detrimental effects on the quality and quantity of fish habitat and associated impacts on aquatic life. Indeed, dams have been implicated in the decline of numerous fishes, emphasizing the need for effective conservation measures. Here, we present a global synthesis of critical issues concerning the impacts of river damming on physical fish habitats, with a particular focus on key fish species across continents. We also consider current fish conservation measures and their applicability in different contexts. Finally, we identify future research needs. The information presented herein will help support sustainable dam operation under the constraints of future climate change and human needs.

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Section: River Damming Impacts On Fish Physical Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

River Damming Impacts on Fish Habitat and Associated Conservation Measures

Chen,

Li,

Lin

et al. 2023

Reviews of Geophysics

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“…The amount of water diverted and how far downstream the water is returned to the river from the powerhouse dictates the degree and spatial extent of dewatering; such impacts can be disproportionally high for small dams (Anderson, Freeman, & Pringle, 2006; Kibler, 2017; Kuriqi et al, 2021). Thirdly, flow regulation caused by both storage and diversion can extend far downstream, leading to reduced high‐flow events, damped hydrologic variability, and more stable base flows downstream of powerhouse outflows (Figueiredo et al, 2021; Kibler, 2017; Meier et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of small hydropower dams on macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages in southern Brazil

et al. 2023

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Hydropower dams affect freshwater biodiversity by virtue of modifying flow regimes and degrading habitat conditions both above and below the water impoundment and diversion structure. In recent decades, there has been a global proliferation of Small Hydropower Plants (SHPs) propelled by incentive policies and a general perception that small dams are less harmful to the environment. However, limited science is available on the effects of SHPs on freshwater biodiversity, which is concerning considering their sheer numbers and the high variability in the size and operation of dams classified as SHPs. We investigated the ecological effects of 12 SHPs on macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages of the Chapecó River Basin, Brazil. Our study included sites located upstream of the SHPs and sites directly affected by their operations (i.e., reservoir, dewatering section and downstream of the powerhouse). This design allowed us to quantify shifts in taxonomic composition and examine the relative role of different SHP attributes (e.g., dam height, reservoir area, age) in explaining these changes. Our results reveal that SHPs modify the composition of both macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages, but the magnitude of such changes vary widely among dams. Both assemblages exhibited directionality in taxonomic shifts, resulting in a gradual replacement of taxa associated with fast‐flowing habitats by other groups more commonly associated with standing waters. We also found that changes in assemblage structureare related to structural (dam height, reservoir area) and spatial attributes (distance from headwaters) of SHPs, although the predictive power of these attributes varied taxonomically and among reservoir, dewatering and downstream sites. Overall, our results demonstrate that SHPs have important and heterogeneous effects on freshwater assemblages, which may manifest individually or cumulatively across the riverscape. This suggests that it is unlikely that a priori classifications of dams based on their structural attributes can replace site‐specific and cumulative impact assessments. The results also shed light on the need for better understanding of how SHP attributes shape their ecological effects, so that a full assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the wide range of "small" dams is possible.

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