MODELING THE IMPACT OF PLANNED HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS ON ECOSYSTEMS

Year 2020, Volume: 4 Issue: 3, 42 - 51, 17.07.2020

Viacheslav Nikitin , Nikolay Abasov Evgeny Osipchuk

Abstract

Estimates of the impact of hydroelectric power plants
(HPPs) on an ecosystem are exemplified by the HPPs construction planned in
Mongolia in the transboundary Selenga river basin. Implementation of the HPPs projects
can lead to essential changes in natural hydrological regime of the Selenga river basin in the Russian Federation, which will
influence the regional ecosystems and economy. The international status of
natural objects in Russia, which can be affected by these projects, is an
important factor. First of all, this concerns Lake Baikal, the World natural
heritage site. The paper contains the main results of this problem research. Based
on an analysis of hydrological characteristics of Mongolian and Russian parts
of the Selenga river basin, and plans for the development of water supply
systems and hydro power in Mongolia, the regulated flow of the Selenga river was
modeled for different possible operating conditions of HPPs and hydraulic
structures (the projects of the Shuren HPP, the Egiin Gol HPP, and the Orkhon-Gobi
water diversion system). Possible risks of the impact of potential Mongolian
HPPs are revealed, first of all, the risks for the ecosystems of Russian part
of the Selenga river. The impact is estimated for separate and joined projects
(cumulative impact). The risks of the impact of the HPP construction and operation
mean the probability that the values of hydrological, hydro-morphological,
morphometric, physicochemical and other abiotic and biotic characteristics of
ecosystems will go beyond the limits of natural variability.

Keywords

Hydroelectric power plants, Hydrological characteristics, Environmental flow, Abiotic and biotic characteristics, Ecosystems

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