The Effect of River Type Hydroelectric Power Plants on Aquatic Ecosystems: the Case Study of Göksu River-Eastern Mediterranean

Abstract

The contribution of the hydropower energy potential to the reconstruction of the energy structure is very important in Turkey. In spite of numerous social and economic benefits experienced in the area in social and economic spheres due to the project, there is also a plurality of adverse impacts observed in the environment. In social and economic spheres, the land acquiring and resettlement of people are important issues. Large-scale irrigation causes salinization and leads to soil erosion; huge water reservoirs affect local climate and are a source of considerable amounts of pollution. The construction and operation of hydroelectric power plants is directly related to the flow of the river. Therefore, environmental flow is described as the quantity, timing, and quality of water flows required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods and well-being that depend on these ecosystems. Environmental flow estimation is considered as a safe guard for an aquatic ecosystem in the water basins with regulated flow regime. Environmental flow not only the self purification flow to fulfill the water quality demand, but also the flow demand for the existing aquatic lives. Natural flow regime is critically important in sustaining the natural biodiversity and ecosystem integrity in river basins.

Construction of dams and hydroelectric power plants development projects will likely continue. As a result, legal and policy frame works for protecting and restoring them also continue to develop, and various governmental agencies, community-based organizations, private-sector actors, and individuals are becoming involved with implementing and monitoring these flows.

This research estimates the environmental flow requirements in the Göksu River in Eastern Mediterranean and to understand the impact of hydroelectric power plant in maintaining the natural flow regime. The current operation policy can cause severe hydrological alteration in the natural flow regime so current status and calculated amount of flow are compared.

References

1. . M.Dyson, G.Berkamp, J. Scanlon(eds) “Flow – the Essentials of EnvironmentalFlows” IUCN, Glandand Cambridge,2003.
2. . The Electrical Power Resources Survey and Development Administration (EİE).Hydro Electric Power Plant Projects Carried out by EİE. Ankara, Turkey, 2007.
3. . Turkey Country Report. Prepared for the 3rd World Water Forum. Ankara, Turkey, 2003.
4. . J.M.King, R.E.Tharme, M. De Villiers (eds). “Environmental flow assessments for rivers: Manual for the building block methodology” Water Research CommissionTechnology Transfer Report No.TT354/08; 2008. Water Research Commission: South Africa.
5. . R.E.Tharme “A global perspective on environmental flow assessment: emerging trends in the development and application of environmental flow methodologies for rivers” River Research And Applications vol.19,2003, pp. 397-441.
6. . V.U.Smakhtin, “Low flow hydrology: a review”, Journal of Hydrology, 2001, pp.147-186.
7. . D.L. Tennant,“Instream flow regimens for fish, wildlife, recreation and related environmental resources”Fisheries,1:6, 1976.
8. . V.U. Smakhtin, R.L.Shilpakar, D.A.Hughes,“Hydrology-based assessment of environmental flows: an example from Nepal” Hydrological Sciences Journal, 51(2), 2006, pp. 207–222.

9. . R.S. Pyrce,“Considering baseflow as a low flow or instream flow” WSC Report No.04-2004 Appendix, Watershed Science Center, 2004, Peterborough, Ontario, 17.
10. . A.Shokoohi, Y. Hong,“Using hydraulic and hydraulically derived geometric parameters of perennial rivers to determine minimum water requirements of ecological habitats (case study: Mazandaran Sea Basin - Iran)”, Hydrological Processes; vol.25, 2011, pp 3490-3498.
11. . I.G.Jowett,“Instream flow methods: a comparison of approaches. Regulated Rivers” Research &Management 13, 1997, pp. 115–127.
12. . B. Clausen and B.J.F.Biggs,“Flow variables for ecological studies in temperate streams: groupings based on covariance” Journal of Hydrology, 2000, vol. 237, pp. 184-197.
13. . J.Alcâzar, A.Palau,C.Vega-Garcîa, ,“Neural net model for environmental flow estimation at the Ebro River Basin”, Journal of Hydrology, 349, 2008, pp. 45-55.
14. . R.S.Pyrce,“Hydrological low flow indices and their uses” WSC Report No.04-2004.Watershed Science Centre, Peterborough, Ontario, 2004, pp.33.
15. . H. Ates, S. Dogan and A.Berktay, “Assessment of environmental flows in rivers with the example of Great Menderes Basin”, the 3rd Biennial Symposium of the International Society for River Science Achieving Healthy and Viable Rivers, Beijing, China August 5-9, 2013.