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

Year 2016, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 39 - 46, 02.01.2016

Selim Dogan , Havva Ates Ali Berktay

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.

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