IMPACT OF RUN-OF-RIVER HYDROPOWER PLANTS OPERATION ON AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM AND TROUT (SALMO LABRAX) POPULATION IN THE EASTERN BLACK SEA REGION
Abstract
In this study, six pilot regions (Rize-Güneysu, Of-Solaklı, Sürmene-Köprübaşı, Arsin-Yanbolu, Maçka-Değirmendere, and Giresun-Gelevera rivers) were selected to represent the hydroelectric power plants (HPP) started to operate in years between 2012 and 2015. Long term hydrological data based on relation retroactively between water structures and rivers in the pilot regions, bio-ecological observations, and meta-studies on river beds are the essentials of this study. Habitat of the river beds located in between the regulator and plant of these HPPs were observed in reference stations by using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for summer and winter seasons. Impact of HPPs and their regulators, both before and after they went up and running, on aquatic ecosystem especially on life cycle of dominant fish species, Black Sea salmon (Salmo labrax), in the rivers of these pilot regions were evaluated. According to the results, insufficient compensation water due to HPPs causing habitat losses and negatively impacted both vertebrate and invertebrate fauna. Due to the increase in water temperatures in summer and relative decrease in the discharge, algal colonization can be formed from tail-water discharge point to downstream. These negative impacts caused quality losses in water flow regime and water quality thus decreasing the salmon populations in the region. In one of the pilot rivers selected for this study, Solaklı Deresi, compared to a study conducted on the same location 15 years ago, it was found that Salmo labrax population has decreased from 15 number/hour to 0.5 number/hour catch per unit effort.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
-
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Mustafa Zengin
Su Ürünleri Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü
0000-0002-0243-1432
Türkiye
Oğuz Kurtoğlu
This is me
KARADENİZ TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ORMAN FAKÜLTESİ, ORMAN MÜHENDİSLİĞİ BÖLÜMÜ
0000-0002-1706-1542
Türkiye
Hatice Şengül
This is me
Hacattepe Üniversitesi, Çevre Mühendisliği Bölümü, Beytepe, Ankara
0000-0003-3851-4130
Türkiye
Eyüp Çakmak
This is me
Su Ürünleri Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü
0000-0003-3075-9862
Türkiye
Publication Date
October 27, 2017
Submission Date
July 25, 2017
Acceptance Date
October 5, 2017
Published in Issue
Year 2017 Volume: 32 Number: 4
Open Access Statement: