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16 <br />melting snowpack in late spring and summer, the lowest flows occur in <br />the winter when energy demand is high (Schultz 1979 as cited in Shane <br />1981). Because the low flow period in many regions of the country, <br />especially the East, typically occurs in late summer, it too coincides <br />with a peak demand period. <br />In some cases, hydropower development can benefit the fishery <br />resources in the stream or river. Where natural flows provide a <br />suboptimal environment for fish growth and development (e.g., extended <br />periods of low flow), stream flow regulation can enhance production. <br />Storage capacity of reservoirs can be used to augment flows during <br />periods of low stream discharge. The beneficial aspects of a proposed <br />hydropower project in Alaska are described briefly in Section 4.2.3 <br />(Case 2). <br />Finally, the instream flow issue is related to other ecological <br />issues associated with hydroelectric development. For example, fish <br />passage requires not only bypass facilities at the dam but also <br />adequate stream flows below the dam. At peaking facilities, <br />maintenance of an instream flow regime below the dam is obviously <br />related to changes in reservoir levels above the dam (the water level <br />fluctuation issue). The assessment of instream flow needs must be <br />integrated with these and other relevant environmental considerations; <br />the assessment cannot be conducted in an ecological vacuum. <br />t