8209

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8209
• Author: Rochester, H., T. Lloyd and M. Farr.
• Title: Physical Impacts of Small-Scale Hydroelectric Facilities and Their Effects on Fish and Wildlife.
• USFW Year: 1984.
• USFW - Doc Type: 14-16-0009-82-020,
• Copyright Material: NO

4. Alteration of flow regimes~ both increases and decreases~
which make otherwise suitable riverine habitats unfit for
aquatic invertebrates, fish, amphibians and reptiles, and
possibly, dependent riparian species;

5. Fluctuating instream flows and reservoir levels, which make
habitats too unstable for full utilization and may degrade
water quality;

6. Disturbance of fish and wildlife and their habitats from
construction activities, increased numbers of visitors to
sites, road dust~ oil and toxic waste spills, noise from
some hydroelectric equipment, and site lighting, blasting,
and waste releases;

7. Damage to terrestrial habitats and soils, disruption of
runoff patterns related to road building and transmission
line clearance, and creation of borrow pits and spoil
disposal sites;

8. Long term changes in river hydrology, including possible
changes in flow regime, the river's contribution to ground
water, and evapotranspiration due to alterations of stream-
flow patterns that will have far reaching implications to
fish and wildlife; and

9. Changes in recreational use and visitor access, which may
increase fish and wildlife exploitation rates and forest
fire danger.

Impact assessment is highly site-specific and requires an orderly
approach to information gathering and analysis. Alternative actions
designed to mitigate the impacts of small-scale hydro may involve tradeoffs
among different fish and wildlife resource management objectives.

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