hydropower and fish · importance of fish & hydropower in alaska potential impacts to fish...
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Hydropower and FishConsiderations & Case Studies for Sustainable Development
Megan Marie Habitat Biologist
ADF&G Division of Habitat
Anchorage, AK
USSD Cold Climate Workshop
September 20, 2017
Girdwood, AK
© Mark Emery
Photo by CVEA
Discussion Objectives
Importance of fish & hydropower in Alaska
Potential impacts to fish
Regulatory framework for fish
habitat protection in Alaska
Considerations & BMPs to avoid/minimize impacts
Fish are Important to Alaska
• Alaska Constitution: Article VIII, Section 3 – Common
Use and Section 4 – Sustained Yield
• Intimately tied to life in Alaska (personal use,
subsistence, sport, and commercial fisheries)
• Economic value - Commercial & Sport Fishing
The Economic Value of Alaska’s Seafood Industry, McDowell Group for ASMI, December 2015
Sport & Personal Use Fishing 2007 ADF&G study - economic impacts of sport fishing
$1.4 billion in angler spending
15,879 jobs & $545 million in income
$14M revenue – license sales in FY16
Subsistence harvest rural Alaska: avg ~160lb/person (2014)
Personal use fisheries: ~730,000 salmon harvested in 2014
© Mark Emery © Ken Marsh
Hydro is Important to Alaska
2nd highest avg cost per kWh ~18 cents
Can be 3-5X higher in many rural areas
Abundant opportunities for hydropower
Hydropower Impacts on Fish & Habitat
Direct Effects
Fish passage
Modified instream flow
Indirect Effects
Changes/loss of instream habitats
Suspended sediment transport
Changes in subsurface flows
Avoidance/migration delay
Food availability-stream productivity
The Balancing Act
Balance Resource Development and Resource Protection
Permits & AuthorizationsRelevant to hydropower projects in Alaska
Permit/Authorization Regulatory Agency
Fish Habitat Permit Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Fish Resource Permit Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Water Rights/Water Use Permit Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Section 10 / Section 404 Permit US Army Corps of Engineers
Material Sale Permit Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Flood Hazard/ other local permits Borough/Municipality of project location
SWPPP review/approval Alaska Dept. of Environmental Conservation
(or muni/borough)
Right of Way/ Land Use Permit Land manager for project area
THE FISHWAY ACT
AS 16.05.841
ANADROMOUS FISH ACT
AS 16.05.871
FISH RESOURCE PERMIT
For handling or transporting fish during dewatering
or diversion (Division of Sport Fish)
ADF&G Statutory Authority
AS 16.05.841 requires that any obstruction built across fish-
bearing waters will provide for fish passage
AS 16.05.851 – 3 options if fish passage is impractical:
Pay a lump sum to the State fish and game fund
Build operate, and maintain a hatchery in perpetuity
Pay to expand, maintain, and operate existing hatcheries
Fishway Act (.841)
Strengths
➢Applies to all fish
bearing streams
(resident and
anadromous) and all
fish species.
➢Requires long-term
commitment to
operation &
maintenance
Limitations
➢ Applies to fish passage
only
➢ Archaic provisions for
mitigation inappropriate
AS 16.05.871
(a) ADF&G must specify those waters that are important for
the spawning, rearing, or migration of anadromous fish (AWC)
(b-c) notification and plans required before conducting work
in a specified waterbody (permit application)
(d) ADF&G will approve or deny the proposed work
Anadromous Fish Act (.871)Strengths
➢Applies to any activity
➢Applies to any life stage
Limitations
➢ Jurisdiction limited to
below OHW
➢ Waterbody must be in
AWC
➢ Freshwater only
ADF&G Roles FERC-Regulated
Statewide Aquatic Resources Unit leads Dept. review (Sport Fish)
Develop FERC license terms
Non-FERC
Generally smaller hydro projects
Habitat Division leads Dept. review
Baseline StudiesData, data, data!!
Flow, fish, habitat surveys
Data often limited in much of AK
More data = less uncertainty of risks to fish = better
decision making
Fish Data Fish Resource Monitor
AWC updated annually
Only ~50% complete
Physical Habitat Data Flow data and cross-section
surveys can be used to assess
impacts to habitat
Natural fish passage barriers
may exist
Depth at 10 cfs
Depth at 5 cfs
Design ConsiderationsLocation, location location!!!
Avoid important fish habitat/anadromous streams
Design diversion, bypass reach, tailrace to minimize
impacts
Diversion Structure Fish passage required?
Allow sediment/debris
movement
Provide instream flows
Tailrace Locate above
anadromy
Exclusion required?
Construction Considerations Water management
Erosion & sediment
control
Timing/Sequencing
Communication is key!!
Humpback Creek
Operation Considerations
Instream flow – ability to
measure/monitor
Flushing - timing
Ramping rates
Future of Hydropower in AK
Fish are a foundation of Alaska
Fish habitat in Alaska is largely intact
Incorporating the needs of fish and
people requires conscious, proactive
choices and early communication
© Mark Emery
