Trapped between drowning and desiccation: Riverine plants under hydropeaking.

Hydropeaking is part of hydropower production. The discontinuous release of turbined water during hydropeaking generates sudden rise and falls of the water levels, as well as extended droughts. These artificial flow fluctuations impose challenging growing conditions for riverine vegetation.

Can vegetation provide shelter to cyprinid species under hydropeaking?

A novel study that focuses on the capacity of vegetation to provide shelter for fish species under hydropeaking regimes is presented. Two artificial patches mimicking the structure and density of Carex sp. mats were installed in an experimental flume to test whether submerged plants can offer flow refuge to two cyprinid species, Luciobarbus bocagei and Pseudochondrostoma polylepis, under baseflow and hydropeaking scenarios.

E-flows to reduce the hydropeaking impacts on the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) habitat. An effectiveness assessment based on the COSH Tool application.

Hydropower plant (HPP) operations, in response to variations in market energy demand and electricity production, can generate rapid and frequent fluctuations of discharge in rivers downstream. This phenomenon, termed hydropeaking, may negatively impact fish populations. The present study aims to investigate the effects of hydropeaking on the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) habitat conditions.

Ecologically-based criteria for hydropeaking mitigation: A review.

Hydroelectric power plants managed in response to sub-daily changes of the electricity market undergo rapid variations of turbine discharge, entailing quickly fluctuating water levels downstream. This operation regime, called hydropeaking, causes numerous adverse impacts on river ecosystems. The hydrological alterations which affect hydropeaking rivers can be described by five parameters that change over space and time (magnitude, rate of change, frequency, duration, and timing), where each parameter may be correlated with distinct environmental impacts and therefore may be used to define flow thresholds and set targets for operational mitigation strategies.

Fish under pressure: Examining behavioural responses of Iberian barbel under simulated hydropeaking with instream structures.

Hydropeaking is the rapid change in the water flow downstream of a hydropower plant, driven by changes in daily electricity demand. These fluctuations may produce negative effects in freshwater fish. To minimize these impacts, previous studies have proposed habitat enhancement structures as potential mitigation measures for salmonids.

Fulfilling spawning flow requirements for potamodromous cyprinids in a restored river segment.

The Baixo Sabor hydroelectric scheme was recently constructed (began operating in 2015), blocking fish migration immediately at the river mouth. As a compensation measure for spawning habitat loss the Vilariça River which confluences with Sabor River, immediately downstream from the Baixo Sabor scheme, was chosen for rehabilitation site as an attempt to replace the spawning grounds lost in Sabor River for the potamodromous cyprinid Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei). Restoration activities included: placement of submerged weirs with fish ramps to increase the lotic/lentic sequence, bank reinforcement, boulder placement and river water profile increase.