Water Stewardship Information Sources
| Citation | ESSA Technologies Ltd, Limnotek Research and Development Ltd and WaterSmith Research. 2014. Independent Review: Potential Impacts of Run-of-River Power Hydroprojects on Salmonids. Commissioned by Clean Energy BC. |
|---|---|
| Organization | Clean Energy BC |
| URL | http://www.cleanenergybc.org/media/RoR_Report_140129%20(3).pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | Salmonids (which include salmon, trout, char, whitefish and grayling) are very important to the people and ecosystems of British Columbia (BC). In recent years, concerns have been raised about the potential for run-of-river hydroelectric projects to adversely affect resident and anadromous salmonids in BC. These concerns led three entities to jointly commission and fund an independent review of run-of-river hydroelectric projects in BC: the Clean Energy Association of British Columbia (CEBC), the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Living Rivers Trust Fund (established by the Province of BC). The Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) was asked to lead the review. The PSF conducted a competitive proposal process, and chose ESSA Technologies Ltd. to complete the review. A Public Advisory Committee consisting of academic, First Nations, industry and non-governmental organization (NGO) participants provided feedback during each stage of the review. The focus of the review was the 44 stream-based run-of-river facilities currently operating in BC. A typical stream-based run-of-river facility consists of a weir or low-head dam that enables the diversion of water through a penstock, tunnel or canal to a lower elevation powerhouse with a turbine where electricity is generated. The diverted water is then discharged back into the stream channel either directly or through a short channel called a tailrace. The structure of a typical run-of-river facility naturally separates a project into three sections or stream reaches: the section immediately upstream of the point of diversion, the diversion section between the point of diversion and the point at which diverted water is returned to the stream, and the section downstream of the tailrace. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Province |
| Sub-watershed if known | |
| Aquifer # | |
| Comments | |
| Project status | |
| Contact Name | |
| Contact Email |