Session C6: Experiences of the Eel-Protective Power Plant Management in the Weser River System
Location
Groningen, The Netherlands
Event Website
http://fishpassage.umass.edu/
Start Date
23-6-2015 5:15 PM
End Date
23-6-2015 5:40 PM
Description
Abstract:
Legal and political requirements expect all sectors in society to take river ecosystem health and biodiversity into consideration. Statkraft, international leader in hydropower and Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy has implemented an early-warning system in combination with a fish-friendly turbine management for all its run-of-river hydropower plants located along the Weser river system.
The European eel (A. anguilla) stock is highly endangered and faces multiple stressors such as pollution, overfishing, lack of habitat as well ecological discontinuity through run-of-river hydropower stations and weirs, especially during migrating season (Aug-Feb). When migrating, there is a risk for silver eel getting injured by intake rakes and turbine blades. The eel-friendly turbine passage is currently considered to be the best practice in protecting migrating silver eel by reducing injuries during turbine passage and by significantly increasing the total survival rate. The eel-protective power plant management addresses one critical life phase for the endangered silver eel and is a sustainable, economic as well ecologic long term solution significantly increasing the number of eel leaving European freshwaters, which is, from a management perspective, likely to be the most effective route to improving eel stock. Experiences and results of 3 years operation mode will be presented.
Session C6: Experiences of the Eel-Protective Power Plant Management in the Weser River System
Groningen, The Netherlands
Abstract:
Legal and political requirements expect all sectors in society to take river ecosystem health and biodiversity into consideration. Statkraft, international leader in hydropower and Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy has implemented an early-warning system in combination with a fish-friendly turbine management for all its run-of-river hydropower plants located along the Weser river system.
The European eel (A. anguilla) stock is highly endangered and faces multiple stressors such as pollution, overfishing, lack of habitat as well ecological discontinuity through run-of-river hydropower stations and weirs, especially during migrating season (Aug-Feb). When migrating, there is a risk for silver eel getting injured by intake rakes and turbine blades. The eel-friendly turbine passage is currently considered to be the best practice in protecting migrating silver eel by reducing injuries during turbine passage and by significantly increasing the total survival rate. The eel-protective power plant management addresses one critical life phase for the endangered silver eel and is a sustainable, economic as well ecologic long term solution significantly increasing the number of eel leaving European freshwaters, which is, from a management perspective, likely to be the most effective route to improving eel stock. Experiences and results of 3 years operation mode will be presented.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conference/2015/June23/41
Comments
Presenting Author Bio: Dr. Sonja Stendera is an aquatic ecologist with international research experience in freshwater ecology. She is now the environmental coordinator at Statkraft in Germany responsible for implementing the WFD and fish protection measures at their run-of-river hydropower plants.