Habitat Conservation
Dam Relicensing
The Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission authorizes the initial construction of non-Federal
hydropower projects (i.e., dam construction) and reconsiders licenses
every 30 to 50 years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducts environmental
reviews during relicensing.
Although
hydropower projects can be an important source of renewable energy, they
also dramatically change the nature of rivers. Some of the impacts that
result from dam construction and maintenance include changing the natural
seasonal pattern of river flows, creating reservoirs, blocking fish passage,
fragmenting river systems, and increasing streambank erosion.
Dams
block the upstream and downstream movement of fish. Here, sturgeon
congregate at the base of a dam that is preventing them from swimming
upstream to spawn.
|
photo by USFWS |
Our
environmental reviews result in license conditions that address those
impacts and improve fish and wildlife habitat. For example:
Otter
Tail River, Minnesota
In coordination with the Minnesota Department of Natural resources, the
Service recommended measures to improve flow conditions at five existing
hydro projects on the Otter Tail River. Stable flow operations at four
of five individual projects and substantially increased flows in another
section of the river were included as conditions in the new license. As
a result, habitat was improved for fish and other aquatic species in over
24 miles of river.
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