Hydropower and Fish · Importance of fish & hydropower in Alaska Potential impacts to fish...

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

Megan Marie

ADF&G Habitat

Anchorage, AK

(907) 267-2446

megan.marie@alaska.gov

Questions?