Author(s): Patrick A. March; Paul N. Hopping

Linked Author(s): Patrick March

Keywords: No Keywords

Abstract: Although of minor concern prior to about 1970, environmental problems stemming from turbine discharges of low dissolved oxygen (DO) continue to receive important attention as a significant issue at many hydroelectric facilities The U.S. Department of Energy recently found improving low DO, along with providing fish passage and minimum flow, to be one of the most important environmental mitigation issues for the hydropower industry (USDOE, 1991). In the United States, attention to low DO is driven primarily by the Electric Consumers Protection Act (ECPA) of 1986. For a given project, ECPA provides a process by which the development of hydropower shall be balanced with concerns for the protection of wildlife, fish, recreation, and other environmental- related site characteristics. As a result of ECPA, and based on criteria by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), specifications for monitoring and maintaining DO levels are becoming a regular part of license agreements for affected hydroplants. In these situations, utilities must provide a method to increase the DO in the turbine releases.

DOI:

Year: 1997