Author(s): Serhat Kucukali; Ahmet Alp; Adil Akyuz

Linked Author(s): Serhat Kucukali

Keywords: Sustainable Hydropower; Hydropeaking; Pool-riffle; Radio telemetry

Abstract: Hydropeaking, the alteration of flow resulting from rapid and frequent changes in electricity production at hydropower plants, is an emerging issue for a range of countries. This study was carried out downstream of Cataloluk Hydropower Plant (HHP) plant in Tekir Stream in the Ceyhan River basin, located in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. In Tekir Stream, the flow regime and hydromorphology changed after the Cataloluk hydropower plant began operation in 2009. There is a minimum environmental flow at certain times of the day and also a maximum flow (hydropeaking) occurred in a certain period of time. As a result, the downstream river flow regime is altered due to unnatural, rapid, and significant fluctuations in discharge. Accordingly, the habitat of Salaria fluviatilis was degraded and this fish species has disappeared in the tributaries of the Ceyhan River basin. Habitat surveys were conducted at several cross-sections in the longitudinal profile of the Tekir and Firniz streams. The local velocities and flow depths were measured by a propeller-type current meter. Information was gathered on local fish populations in the project area. Also, Fish Home Range (movement range) was obtained by using the radio telemetry method. The distance between an individual fish’s most upstream and most downstream relocation points was calculated and assigned as the linear home range (LHR). In order to identify core areas of most frequent use (95%, 75 and 50%) for fish with their linear home range, Kernel density home range analysis (KDHR) was applied using ArcMap 9.2 software. At least eight relocations per individual were considered to estimate Kernel density analysis. The distribution of the relocations of the tagged Capoeata Damescina and their individual Kernel Density Ranges for 95%, 75 and 50% are 11300 m, 4359 m, and 2988 m, respectively. Moreover, we observed that the majority of the radio-tagged fish migrated to the reservoir, but a few individuals refuge in the pools, which are local topographic depressions where a body of water and core sediments are stored, due to hydropeaking. Our monitoring study suggests that pool-riffle morphology can be implemented to mitigate hydropeaking severe negative impacts on the aquatic ecosystem.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-90-833476-1-5_iahr40wc-p1109-cd

Year: 2023