Hydropower Planning Around

Ecologically Sensitive Areas ISH01 STUDY: IDENTIFICATION OF ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE SUB-BASINS FOR

SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT ON TRIBUTARIES

Birgit Vogel

RBMsolutions -

River Basin Management

Vienna, Austria

1

Sustainable Hydropower Practice Forum:

MRC Studies, Guidelines and Tools

25 - 26 October 2015

Bangkok, Thailand

ISH01

Background

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The ISH01 study was undertaken between June 2013 – November 2015

Scale and focus of the study:

Sub-Basin Level

Pilot basin testing

Sre Pok river basin

Local/national scale in the regional context

104 LMB sub-basins

Proposal for up-scaling

Basin-wide/regional scale

What is an ESA in the LMB Context ?

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A functioning ‘Ecologically Sensitive Area’ in the LMB context

is defined as an area that

•contains high ecological value/importance,

•supports sustainable ecological processes in support of socio-economic and

ecological value,

•supports the sustainability of ecosystem services and, hence, livelihoods

(ecosystem services),

•is fragile to impacts no matter if human and/or natural, and, hence

•is at possible risk to lose its support of ecological value and processes by these

impacts.

Pressures from hydropower may negatively impact on

ESAs and related river reaches

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The ISH01 TOOL AND ITS ASSESSMENT POTENTIAL

TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER PLANNING

ISH01 Framework and Tools

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ISH01 and its

activities/outcomes

Planning and management framework for

sustainable hydropower in LMB tributaries

Tool for integrated

decision making

ISH01 provides an Integrated Decision Making Tool

Combination into a Holistic Approach

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The approach and tools of ISH01 have potential to support

Operation and development

of sustainable LMB hydropower

Protection and conservation

of Ecologically Sensitive Areas

Socio-economic benefit from (i) energy generation

and (ii) functioning ecosystem services

ISH01 Products and Outcomes 7 ISH01

AN APPROACH to identify Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in sub-basins

EASY-TO-APPLY

FRAMEWORK

for planning and management in LMB tributaries combining

the identified ESAs with hydropower to support sustainable

decision making

FINDINGS are available from assessments in selected LMB pilot basins

A PROPOSAL for up-scaling the identification of ESAs as well as the

hydropower planning and management framework to the

LMB basin-wide scale

Assessment results enable a (sub)basin-wide overview on

possible impacts from hydropower on ESA related river reaches

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Approach of the ISH01 Tool at One Glance

PerformRiskEs ma onbasedonthekeyques on:Dotheiden fiedpressuretypesimpact

ontheESArelatedriverreaches?Implementa onofriskcriteria

NotatRisk

AtRisk

PossiblyatRisk

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WHAT DOES THE ISH01 TOOL DELIVER ?

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Combination of spatial importance and sensitivity to human pressures of Candidate Ecological Areas are identified as ESAs according to a coherent scheme:

Low Medium High Too

impacted

Local

National

Regional

Global

Unidentified

Human Pressure

Spatial Im

port

ance

High ESA

High ESA

High ESA High ESA

High ESA High ESA High ESA

Medium

ESA

Medium

ESA

Medium

ESA

Medium

ESA

Medium

ESA

Low ESA Low ESA

Low ESA

Low ESA

Identified Ecologically Sensitive Areas

The importance of fish migration in sub-basins and link to the Mekong mainstream is taken into account

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Step 4: Identification of ESAs Sre Pok Sub-Basin

ESAs are also related to river reaches

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Merged ESAs with existing/planned HPPs

Identified Key Pressure Types from HPPs 13 ISH01

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….on ESA related river reaches

Stepwise risk assessment approach applying risk criteria aligned to

best practices

Risk criteria in place for EACH hydropower pressure type

Full Risk Assessment of Hydropower Impacts from Pressures

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….on ESA related river reaches

Allocation to 3 risk categories: at risk; possibly at risk; not at risk

Full Risk Assessment of Hydropower Impacts from Pressures

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Combination & Interpretation of Risk Assessment Results

Overall Risk

Fish migration barrier

Sediment interruption

Sediment flushing effect

Hydropeaking impacts

Reduced inundation

Insufficient env. flow

Reservoir effect

Impacted water quality

Altered habitats

Indiv

idual R

isk A

ssessm

ent R

esults

at risk possibly at risk not at risk

Sre Pok River (confluence to source) & hydropower dams Initial Basis for strategic decision making regarding hydropower

Key Benefits of the ISH01 Approach

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ISH01 approach has strong potential to support sustainable hydropower

planning and management - Effective and simple tool

Basin-wide overview at one glance on ESAs and possible HPP impact on these

Indication on potential areas of conflict

Basis for first stage decision making

Transparent risk assessment based on expert judgement applying criteria

Concrete conclusions on hydropower impacts on river reaches

Good overview on existing AND future situation in a river basin

Decision making possible before investing in EIAs

(ISH01 approach does not replace an EIA)

Key Benefits of the ISH01 Approach

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Integrative Planning and Management Tool

Integration of all dams (existing/planned) into one assessment

Not only case-by-case consideration

Considerations on transboundary and cumulative impacts possible

Approach and results transparent to all involved

Decision makers, water managers, hydropower operators/developers

Establishment of common understanding to meet the right decisions

Decision Making, Planning and Management

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…..towards sustainability. Adding up to the presented benefits.

Planned hydropower projects

Planning basis to address mitigation measures & compensate impacts

Basis to decide if alternative sources and sites should be identified

Existing hydropower projects

Understand their contribution to impacts in a basin

Enables considerations to set ‘retrofitting measures’ to reduce impacts

ISH01 overview is possible for the entire LMB:

Proposal for up-scaling to all sub-basins

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THANK YOU.

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In case of questions please contact: Birgit Vogel RBMsolutions – River Basin Management bv@rbm-solutions.com