Implementing science-based model tools in the revision of Swedish hydropower plant licenses - the importance of habitat and connectivity

Swedish hydropower is currently undergoing a re-licensing process to meet modern environmental standards. As hydropower dams block and hinder animal movements, we will focus on the situation for migrating fish populations.

Representatives from industry, management and academia will work together and use novel model tools to quantify and compare effects of improving habitat and connectivity for salmon and trout populations.

Using three case rivers, each one including a unique set of challenges and opportunities, we will address various scenarios involving improved habitat and connectivity and their synergistic effects.

In the first case (river Dammån, WP1), we address the importance of competition in the adult trout habitat, and we will estimate key demographic parameters for lake habitats.

In Emån (WP2), we model a network of juvenile habitats and hydropower plants, allowing us to investigate where in the network remedial actions will have the largest effect.

In Dalälven (WP3), the focus is on the lower reaches of the river, where competition between salmonid species and effects of predation will be modelled.

The model tool estimates the ecological benefits of remedial measures in each case and our aim is to develop the models to facilitate usage in the re-licensing process.

As a part of making knowledge about the model tools available we will compile information needed to implement the models at a larger scale via a web page.