Production potential of hydropower, regulatory capacity and future fish populations (PORTFOLIO)

In this project, we investigate how the regulatory capacity of hydropower can be combined with minimal environmental damage in a future climate.

We focus on the link between hydropeaking and its effects on fish populations, taking into consideration altered flow patterns due to climate change.

We will develop and apply a framework based on the portfolio concept to design and prioritize mitigation actions in a catchment area.

The portfolio effect relies on the fact that the variation of a system will be lower than the mean variation of its components when they vary asynchronously. This results in increased stability in the production of ecosystem services as well as regulatory power.

Here, we will build upon several research projects on applied fish ecology and hydropower, and the results will provide the industry and water managers with tools to find efficient and complementing methods to preserve both biodiversity and regulatory power.