Run-of-River hydropower and salmonids: potential effects and perspective on future research

The spatial footprint of individual run-of-river (RoR) hydropower facilities is smaller than reservoir-storage hydroelectric projects and their impacts to aquatic ecosystems are often assumed to be negligible. However, these effects are poorly understood, especially for salmonids whose freshwater habitat often overlaps with RoR hydropower potential. Flow regulation for RoR hydropower is unique in how it influences the seasonality and magnitude of flow diversion, and because low-head dams can be overtopped at high flows. Based on a review of the primary literature, we identified three pathways of effects by which RoR hydropower may influence salmonids: reduction of flow, presence of low-head dams impounding rivers, and anthropogenic flow fluctuations. We synthesized empirical evidence of effects of RoR hydropower on river ecosystems from 31 papers, of which only ten explicitly considered salmonids. We identified key research gaps including impacts of extended low flow periods, anthropogenic flow fluctuations, and cumulative effects of multiple RoR projects. Filling these gaps is necessary to help manage and conserve salmonid populations in the face of the growing global demand for small-scale hydropower.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author