Assessing Flow Functionality in Hydropeaking Rivers

<p>The global demand for renewable energy has placed added pressure on communities to increase hydropower development in rivers. While hydropower provides the opportunity for sustainable electricity generation, it is not without environmental impacts and adverse effects to river processes.  Increased understanding of the characteristics of hydropeaking flow regimes and the associated interactions and impacts on stream functions and native biota will help to facilitate improved mitigation measures downstream of hydropower facilities. This presentation provides an overview of several studies that quantify the characteristics of hydropeaks, assess hydropeak attenuation, and evaluate impacts of hydropeaking regimes on benthic communities and native riverine biota.  Building on these studies and examples of hydropeaking impacts on native aquatic species in California, USA, the presentation concludes with recommendations for improved hydropeaking flow management via a Functional Flows approach.</p>