Surveying Dewatered Areas in the Fish Spawning Sites during Short-Term Drawdown Operations: Case Study of a Large Hydropower Plant Reservoir in the Lowland Area, Lithuania

Linas Jurevičius (), Petras Punys (), Egidijus Kasiulis and Linas Šilinis
Additional contact information
Linas Jurevičius: Department of Water Engineering, Vytautas Magnus University, 10 Universiteto Str., Akademija, 53361 Kaunas, Lithuania
Petras Punys: Department of Water Engineering, Vytautas Magnus University, 10 Universiteto Str., Akademija, 53361 Kaunas, Lithuania
Egidijus Kasiulis: Department of Water Engineering, Vytautas Magnus University, 10 Universiteto Str., Akademija, 53361 Kaunas, Lithuania
Linas Šilinis: Department of Water Engineering, Vytautas Magnus University, 10 Universiteto Str., Akademija, 53361 Kaunas, Lithuania

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-19

Abstract: This paper presents research on the dewatering areas during drawdown operations in the Kaunas Hydropower Plant (HPP) reservoir situated in the lowland area of Lithuania. It is a multipurpose reservoir primarily used for power generation by two large hydropower plants. Because of the HPP peaking operation and the reservoir morphology—a shallow, gently sloping littoral zone—significant dewatered areas can occur (during drawdown operations). This is especially dangerous during the fish spawning period. Therefore, reservoir operation rules are in force that limit operation of the HPPs and secure other reservoir stakeholder needs. There is a lack of knowledge about the fish spawning locations, how they are changing, and what areas are dewatered at different stages of HPP operation. This knowledge is crucial for decision making and efficient water resources management in order to increase power generation and protect the environment at the same time. A detailed survey of an area containing several potential spawning grounds (about 5 ha) was conducted to track changes in the dewatering areas. The aim of the study is to investigate different surveying methods, gather knowledge about potential fish spawning sites, and investigate the dewatered areas that occur during water level (WL) fluctuations. The methodology and insights of this study can be used in similar lowland countries to assist in improving the usage of water resources while increasing power generation.

Keywords: hydropower; fish spawning sites; large reservoir; drawdown operations; dewatering areas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/22/8574/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/22/8574/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:22:p:8574-:d:974533

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().