| Many reservoirs
throughout the United States are undergoing the process of hydro-relicensing
as mandated by FERC due to license expiration. During this process,
FERC decides whether it is appropriate to commit the public's river
resources to private power generation. A 1986 ammendment to the
Federal Power Act now requires FERC to balance competing interests in
addition to power generation potential such as energy conservation,
protection of fish and wildlife, protection of recreation opportunities
and preservation of environmental quality. Hydro-relicensing includes
extensive environmental analysis of the impact of the reservoir facility
on water quantity and water quality in the region. Models serve as
excellent tools for conducting this needed analysis. Systech has
experience applying models to aid in the hydro-relicensing process.
For the Catawba River Basin (NC), Systech used WARMF simulate the
potential for low dissolved oxygen in the tailwaters of the Catawba
powerplants. For the Oroville
Facilities (CA) relicensing effort, Systech linked a
water balance and heat budget model with other models to develop and
evaluate operational scenarios to meet the temperature requirements of
fish and rice farmers. |
Lake Oroville Dam (photo:
California DWR)
|
