Ahonen, Jani
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Increasing periods of zero-discharge and large fluctuations in discharge are expected in future hydropower operations due to changes in the electricity system, including greater reliance on solar and wind power, as well as increased variability in precipitation driven by climate change. In this study, several types of zero-flow periods were analyzed in a regulated northern river in Sweden. The results highlight different mitigation measures that may be suitable for reducing ecological impacts associated with hydropeaking. The study also evaluates potential improvements that could be achieved by implementing a mean annual low flow instead of zero flow. Overall, the findings demonstrate the value of conducting detailed river-specific analyses to identify effective ecological restoration measures in regulated river systems.
Keywords
2D hydraulic modelling; ecohydraulics; grayling; spawning habitat; regulated river; climate change; hydropeaking
Published in
Water
2026, volume: 18, number: 1, article number: 84
Publisher: MDPI
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w18010084
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/145810