Balancing Hydropower Development in the Ohio River Basin.

摘要

A large number of retrofit hydroelectric projects have been proposed at existing navigation dams in the Ohio River Basin. These proposals involve potentially adverse environmental impacts, including reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations from decreased aeration at dams. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission completed an environmental impact statement for 24 proposed projects at 19 dams on the Ohio, Monongahela, Allegheny, and Muskingum rivers, evaluating the cumulative impacts of hydropower development on more than 500 miles (800 km) of river. The use of models in this assessment proved extremely valuable for understanding the cumulative impacts of hydropower development on water quality in the basin and for balancing power and environmental quality considerations in the licensing process. 9 refs., 4 figs.