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Shared Solutions: Cooperative Hydropower Re-Licensing in the Great Lakes Region |
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Project Manager: Andrew Fahlund, American Rivers
Phone: (202) 347-7550 ext.3022
E-mail: afahlund@amrivers.org
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Natural System and Location:
Various tributaries to the Great Lakes in Michigan, New York, and Wisconsin
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Hypothesis/Goal:
The Great Lakes and their tributaries historically shared a connected and symbiotic relationship, but for the past 100 years this connection has been severed and altered by the citing and operation of dams. Hydroelectric dams in particular have had a profound effect on Great Lakes tributaries and subsequently on the lakes themselves by altering the timing and magnitude of inflow, fragmenting and isolating the uplands, and altering habitats. Regulation of hydropower dams can be a contentious and acrimonious endeavor but the Hydropower Reform Coalition seeks to use collaboration and cooperation to bring stakeholders together from industry, agencies, and the public to facilitate mutual gains through settlement to improve streams impacted by hydropower dams.
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Restoration Strategy:
Using a variation of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's hydropower licensing process, the HRC supports collaborative problem solving to change the way in which hydropower dams operate that better protects and restores Great Lakes tributaries and their constituent species. For example, these changes include more natural flows, provisions for fish passage, water quality monitoring, and habitat protection and restoration. American Rivers (in conjunction with the Hydropower Reform Coalition) will continue its cooperative hydropower re-licensing efforts on Great Lakes tributaries. The coalition will employ a collaborative approach among state and federal agencies, licensees, non-government organizations, and communities in re-licensing proceedings and will ensure that license conditions are implemented. The project will seek changes to instream flow amounts, flow timing, barriers to fish passage and riparian land protections. This project includes work on 76 dams in 22 drainage basins in New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
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Anticipated Outcomes/Environmental Affects:
Following the changes in the way that these projects operate, coupled with the expenditure of restoration funds established by dam owners through settlement, we have already seen improvements to fisheries and riverine habitat. Improvements to the Great Lakes themselves is a much longer timeframe and will take a more holistic approach that addresses other tributary impacts. In particular, fish passage on the St. Lawrence River will have an enormous impact within 5 to 10 years of its construction.
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Progress to Date:
American Rivers and the HydroPower Reform coalition are currently engaged in negotiation, settlement, and implementation phases for FERC re-licensing for 72 dams in 19 river basins in New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Licensing agreements are being implemented for 60 of the dams. The remaining 12 dams are still in the negotiation phase. Implementation projects have been very successful at improving natural flows, particularly in river reaches below the lower-most dam on each tributary. Biological responses are being monitored. Coalition contracted with consultant to develop materials to educate the public about the benefits of changing operations of hydropower dams.
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