Storages that have been constructed for hydropower production or potable/ irrigation water supply have their own unique set of environmental management challenges, as do the regulated river systems downstream of these storages.

 

The Aquateco team has a long track record in the assessment and management of these systems, contributing aquatic ecosystem and water quality inputs to numerous dam feasibility studies, engineering concept designs, final engineering designs,  construction environmental management plans, operating protocols, approvals processes and ongoing compliance and management.

 

Some of the areas in which we have substantial expertise include :

 

• Ecological implications of flow alteration and setting of protected environmental flows for downstream environments.

• Predictive modelling of hydrodynamics, thermal stratification, habitat availability, algal blooms and other water quality parameters.

• Downstream water quality.

• Hydrology, sediment transport and geomorphology. 

• Alteration of estuarine hydrodynamic regimes.

• Movement of fish and other aquatic biota in regulated systems.

• Setting of drawdown, rampdown and other operational protocols to balance environmental and operational imperatives.

• Prevention of fish stranding or mortality at spillways. 

• Fish salvage and relocation, “trap and truck” fish passage implementation

• Exotic species management (particularly fish and aquatic weeds).

 

Aquateco is a specialist environmental consultancy that has abundant experience in holistic regulated rivers and water storage management for ecological and water quality conservation.

 

Our people have led or been senior contributors to the following projects:

 

• Aquatic Environment Program: Hydro Tasmania.

• Hinze Dam Stage 3 Upgrade Aquatic Ecology Assessments: Hinze Dam, SE Queensland.

• Low Level Drawdown Protocols for Hydropower Storages: Projects in Far North Queensland, SE Queensland and Tasmania.

• Habitat and Water Management during Emergency Storage Drawdown: SE Queensland.

• Predictive Algal Bloom Modelling of Proposed Water Storages: Central Tasmania. 

• Management of Irrigation Storage Algal Blooms and Salinity: Nocton Park, Tasmania. 

• Lungfish Salvage and Relocation: SE Queensland.

 

Aquateco will assist you with the regulation and storage of rivers and aquatic ecosystems. Ask us early for professional advice on environmental approvals and compliance – it’s an often underestimated project cost.