effect of hydropower on fish stocks: comparison between cascade and non-cascade reservoirs

• Published in: Hydrobiologia 2008-09, Vol.609 (1), p.25-36
• Main Authors: DRASTIK, V, KUBECKA, J, TUSER, M, CECH, M, FROUZOVA, J, JAROLIM, O, PRCHALOVA, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal and plant ecology; Animal populations; Animal reproduction; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Dams; Ecology; Eifac 2006: Dams; Fish; Flood control; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Hydroelectric plants; Hydroelectric power; Life Sciences; Marine conservation; Oxygen; Primary production; Reservoirs; Rivers; Spatial distribution; Summer; Synecology; Thermocline; Tributaries; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Vertical distribution; Water inflow; Weirs and Fish; Zoology
• ISSN: 0018-8158; 1573-5117
• DOI: 10.1007/s10750-008-9393-1

Spatial distributions of fish were studied in two types of reservoirs by means of hydroacoustics during the summer. Different patterns of fish distribution were found in non-cascade (Římov, Želivka) and cascade (Kamýk, Slapy, Štěchovice, Vrané) reservoirs. Maximum biomass and density of fish were observed in the tributary area of the non-cascade reservoir. The biomass declined towards the dam area. Average weight of fish showed the opposite trend--maximum average weight was observed in the dam area and declined towards the tributary area. In the cascade reservoirs fish distribution was found to be more complicated but the maximum biomass and density of fish were observed in the dam areas, whereas the tributary areas were nearly fishless. Poor ecohydrological conditions in the tributaries of cascade reservoirs are likely to be responsible for the low abundance of fish in these areas. This was evident in the example of Vrané reservoir which has two major inflows. Low biomass and density of fish were observed in the cold and low oxygen saturated inflowing cascade Vltava River while higher biomass and density were observed in the warm and well oxygen saturated Sázava River inflow. Average weights of fish followed the same trend as in non-cascade reservoirs--the maximum was in the dam area and it declined towards the tributary area. The vertical distribution of fish is driven by the fully developed stratification of temperature and oxygen during the summer season in non-cascade reservoirs. A significantly lower biomass of fish was observed below the thermocline in vertical surveys in both non-cascade and cascade reservoirs. Summer stratification in cascade reservoirs is weakly developed or is not developed at all due to hypolimnetic releases of cold water and short retention times. High transparency suggests lower primary production in cascade reservoirs.