Dam removal: Ecohydraulics of benthic species

BLETTLER MARTIN

Chinon

Workshop; Ecohydraulics and dam removal workshop; 2016

During the 20th century, humans dammed and regulated rivers for reasons such as hydropower, flood control, domestic water supply, navigation, recreation, etc. The increasing number of deteriorating old dams make dam removal a viable management option. One challenge lies in determining the magnitude, timing, and range of physical, chemical, and ecological responses that can be expected following dam removal. Published studies conducted in conjunction with about 100 U.S. dam removals and at least 26 removals outside the U.S. are now providing detailed insights into how rivers respond. However, there is only one project in South America which considers the dam removal in the Pandeiros River (tributary of the São Francisco River), Brazil. In this presentation it is proposed the use of the eco-hydraulics and data-mining as tools to infer and predict ecological impacts of dam removal projects.