Author(s): J. Jekabsone; T. Kolcova; A. Klaseva; M. Cicendajeva; M. Vehi

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Hydromorphological alterations; Small hydropower plants; Fish communities; MesoHABSIM; Latvia

Abstract: More than 144 small hydropower plants are installed on Latvian small and middle-sized rivers and hydrological alterations are one of most significant pressures within water bodies. Depending on river basin districts about 27%-38% of catchments are inaccessible to migratory fishes because of dams. Comparison of long-term hydrographs between natural and impacted rivers revealed extended low flow periods and large water level fluctuations. However, the biological response is still unclear. It is evident that traditionally used biotic indices are not sensitive enough to assess hydromorphological alterations and one of possible solutions is to use the meso-scale habitat model MesoHABSIM which predicts changes in habitat suitability for fish.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-981-11-2731-1_379-cd

Year: 2018