Using IFIM at the Upper Greenwich Project and Other Hydropower Developments

by Wayne Rogers, Synergics, Inc, United States,
Christian Crow, Synergics, Inc, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Waterpower '89

Abstract:

The Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) is widely used at numerous hydroelectric projects today for determining flow releases. IFIM is capable of quantifying changes in aquatic habitat with changes in flow. For hydropower projects, flow equates to power generation and revenue, and IFIM enables the user to analyze the tradeoffs between flow for aquatic habitat and flow for power generation. An IFIM study was conducted at the Upper Greenwich hydropower project to determine the minimum flow release requirement. Size and importance of affected (bypass) area, importance and status of resource, non-flow factors affecting the resource, adequacy of biological data, and level of (IFIM) training of the parties involved should all be carefully considered before deciding on a methodology for determining instream flow. For the Upper Greenwich project, numerous factors were carefully considered before an IFIM study was conducted. This careful planning resulted in a final minimum flow release requirement of 80 cfs.

Subject Headings: Hydro power | Streamflow | Project management | Flow measurement | Aquatic habitats | Vegetation | Power plants

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