Cumulative Impact Assessment: Application of a Methodology

by G. W. Witmer, Argonne Natl Lab, Portland, OR, USA,
M. B. Bain, Argonne Natl Lab, Portland, OR, USA,
J. S. Irving, Argonne Natl Lab, Portland, OR, USA,
R. L. Kruger, Argonne Natl Lab, Portland, OR, USA,
T. A. O'Neil, Argonne Natl Lab, Portland, OR, USA,
R. D. Olsen, Argonne Natl Lab, Portland, OR, USA,
E. A. Stull, Argonne Natl Lab, Portland, OR, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water Power '87

Abstract:

The authors expanded upon the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Cluster Impact Assessment Procedure (CIAP) to provide a practical methodology for assessing potential cumulative impacts from multiple hydroelectric projects within a river basin. The objectives in designing the methodology were to allow the evaluation of a large number of combinations of proposed projects and to minimize constraints on the use of ecological knowledge for planning and regulating hydroelectric development at the river basin level. Interactive workshops and evaluative matrices were used to identify preferred development scenarios in the Snohomish (Washington) and Salmon (Idaho) River Basins. Although the methodology achieved its basic objectives, some difficulties were encountered. These revolved around issues of 1) data quality and quantity, 2) alternatives analysis, 3) determination of project interactions, 4) determination of cumulative impact thresholds, and 5) the use of evaluative techniques to express degrees of impact.

Subject Headings: Hydro power | Project management | Basins | Rivers and streams | Water quality | Data analysis | Water flow

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