While hydroelectric power is an important source of energy,
development and relicensing of hydropower projects must include
environmentally sound measures that provide for protection of the
natural resources of the Nation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service) of the
Department of the Interior is authorized to conserve, protect, 
and enhance the
Nation's fish and wildlife resources. The agency's mission is 
carried out through a
variety of programs, including environmental reviews of Federal 
licenses.


ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

	Hydropower projects use flowing waters to generate electricity. 
The energy
of flowing waters is controlled hy damming rivers or diverting 
water from natural
river channels. The operation of hydropower projects may result 
in periodic
flooding for miles downstream, which can increase riverbank 
erosion and harm
fish, invertebrates, amphibians, and other aquatic life. 
Operation may also
periodically result in extremely low flows that severely stress 
fish. The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service addresses these issues and recommends 
necessary
river flows and other mitigation to protect aquatic resources in 
the reaches of rivers
impacted by a dam or diversion.

	A major issue at most hydropower projects is the amount and 
timing of
alterations in water flow caused by power generation. Streamfiow 
changes can
have both immediate and long-term impacts on aquatic life and on 
basic
components of the water quality such as temperature and amount of 
dissolved
oxygen. Flow changes and impoundment of water affect not just the 
river itself,
but the associated streamside (riparian) and wetland habitats.

	Service biologists are also concerned about the effects of dams 
and
diversions, which act as barriers to the movement of fish. 
Anadromous fish, such
as Pacific salmon and steelbead trout, spend most of their adult 
life in the ocean
but require rivers to reproduce. To complete their life cycles 
they migrate from
their native river to the ocean where they may spend several 
years before
returning to spawn. Riverine fish, like sturgeon, trout, the 
endangered Colorado
squawfish, paddlefish, walleye, and many others, migrate within a 
river at different
life stages. They must move between areas for food, spawning, 
overwintering, and
population dispersion.
	As a result, the Service prescribes the construction of fish 
ladders or other
measures as needed in a license to provide for the safe and 
efficient passage of
fish to upstream areas. For fish migrating downstream, the 
Service may specify
bypass facilities to direct fish safely around the dam and away 
from the project's
turbines. Fish carried along by the water flowing into turbines 
can be killed or
seriously injured by the turbine blade, or become trapped against 
screens
designed to protect turbines. Service biologists identify 
appropriate measures to
protect fish from death or injury, including fish screens or 
specially designed
trash racks.

	In recent years, several species of salmon and mussels have been 
listed as
threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Surveys
conducted by researchers indicate that more than 30% of the 
fishes and 70% of
the freshwater mussels in U.S. river systems are rare or 
imperiled. These aquatic
species and their habitats, as well as terrestrial threatened and 
endangered
species such as the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, Indiana bat, 
and several
wetland plants, are routinely considered by Service biologists in 
reviewing
proposed hydropower projects.

	Finally, a hydropower project's potential impacts on upland areas 
require
assessment. The creation of a new reservoir may flood land 
previously used by
animals such as moose, bear, mink, raccoons, turtles, and game 
birds. Also,
many projects require transmission lines and corridors to be 
built to get the
power to market. These corridors may fragment natural habitat and 
create flight
hazards to migratory birds. Maintaining a corridor using 
herbicides may cause
adverse side effects to wildlife. Service biologists identify 
appropriate measures
to avoid or minimize these and other impacts.
ROLE of ThE U.S. Fish ANd WILDLIFE SERVICE
    Service biologists are trained in fisheries and	 projects 
associated with a Federal dam
wildlife biology and have considerable experience	  or Federal 
property
in reviewing environmental impacts of various	 projects linked to 
interstate power grids
types of land and water development projects.
This technical knowledge and environmental	    Licenses are issued 
for up to 50 years for new
expertise results in the Service providing thorough	hydropower 
projects or for existing projects with
technical evaluations of the impacts of hydropower	expiring 
licenses (which must go through a
projects on fish and wildlife.	relicensing process). Many older 
projects were
	licensed when environmental safeguards for fish
    The Federal Power Act defines the	and wildlife were not 
mandated by law or even
responsibilities of the Fish and Wildlife Service in	considered 
necessary. In such cases, Service
reviewing the environmental impacts of	review of hydropower 
projects is even more critical
hydropower projects that require a license from the	in order to 
gain protection for fish and wildlife.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
	    Service involvement with most projects
	begins several years before an application is filed
	with FERC. In this pre-filing (initial) consultation,
	an applicant is required to consult with the Service
	about what types of resources may be affected by
	specific project plans. The Service recommends
	necessary scientific studies to identify potential
	impacts of the project on fish and wildlife,
	including related habitat, and appropriate measures
	to avoid or reduce the impacts.

	The applicant then undertakes the studies
identified by the Service as well as those identified
by the National Marine Fisheries Service, state fish
and wildlife agencies, and affected Indian tribes.
Such studies may include instream flow studies of
riverine areas that would be affected by modified
flows, or in the case of existing projects

The Federal Power Act authorizes the Service to
provide requirements for fish passage, and recoin-
mendations for the protection and enhancement of
fish and wildlife resources. Other laws that define
the role of the Service in reviewing hydropower
projects include the Endangered Species Act, the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the National
Environmental Policy Act, and the Clean Water Act.
Service recommendations result in conditions that
FERC includes in hydropower licenses.
    The following types of hydropower projects	undergoing 
relicensing, analysis of the numbers
require a FERC license:	and species of fish that are injured and 
killed by
	passing through project turbines. A draft
 non-Federal projects located on navigable	application is 
provided to the Service for review
  waterways	and comment.
	After an applicant files its final application
and FERC determines the application is complete,
the Service submits the results of its evaluation of
the project, including recommendations to protect
fish and wildlife resources and any prescribed fish
passage measures. If the project is located on
lands administered by the Service, such as a
National Wildlife Refuge or National Fish Hatchery,
the Service describes any mandatory terms and
conditions to ensure that the project is consistent
with the purposes of the refuge or hatchery.

	After FERC receives agency and public
comments, it conducts a review of the merits of the
project. This analysis attempts to balance the
developmental and resource values of the affected
river. FERC must include the Service's
requirements for fish passage in any license issued
and must also include recommendations to protect
and enhance fish and wildlife unless it concludes
that the Service's recommendations would be
inconsistent with the Federal Power Act. The law
establishes procedures for coordination on these
matters. The Service continues to be involved in
most projects after FERC issues a license by
assisting the project sponsor in complying with the
fish and wildlife terms in the license, including
post-licensing studies.
	Participation of the Service in FERC's
hydropower regulatory program has resulted in
many benefits for the Nation's fish and wildlife
resources. The following examples provide an
overview of the significant contributions Service
expertise in fish and wildlife matters has made to
riverine resources affected by the construction and
operation of hydropower projects.
EXAMPLES

of ThE
U.S.
Fish ANd
WiLdlifE
SERViCE'S

ROLE
SUSQUEHANNA RIVER PROJECTS,
PENNSYLVANIA

	Four large hydroelectric dams block passage
of anadromous fish to historic spawning waters of
the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. The
Service was instrumental in convincing FERC to
consolidate the relicensing cases of all the
hydropower projects in order to address fish
passage needs. Service biologists defined a
longterm restoration program for American shad
which resulted in settlement agreements with the
affected utilities.
	During 1984-1993, cooperative efforts by
utilities and governmental agencies focused on
rebuilding the shad stock returning to the river.
Success in this effort led to construction of a fish
passage facility at the lowermost dam and an
agreement with the three remaining utility
companies to complete fish passage at their dams
by the year 2000. Once completed, shad, river
herring, and other migratory fish will have access
to over 300 miles of spawning habitat in the
Susquehanna River.
JORDAN DAM,
ALABAMA

	Based on Service recommendations, FERC
required the power company to increase the
minimum flow release below the Jordan Dam on
the Coosa River in Alabama. When the dam was
built, approximately eight miles of the river became
a series of ponds; flows needed to sustain the
endangered Tulotoma snail. paddlefish, and a
trophy striped bass fishery were cut off. Numbers
and diversity of fish and numbers of Tulotoma
snails have increased with the release of flows
downstream.
OTTER TAIL RIVER PROJECTS
MINNESOTA

	In coordination with the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources, the Service
recommended measures to improve flow
conditions at five existing hydro projects in the
Otter Tail River. Based on instream flow studies
conducted for the project, stable flow project
operations at four of five individual projects and
substantially increased flows in another section of
the river were required during relicensing. As a
result, habitat conditions have been greatly
improved for fish and other aquatic species in over
24 miles of river.
SKAGIT PROJECT,
WASHINGTON

	Service overview and input in 11 years of
studies and negotiations yielded agreements for
protection, mitigation, and enhancement of fish
and wildlife resources in the relicensing of three
dams on the Skagit River in western Washington.
River flows will be increased and habitat enhanced
to benefit salmon and other native river species.
Over 5000 acres of wildlife habitat will be
preserved and ecosystem monitoring and research
are part of the plan. Additionally, eroded sites
along project reservoirs and roads will be stabilized
and replanted with native vegetation.
PIT RIVER PROJECTS 3, 4, ANd 5,
CALIFORNIA

	Negotiations with the developer of the Pit 3.
4, and 5 Projects on the Pit River in California will
allow improved instream flows to support
restoration of bald eagle populations in the basin.
Since initiation of minimum flow release below the
Pit 3 dam, studies have documented increased
numbers of fish favored by bald eagles and
improved angling success for rainbow trout.
CONEROSS PROJECT,
SOLTH CAROLINA

	Studies, negotiation, and Service involvement
resulted in increased flows required by FERC. The
flow regime allows for seasonal fish passage, fish
habitat, and invertebrate production in a formerly
dewatered reach of Coneross Creek in South
Carolina.


STILES DAM,
WISCONSIN

	The results of an instream flow study
conducted cooperatively by the Service and the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources led to
substantial increases in minimum flow releases at
the Stiles Dam on the Oconto River in Wisconsin.
The increased minimum flows for the river and
stabilized reservoir levels will greatly improve
habitat for fish species such as walleye smallmouth
bass, and steelbead trout.


BRADLEY LAKE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT,
ALASKA

	The Service recommended measures to
protect and restore fish and wildlife resources at
the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project in the Kenai
Mountains of south central Alaska. Guidelines
were developed to restore moose and bear habitat
disturbed by construction, and to create nesting
waterfowl habitat.

	Access roads were designed to avoid
important bald eagle nesting habitat to reduce
impacts from construction activities. To benifit the
salmon fishery, a water by-pass system was
installed to protect spawning salmon in the lower
Bradley River, and gravel mining sites were
reclaimed to enhance fish habitat.
Before and After- A minimum How release for the Pit River in
california increases aquatic hahitat and numhers of fish for
eagles and anglers.
SALMON RIVER PROJECTS,	FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
IDAHO
	In the early 1980's, the Fish and Wildlife	Hydroelectric power is 
a component of a
Service petitioned FERC to consider the cumulative national 
energy strategy that seeks to rely on clean,
in efficient, and safe energy sources. To meet this
impacts of multiple hydroelectric developments	need, hydropower 
projects must be designed in an
the Salmon River Basin of Idaho. At one point,	environmentally 
sound manner to ensure that the
there were over 60 active proposals to build
hydropower projects on tributaries of the Salmon	Nation's natural 
resources are protected in the
River. Most would have harmed anadromous and	process.
resident fish as well as wildlife. Thanks to	      ,
cooperative efforts by a number of federal and	    The Service 
will continue to work with
state agencies and various Indian tribes, FERC	licensees, 
applicants, FERC, and other agencies in
chose to delay licensing of most of these projects	the design and 
licensing of future hydropower
until a basin-wide environmental impact statement projects. 
However, the public also has a role in
	this process. Comprehensive watershed planning
considering cumulative impacts was completed.	in cooperation with 
State and local agencies and
	private organizations will be essential to the future
    After a large-scale study of fifteen projects,	conservation 
and development of the Nation s
eight applications were denied because of the	rivers and fish and 
wildlife resources.
potential for significant environmental degradation.
The others are still pending before FERC and may
require additional Service consultation.



NEW YORK STATE DAM,
NEW YORK

	The Service played a major role in assuring
that a new license on the Mohawk River in New
York addressed the protection of public trust
resources. Construction and operation of newly
designed fish passage facilities, combined with a
program of monitoring and operational
manipulation, provides for safe and effective
downstream fish passage for large numbers of
anadromous blueback herring on the Mohawk
River while avoiding project-related fish mortalities.
SOURCES
FOR MORE iNfORMATION ON ThE U.S. Fish ANd WILDLIFE SERViCES ROLE 
iN
hydRopowER IiCENSiNq YOU ARE INViTEd TO CONTACT ThE NEAREST 
REGIONAL OffiCE LISTED



REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS
U.S. Fish ANd Wildlife SERVICE	AREAS COVEREd
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		907/786-5544

A[so, [OR MORE INfORMATiON ON by THE OffIcE ol
	pARTICipATiON ANd THE input	HydRopowER Licensing

PROCESS TO hydRopowER IIcENS- This hANdbook may bE obtained
ing PLEASE REfER io FREC's by calling FERC's Public
	HYdROELECTRIC jProject	Licensing	REfERENCE Branch AT
	HANdbook, pREpAREd	(202) 208-1571


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Cover photos are from the U.S. Fish and wildlife Service, except 
For the dam photo which is by the US Bureau of Reclaimation