Good Dams and Bad Dams : Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Projects

This paper provides a simple, yet robust, methodology for comparing proposed hydroelectric project sites in terms of their expected negative environmental impacts, and relating these to power generation benefits. The paper also summarizes the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ledec, George, Quintero, Juan David
Format: Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2014
Subjects:
DAM
OIL
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/11/19886636/good-dams-bad-dams-environmental-criteria-site-selection-hydroelectric-projects
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20226
id okr-10986-20226
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ACCELERATED EROSION
ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY
AQUATIC FAUNA
AQUATIC HABITAT
AQUATIC LIFE
AQUATIC VEGETATION
AQUATIC WEED GROWTH
AQUATIC WEEDS
ARTIFICIAL LAKES
BAD DAMS
BIG DAM
BIG DAM CONTROVERSY
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
CARBON
CARBON DIOXIDE
CATCHMENT AREA
CATCHMENT AREAS
CIVIL ENGINEER
CIVIL WORKS
CLIMATE CHANGE
COAL
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
CUBIC METERS
DAM
DAM CONSTRUCTION
DAM HEIGHT
DAM OUTLETS
DAM PLANNING
DAM PROJECTS
DAM SITE
DAM SITES
DAMS
DEFORESTATION
DRINKING WATER
ECOLOGICAL QUALITY
ECOLOGY
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
EMISSIONS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
ESTUARIES
EXISTING AREA
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
FISH DIVERSITY
FISH LADDERS
FISH MIGRATIONS
FISH PASSAGE
FISHERIES
FISHING
FLOOD PROTECTION
FLOW REGULATION
FOREST MANAGEMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
GOOD DAMS
GREENHOUSE GASES
HEAD
HIGH DAM
HYDRO DEVELOPMENT
HYDRO INDUSTRY
HYDRO RESERVOIRS
HYDROELECTRIC DAM
HYDROELECTRIC DAMS
HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT
HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS
HYDROELECTRIC SITES
HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION
HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT
HYDROPOWER FACILITIES
HYDROPOWER SITES
IMPOUNDMENT
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
INTAKES
INTERNATIONAL HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL RIVERS
INTERNATIONAL WATER POWER
IRRIGATION
IRRIGATION WATER
LAKE
LAND AREA
LAND USE
LARGE DAM
LARGE DAMS
LARGE HYDROPOWER
LARGE HYDROPOWER PROJECTS
LARGE RESERVOIRS
LARGE RIVER
LOCAL PEOPLE
MASTER PLAN
MICRO-DAMS
MIGRATORY FISH
MIGRATORY FISH SPECIES
MINES
MITIGATION MEASURES
MULTIPURPOSE DAMS
NATIVE FISH
NATIVE FISH SPECIES
NATIVE SPECIES
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL HABITAT
NATURAL HABITATS
OIL
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POPULATION GROWTH
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
POWER SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTOR
PROTECTED AREAS
REGISTER OF DAMS
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
RESERVOIR AREA
RESERVOIR FILLING
RESERVOIR SEDIMENTATION
RESERVOIR VOLUME
RESERVOIR WATER
RESERVOIRS
RESETTLEMENT
RIPARIAN
RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS
RIVER
RIVER AREA
RIVER BASIN
RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT
RIVER BED
RIVER FLOW
RIVER SYSTEM
RIVERINE
RIVERINE ECOSYSTEMS
RIVERINE FORESTS
RIVERS
SAFEGUARD POLICIES
SEDIMENT
SEDIMENT LOADS
SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT
SHALLOW RESERVOIR
SILENCED RIVERS
SMALL RESERVOIR
SPILLWAYS
STORAGE RESERVOIRS
STREAMS
STRETCH OF RIVER
SURFACE AREA
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
TIMBER
TRIBUTARIES
TRIBUTARY
TRIBUTARY RIVERS
TURBINES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WATER LEVELS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
WATER RESOURCES
WATER RETENTION
WATER RETENTION TIME
WATER STORAGE
WATER SUPPLIES
WATER SUPPLY
WATERFALLS
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
WETLAND HABITATS
WILDLIFE
WILDLIFE HABITAT
WILDLIFE RESCUE
WILDLIFE RESOURCES
WORLD RIVERS
spellingShingle ACCELERATED EROSION
ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY
AQUATIC FAUNA
AQUATIC HABITAT
AQUATIC LIFE
AQUATIC VEGETATION
AQUATIC WEED GROWTH
AQUATIC WEEDS
ARTIFICIAL LAKES
BAD DAMS
BIG DAM
BIG DAM CONTROVERSY
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
CARBON
CARBON DIOXIDE
CATCHMENT AREA
CATCHMENT AREAS
CIVIL ENGINEER
CIVIL WORKS
CLIMATE CHANGE
COAL
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
CUBIC METERS
DAM
DAM CONSTRUCTION
DAM HEIGHT
DAM OUTLETS
DAM PLANNING
DAM PROJECTS
DAM SITE
DAM SITES
DAMS
DEFORESTATION
DRINKING WATER
ECOLOGICAL QUALITY
ECOLOGY
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
EMISSIONS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
ESTUARIES
EXISTING AREA
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
FISH DIVERSITY
FISH LADDERS
FISH MIGRATIONS
FISH PASSAGE
FISHERIES
FISHING
FLOOD PROTECTION
FLOW REGULATION
FOREST MANAGEMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
GOOD DAMS
GREENHOUSE GASES
HEAD
HIGH DAM
HYDRO DEVELOPMENT
HYDRO INDUSTRY
HYDRO RESERVOIRS
HYDROELECTRIC DAM
HYDROELECTRIC DAMS
HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT
HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS
HYDROELECTRIC SITES
HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION
HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT
HYDROPOWER FACILITIES
HYDROPOWER SITES
IMPOUNDMENT
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
INTAKES
INTERNATIONAL HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL RIVERS
INTERNATIONAL WATER POWER
IRRIGATION
IRRIGATION WATER
LAKE
LAND AREA
LAND USE
LARGE DAM
LARGE DAMS
LARGE HYDROPOWER
LARGE HYDROPOWER PROJECTS
LARGE RESERVOIRS
LARGE RIVER
LOCAL PEOPLE
MASTER PLAN
MICRO-DAMS
MIGRATORY FISH
MIGRATORY FISH SPECIES
MINES
MITIGATION MEASURES
MULTIPURPOSE DAMS
NATIVE FISH
NATIVE FISH SPECIES
NATIVE SPECIES
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL HABITAT
NATURAL HABITATS
OIL
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POPULATION GROWTH
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
POWER SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTOR
PROTECTED AREAS
REGISTER OF DAMS
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
RESERVOIR AREA
RESERVOIR FILLING
RESERVOIR SEDIMENTATION
RESERVOIR VOLUME
RESERVOIR WATER
RESERVOIRS
RESETTLEMENT
RIPARIAN
RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS
RIVER
RIVER AREA
RIVER BASIN
RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT
RIVER BED
RIVER FLOW
RIVER SYSTEM
RIVERINE
RIVERINE ECOSYSTEMS
RIVERINE FORESTS
RIVERS
SAFEGUARD POLICIES
SEDIMENT
SEDIMENT LOADS
SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT
SHALLOW RESERVOIR
SILENCED RIVERS
SMALL RESERVOIR
SPILLWAYS
STORAGE RESERVOIRS
STREAMS
STRETCH OF RIVER
SURFACE AREA
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
TIMBER
TRIBUTARIES
TRIBUTARY
TRIBUTARY RIVERS
TURBINES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WATER LEVELS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
WATER RESOURCES
WATER RETENTION
WATER RETENTION TIME
WATER STORAGE
WATER SUPPLIES
WATER SUPPLY
WATERFALLS
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
WETLAND HABITATS
WILDLIFE
WILDLIFE HABITAT
WILDLIFE RESCUE
WILDLIFE RESOURCES
WORLD RIVERS
Ledec, George
Quintero, Juan David
Good Dams and Bad Dams : Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Projects
relation Latin America and Caribbean Region Sustainable Development working paper series;no. 16
description This paper provides a simple, yet robust, methodology for comparing proposed hydroelectric project sites in terms of their expected negative environmental impacts, and relating these to power generation benefits. The paper also summarizes the environmental mitigation options for large dams. If properly implemented, these mitigation measures can effectively prevent, minimize, or compensate for many (though not all) of a hydroelectric project's negative impacts. Nonetheless, the most effective environmental mitigation measure is good site selection, to ensure that the proposed dam will cause relatively little damage in the first place. The paper presents quantitative indicators (using data that are relatively easy to obtain) for rating and ranking proposed new hydroelectric projects in terms of their likely adverse environmental impacts. Projects with a small reservoir surface area (relative to power generation) tend to be most desirable from both an environmental and social standpoint, in part because they minimize natural habitat losses as well as resettlement needs. In general, the most environmentally benign hydroelectric dam sites are on upper tributaries, while the most problematic ones are on the large main stems of rivers.
format Publications & Research :: Working Paper
author Ledec, George
Quintero, Juan David
author_facet Ledec, George
Quintero, Juan David
author_sort Ledec, George
title Good Dams and Bad Dams : Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Projects
title_short Good Dams and Bad Dams : Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Projects
title_full Good Dams and Bad Dams : Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Projects
title_fullStr Good Dams and Bad Dams : Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Projects
title_full_unstemmed Good Dams and Bad Dams : Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Projects
title_sort good dams and bad dams : environmental criteria for site selection of hydroelectric projects
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2014
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/11/19886636/good-dams-bad-dams-environmental-criteria-site-selection-hydroelectric-projects
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20226
_version_ 1764444904828698624
spelling okr-10986-202262021-04-23T14:03:54Z Good Dams and Bad Dams : Environmental Criteria for Site Selection of Hydroelectric Projects Ledec, George Quintero, Juan David ACCELERATED EROSION ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY AQUATIC FAUNA AQUATIC HABITAT AQUATIC LIFE AQUATIC VEGETATION AQUATIC WEED GROWTH AQUATIC WEEDS ARTIFICIAL LAKES BAD DAMS BIG DAM BIG DAM CONTROVERSY BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CARBON CARBON DIOXIDE CATCHMENT AREA CATCHMENT AREAS CIVIL ENGINEER CIVIL WORKS CLIMATE CHANGE COAL CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK CUBIC METERS DAM DAM CONSTRUCTION DAM HEIGHT DAM OUTLETS DAM PLANNING DAM PROJECTS DAM SITE DAM SITES DAMS DEFORESTATION DRINKING WATER ECOLOGICAL QUALITY ECOLOGY ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ELECTRICITY GENERATION EMISSIONS ENERGY EFFICIENCY ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ESTUARIES EXISTING AREA FINANCIAL RESOURCES FISH DIVERSITY FISH LADDERS FISH MIGRATIONS FISH PASSAGE FISHERIES FISHING FLOOD PROTECTION FLOW REGULATION FOREST MANAGEMENT FOSSIL FUELS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE GOOD DAMS GREENHOUSE GASES HEAD HIGH DAM HYDRO DEVELOPMENT HYDRO INDUSTRY HYDRO RESERVOIRS HYDROELECTRIC DAM HYDROELECTRIC DAMS HYDROELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY HYDROELECTRIC POWER HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS HYDROELECTRIC SITES HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT HYDROPOWER FACILITIES HYDROPOWER SITES IMPOUNDMENT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES INTAKES INTERNATIONAL HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL RIVERS INTERNATIONAL WATER POWER IRRIGATION IRRIGATION WATER LAKE LAND AREA LAND USE LARGE DAM LARGE DAMS LARGE HYDROPOWER LARGE HYDROPOWER PROJECTS LARGE RESERVOIRS LARGE RIVER LOCAL PEOPLE MASTER PLAN MICRO-DAMS MIGRATORY FISH MIGRATORY FISH SPECIES MINES MITIGATION MEASURES MULTIPURPOSE DAMS NATIVE FISH NATIVE FISH SPECIES NATIVE SPECIES NATURAL GAS NATURAL HABITAT NATURAL HABITATS OIL POLLUTANTS POLLUTION CONTROL POPULATION GROWTH POWER GENERATION POWER PLANTS POWER SECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR PROTECTED AREAS REGISTER OF DAMS RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY RESERVOIR AREA RESERVOIR FILLING RESERVOIR SEDIMENTATION RESERVOIR VOLUME RESERVOIR WATER RESERVOIRS RESETTLEMENT RIPARIAN RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS RIVER RIVER AREA RIVER BASIN RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT RIVER BED RIVER FLOW RIVER SYSTEM RIVERINE RIVERINE ECOSYSTEMS RIVERINE FORESTS RIVERS SAFEGUARD POLICIES SEDIMENT SEDIMENT LOADS SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT SHALLOW RESERVOIR SILENCED RIVERS SMALL RESERVOIR SPILLWAYS STORAGE RESERVOIRS STREAMS STRETCH OF RIVER SURFACE AREA SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TIMBER TRIBUTARIES TRIBUTARY TRIBUTARY RIVERS TURBINES WASTE DISPOSAL WATER LEVELS WATER POLLUTION WATER QUALITY WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS WATER RESOURCES WATER RETENTION WATER RETENTION TIME WATER STORAGE WATER SUPPLIES WATER SUPPLY WATERFALLS WATERSHED MANAGEMENT WETLAND HABITATS WILDLIFE WILDLIFE HABITAT WILDLIFE RESCUE WILDLIFE RESOURCES WORLD RIVERS This paper provides a simple, yet robust, methodology for comparing proposed hydroelectric project sites in terms of their expected negative environmental impacts, and relating these to power generation benefits. The paper also summarizes the environmental mitigation options for large dams. If properly implemented, these mitigation measures can effectively prevent, minimize, or compensate for many (though not all) of a hydroelectric project's negative impacts. Nonetheless, the most effective environmental mitigation measure is good site selection, to ensure that the proposed dam will cause relatively little damage in the first place. The paper presents quantitative indicators (using data that are relatively easy to obtain) for rating and ranking proposed new hydroelectric projects in terms of their likely adverse environmental impacts. Projects with a small reservoir surface area (relative to power generation) tend to be most desirable from both an environmental and social standpoint, in part because they minimize natural habitat losses as well as resettlement needs. In general, the most environmentally benign hydroelectric dam sites are on upper tributaries, while the most problematic ones are on the large main stems of rivers. 2014-09-17T20:51:53Z 2014-09-17T20:51:53Z 2003-11 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/11/19886636/good-dams-bad-dams-environmental-criteria-site-selection-hydroelectric-projects http://hdl.handle.net/10986/20226 English en_US Latin America and Caribbean Region Sustainable Development working paper series;no. 16 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Working Paper