Environmental design for rehabilitation of regulated lakes and reservoirs

This project will provide recommendations on how environmental design can be used in regulated lakes to balance ecosystem and societal needs. It focuses on understanding the long-term effects of hydropower on biodiversity, especially fish, their food and aquatic vegetation, and how these effects can be mitigated.

Regulated lakes and reservoirs are central to Sweden’s hydropower system through their ability to store energy but have a negative impact on ecosystems and biodiversity. Regulation alters water levels, damaging beds and shores, and affect fish populations and aquatic plants. Nutrient levels in these lakes are declining over time, and climate change will affect how the lakes can be regulated in the future.

In co-operation with Norweigan Hydrocen, the project will build on previous work to improve the environment in hydropower reservoirs through a multidisciplinary approach. This contributes to reducing the environmental impact of hydropower and the ongoing National Plan (NAP) to reassess all environmental impact assessments of Swedish hydropower.