Abstract
An assessment of the Dniester Hydropower Complex (DHPC) impacts on this river streamflow is presented. The study was based on a comparative analysis of Dniester water discharge in periods before (1951–1980) and after (1991–2015) this complex construction, using observation data at hydrological posts located at the entrance to the Dniester reservoir (Zalishchyky) and downstream of its dam (Mohyliv-Podilskyi and Bender). Compared statistics included annual and seasonal trends and averages of water discharge in two periods, and statistical significance of their differences. It was shown that a statistically significant increase of Dniester flow in 1951–1980 was later replaced by its small decrease, explained both by changes in basinwide climate and DHPC functioning manifested in transforming the river flow seasonal distribution. Accumulation of water in the Dniester reservoir has led to a decrease in the annual flow volumes by above 6% directly below its dam and about 9%—in the Lower Dniester. As a result, the role of the Upper Dniester’ catchment, located in the Ukrainian Carpathians, sharply increased; now it provides 80% of the Dniester annual flow compared with 69% before DHPC construction. Another 11% of flow is formed by Dniester’s tributaries in its sub-catchment from Zalishchyky to Mohyliv-Podilskyi and 9%—in its downstream part. Concerning the seasonal streamflow, a challenging reduction is evident in spring due to water accumulation for hydropower needs in DHPC reservoirs, which negatively affects the Low Dniester ecosystems. On the whole, in 1991–2015 the Dniester annual flow decreased from 10.22 to 9.15 km3.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aili T, Soncini A, Bianchi A et al (2019) Assessing water resources under climate change in high-altitude catchments: a methodology and an application in the Italian Alps. Theor Appl Climatol 135:135–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-017-2366-4
Casale F, Bombelli GM, Monti R et al (2019) Hydropower potential in the Kabul River under climate change scenarios in the XXI century. Theor Appl Climatol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-019-03052-y
Corobov R, Trombitsky I, Syrodoev G (2019) Comparative analysis of climate change in the Dniester and Prut River basins. In: Hydropower impact on river ecosystem functioning. Proceedings of the International Conference, Tiraspol, Moldova, 8–9 Oct. 2019. Eco-TIRAS, Tiraspol, pp. 183–190.
Didovets I, Krysanova V, Bürger G, Snizhko S, Balabukh V, Bronstert A (2019) Climate change impact on regional floods in the Carpathian region. J Hydrol Reg Stud 22:100590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2019.01.002
Dinpashoh Y, Singh VP, Biazar SM et al (2019) Impact of climate change on streamflow timing (case study: Guilan Province). Theor Appl Climatol 138:65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-019-02810-2
Drissia TK, Jothiprakash V, Anitha AB (2019) Statistical classification of streamflow based on flow variability in west flowing rivers of Kerala, India. Theor Appl Climatol 137:1643–1658. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2677-0
DSU (Dutch Sustainability Unit) (2017) Better decision-making about large dams with a view to sustainable development. 2-nd edn. The Netherlands
ENVSEC, UNECE, OSCE (2015) Strategic directions of adaptation to climate change in the Dniester basin. Geneva, 72 p
GEF, UNDP, OSCE, UNECE (2019) Management plan of the transboundary Dniester River Basin. Part 1: General characteristics and assessment of conditions (Draft). https://dniester-commission.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Dniester_TDA_July2019.pdf. Accessed 30 Jan 2021
Gough P, Fernández Garrido P, Van Herk J (2018) Dam Removal: A viable solution for the future of our European rivers. Dam Removal Europe.
Gulyaeva OA (2013) Ecohydrological characteristics of the reservoirs of the Dniester energy complex. Hydrobiol J 6:92–105 ((in Russian))
Havrilyuk R, Gabrielian A, Sultanov E, Trombitsky I, Stankevych-Volosianchuk O, Tarasova O (2019) Implementation of ecosystem approach and ecosystem services in hydropower sector of EaP countries: state and challenges. Kyiv, p 76. https://necu.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ecosystem_approach_2019_web-1.pdf. Accessed 30 Jan 2021
IHA (International Hydropower Association) (2019) Hydropower Sector Climate Resilience Guide. London, United Kingdom.
Jager HI, Bevelhimer MS (2007) How run-of-river operation affects hydropower generation and value. Environ Manage 40:1004–1015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-007-9008-z
Jager HI, Smith BT (2008) Sustainable reservoir operation: can we generate hydropower and preserve ecosystem values? River Res Applic 24:340–352
Khilchevsky VK and Grebnya VV (ed.) (2014) Water fund of Ukraine: artificial water bodies—reservoirs and ponds. Handbook. Interpress, p 164 (in Ukrainian)
Laušević R, Milutinović S, Petersen-Perlman J, Reed M, Graves A, Bartula M, Sušić S, Popović A (2016) Local water security action planning manual. Regional Environmental Center, Szentendre
Luiz Silva W, Xavier LNR, Maceira MEP et al (2019) Climatological and hydrological patterns and verified trends in precipitation and streamflow in the basins of Brazilian hydroelectric plants. Theor Appl Climatol 137:353–371. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2600-8
MacQuarrie P, Wolf AT (2013) Understanding water security. In: Floyd R, Matthew RA (eds) Environmental security: approaches and issues. Routledge, USA and Canada, pp 169–186
McCabe DJ (2011) Rivers and streams: life in flowing water. Nat Educ Knowl 3(10):19. https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/rivers-and-streams-life-in-flowing-water-23587918/. Accessed 30 Jan 2021
Mekonnen MM, Hoekstra AY (2016) Four billion people facing severe water scarcity. Sci Adv 2(2):e1500323–e1500323. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1500323
Negm AM, Romanescu G, Zeleňáková M (eds) (2020) Water resources management in romania, Springer water, Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22320-5
Nikzad Tehrani E, Sahour H, Booij MJ (2019) Trend analysis of hydro-climatic variables in the north of Iran. Theor Appl Climatol 136:85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2470-0
Ocko IB, Hamburg SP (2019) Climate Impacts of Hydropower: Enormous Differences among Facilities and over Time. Environ Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b05083 ((Accessed 20 November 2019))
Pegram YL, Quesne TL, Speed R, Li J, Shen F (2013) River basin planning: principles, procedures and G. approaches for strategic basin planning. UNESCO, Paris
Potopová V, Cazac V, Boincean B et al (2019) Application of hydroclimatic drought indicators in the transboundary Prut River basin. Theor Appl Climatol 137:3103–3121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-019-02789-w
Schwarz U (2019) Hydropower pressure on European rivers: The story in numbers. WWF, RiverWatch, EuroNatur, GEOTA. https://balkanrivers.net/sites/default/files/European%20Hydropower%20report%202019_w.pdf. Accessed 30 Jan 2021
Smith BT, Jager HI, March PA (2007) Prospects for combining energy and environmental objectives in hydropower optimization. In: Proceedings of waterpower XV. Kansas City, Missouri, HCI Publications
Spinoni J, Szalai S, Szentimrey T et al (2015) Climate of the Carpathian Region in the period 1961–2010: climatologies and trends of 10 variables. Int J Climatol 35(7):1322–1341. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.4059
Statgraphics (2014) STATGRAPHICS® Centurion XVII user manual. Statpoint Technologies Inc, Warrenton, VA, USA
UNDP, OSCE, UNECE (2019). Analysis of the effects of the Dniester Reservoirs on the state of the Dniester River, 53 p. https://zoinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/hydropower-effects_final_ENG.pdf. Accessed 30 Jan 2021
UNECE (2015) Reconciling resource uses in transboundary basins: assessment of the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus. UN, Geneva
UNU (2013) Water Security and the Global Water Agenda. A UN-Water Analytical Brief. United Nations University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Vejnovic I (2017) Broken rivers: the impacts of European-financed small hydropower plants on pristine Balkan landscapes. CEE Bankwatch Network. Prague, Czech Republic
WaterAid (2012) Water security framework. www.wateraid.org/publications. Accessed 30 Jan 2021
Acknowledgements
The current work was realized in frames of the Joint Operational Black Sea Programme 2014-2020, the Project BSB 165 “HydroEcoNex”, with the financial assistance of the European Union. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the authors and in no case should it be considered to reflect the views of the European Union.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Corobov, R., Trombitsky, I., Matygin, A. et al. Hydropower impact on the dniester river streamflow. Environ Earth Sci 80, 153 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09431-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09431-x