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CHALLENGES AND NEEDS OF STUDYING HYDROPEAKED RIVERS
CHALLENGES AND NEEDS OF STUDYING HYDROPEAKED RIVERS
The increase in the demand for renewable energy is driving hydropower development and its integration with variable renewable energy sources. When hydropower is produced from storage plants w ith rapid and frequent changes in generation to meet demands for flexibility, it causes rapid and frequent artificial flow fluctuations in rivers, a phenomenon known as "hydropeaking". Hydropeaking and associated hydrological alterations cause multiple impacts on riverine habitats including the reduction of species abundance and biomass, of primary production, and the alterations of assemblagesof river fauna and flora, with cascading effects on ecosystem functioning and structure.
Given the significance of hydropeaking’s ecological and socio-economic implications, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scientific research is needed to support the sustainable regulation of hydropeaking-based hydropower production.
Developing such knowledge is challenging for several reasons: (i) the high and often unpredictable hydrological dynamism of hydropeaked rivers, typically located in mountain areas, renders field studies complex to carry out, and (ii) the highly variable geographic and geomorphological settings, technical approaches, and legal regulations adopted at national and regional scales limit the transferability of results.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ACTIVITIES OF THE HYPEAK NETWORK
ESTABLISHMENT AND ACTIVITIES OF THE HYPEAK NETWORK
The interdisciplinary network on Hydropeaking Research (HyPeak) was founded after an interactive and well-attended webinar held during the 13th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics in November 2020, to propose a framework for crossing interdisciplinary perspectives on hydropeaking.
In 2021, the network started to operate with the core group of European researchers covering a wide range of disciplines (hydrology, geomorphology, hydraulic engineering, ecology, economics) and countries.
The overall goal of HyPeak as one of becoming a reference group of experts to support evidence-based guidelines and legislation at different levels (national to international) and enhance the value of the interaction between research and policy. Therefore, our activities focus on collaborations among researchers and the creation of strong bridges with practitioners (hydropower producers, environmental agencies, consultants, or legislators)
The HyPeak network key mission is to stimulate integrative hydropeaking research across disciplines to support:
Assessment of environmental effects and related socio-economic issues of hydropeaking at various spatial and temporal scales;
Improvements of mitigation measures and management strategies;
Promotion of environmentally-sustainable approaches to hydropeaking;
Providing recommendations for national and international policies and supporting their integration.
A schematic representation of the multidisciplinary approach required to tackle hydropeaking impacts on the different components of socio-ecosystems and propose mitigation strategies
HOW TO ENROLL IN THE HYPEAK NETWORK
HOW TO ENROLL IN THE HYPEAK NETWORK
As stated in the HyPeak Charter, our network is independent of any funding other than funding for scientific research, and based on the voluntary contributions of its members.
The HyPeak Network is open to new members interested in participating in it, at the desired level of commitment as stated in Annex 1 of the Charter: (i) as a General Member: adhering to the principles of the network and following its activities via email newsletter; (ii) as a Core Group Member: getting actively involved in specific activities of the network (see below); (iii) as a member of the Executive Board: centralizing the activities of the network and assuring continuity of the Core Group meetings.
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