Southeast Hydropower

We represent conservation groups and public agencies in relicensing proceedings across the Southeast.  One general objective is to restore the extraordinary freshwater biodiversity in this region, including endangered mollusks, snails, and riparian plants such as the rocky shoals spider lily.  We also seek to enhance all forms of recreation at lakes and downstream river reaches.  Both objectives turn on re-establishing more natural flow patterns as an alternative to current peaking power operations

 
Fisheries Restoration.  NHI represents the Catawba-Wateree Relicensing Coalition in the relicensing proceeding for Duke Power’s Catawba-Wateree Project, which controls 300 miles of that interstate river.  We represent American Rivers in the related proceedings for other projects in the watershed, including Santee-Cooper Project which controls flows into Charleston (South Carolina) Harbor.  We seek to establish a comprehensive plan across project boundaries to restore shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon and other anadromous fisheries, as well as enhance canoeing and hiking access, throughout this watershed

 
Adaptive Management.   NHI represented The Nature Conservancy-North Carolina Chapter in the relicensing proceeding for Dominion Generation’s Roanoke Rapids-Lake Gaston Project.  The approved settlements (2004, 2005) require adaptive management of peaking operations to preserve and enhance the biodiversity of the riparian bottomlands from the Piedmont fault line 147 miles to Albermarle Sound on the Atlantic Ocean.  This program may be the first ever included in a license to enforce adaptive management in its rigorous form.  Project impacts on a given resource will be stated as scientific hypotheses (e.g., “peaking operation will have X impact on recruitment of cypress tupelo seedlings”), the licensee and other stakeholders will monitor impacts against each hypothesis, and operations will be adjusted periodically over the course of the next fifty years.

Contact: Richard Roos-Collins