Pumped Storage Reservoir Research Articles

Regulated rivers in the United Kingdom

AbstractThis paper identifies the principal regulated rivers in Britain and summarizes their physical and ecological characteristics. Virtually all major rivers in the United Kingdom are shown to be regulated directly or indirectly by mainstream impoundments, interbasin transfers, pumped storage reservoirs, or groundwater abstractions. Flow records for sixty per cent of all gauging stations are significantly affected by flow manipulations. Three phases in the development of river regulation are identified: firstly, the development of direct supply and compensation reservoirs from 1840; secondly, the development of large dams and large‐scale interbasin water transfers from 1890; and thirdly, the modern era of multipurpose river regulation that began in 1965.Any assessment of the environmental effects of river regulation must consider the spatial variation of natural river systems throughout the U.K., climatic changes, and the cumulative effect of river regulation and other impacts over an historic timescale. Today, the rivers of the U.K. are shown to have an underlying character that reflects the marked climatic, geologic, and topographic differences between the upland north and west, and lowland south and east; differences in part that relate to their different histories during the Pleistocene. However, many rivers show the effects of human impacts that began about 5000 years ago. Most rivers have experienced changes since about 1930 consequent upon afforestaton, land drainage, and channelization. These, together with short‐term climatic changes, make defining ecological impacts of river regulation problematic. Pollution has had the most dramatic effects. Nevertheless, it is suggested that new concepts of environmentally sound river regulation could lead to the restoration and even enhancement of rivers in the United Kingdom.

Inundated Timber as Nursery Habitat for Larval Gizzard and Threadfin Shad in a New Pumped Storage Reservoir

Influences of inundated timber on distribution of larval fishes were evaluated during April–August 1982 in Lake Oconee, Georgia, by determining densities of larvae in two offshore timber plots and two adjacent open-water areas. Most (97%) of the larvae collected were gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum and threadfin shad D. petenense, and these species were usually more abundant in or near the flooded timber than in nearby limnetic sites. Larvae of other fishes, including Lepomis spp., Pomoxis spp., and white bass Morone chrysops, were rarely collected but occurred primarily at timbered sites. Higher abundance of larvae in the timber may reflect both extensive use of the flooded trees as spawning substrates and increased availability of food or shelter. Invertebrates and fish eggs collected incidentally during sampling for larvae were more abundant at timbered sites.

Filterless revetment of the slopes of dikes at pumped-storage station reservoirs

Filterless revetment of the slopes of dikes at pumped-storage station reservoirs

WITHDRAWAL FROM THREE-LAYERED STRATIFIED SYSTEMS

In pumped storage reservoirs, a well mixed layer is often produced between the upper and lower pycnoclines by discharges from and into the reservoirs. A turbid middle layer may develop when the flood flows into the thermally stratified reservoirs. To understand the flow fields of such systems, the withdrawal from the three layered stratified systems is investigated. A theoretical analysis is performed to estimate the incipient withdrawal and the discharge in each layer. The validity of the analysis is confirmed by laboratory experiments. By using the theory, the optimum height of the outlet for the drainage of the turbid middle layer fluid is evaluated, in practical sense, which may enable the effective operation of the selective withdrawal arrangement to reduce the returdation of turbidity.

Generalized Model for Predicting Spawning Success of Fish in Reservoirs with Fluctuating Water Levels

Abstract A computer model (SUCCESS) was developed to predict spawning success of centrarchid fishes in a pumped storage reservoir. The model was quantified by conducting field and laboratory studies with bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) from Leesville Lake, the lower impoundment of the Smith Mountain Pumped Storage Project near Roanoke, Virginia. Eight modifiable subprograms were used to increase the generality and utility of the model. Data necessary for use in the model are hourly water levels, water temperature regimens, and a distribution describing the depth of spawning activity in the reservoir. A sensitivity analysis of the model suggested that data on hatchability and rates of hatching and development from the fry to free-swimming stage had the greatest effect on the estimates of spawning success. SUCCESS should allow a reservoir fishery manager to predict the impact of water level fluctuations on spawning success of sport fishes or predict spawning success of undesirable species under various wate...

A MULTICOMPONENT MODEL OF PHOSPHORUS DYNAMICS IN RESERVOIRS1

ABSTRACTThe models available for simulating phosphorus dynamics and trophic state in impoundments vary widely. The simpler empirically derived phosphorus models tend to be appropriate for long‐term, steady or near steady state analyses. The more complex ecosystem models, because of computational expense and the importance of input parameter uncertainty, are impractical for very long‐term simulation and most applicable for time‐variable water quality simulations generally of short to intermediate time frames. An improved model for time variable, long‐term simulation of trophic state in reservoirs with fluctuating inflow and outflow rates and volume is needed. Such a model is developed in this paper representing the phosphorus cycle in two‐layer (i.e., epilimnion and hypolimnion) reservoirs. The model is designed to simulate seasonally varying reservoir water quality and eutrophication potential by using the phosphorus state variable as the water quality indicator. Long‐term simulations with fluctuating volumes and variable influent and effluent flow rates are feasible and practical. The model utility is demonstrated through application to a pumped storage reservoir characteristic of these conditions.

Calculating Future Levels of Nitrate in Rivers and Pumped Storage Reservoirs

A method is described for calculating the effect of Water Quality Standards on the future use of water supplies drawn from rivers and impoundments. The day-to-day variations of nitrate in rivers have been modelled by Regression Analysis and these models have been used to estimate the quality of water supplies drawn from pumped storage reservoirs. Computer simulation has been used to examine ways of controlling water quality so as to comply with Water Quality Standards.

DEVELOPMENT OF FISH POPULATIONS AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE BLENHEIM-GILBOA PUMPED STORAGE RESERVOIRS

ABSTRACT Fish populations in the Blenheim–Gilboa (B–G) pumped storage reservoirs in the Catskills in New York have been studied since the reservoirs were completed in 1973. The reservoir populations developed entirely from the fishes present in Schoharie Creek and from emigrants from Schoharie Reservoir located 2.5 miles upstream. The fish populations of Schoharie Creek were composed primarily of pumpkinseed, rock bass, white sucker, and brown bullhead. Thirty-four species of fish have been collected in the reservoirs. The more common species in the upper reservoir included yellow perch, pumpkinseed and redbreast sunfish. In the lower reservoir, white sucker, carp, brown bullhead and pumpkinseed were common. Differences between the populations in the two reservoirs are attributed to differences in substrate and to loss of shallow water caused by water level fluctuations. Management techniques employed to date include removal of rough fish to enhance gamefish, construction of constant level ponds for sunfi...

ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES OF A NEW PUMPED STORAGE RESERVOIR1

ABSTRACT: Zooplankton colonization was followed for 16 months in Lake Oconee, Georgia, a new pumped storage reservoir. Data were interpreted to identify differences among stations and seasons, as a function of the reservoir's early stage of development and of pumped storage operations. Colonization was rapid, and the zooplankton community was characterized by a high species diversity; approximately 40 rotifer species and 14 cladoceran genera were recorded. Zooplankton density varied along an environmental gradient from riverine to lentic conditions. Rotifer abundance varied from 104‐106 individuals/m3, with maxima in the summers Copepod and cladoceran densities ranged from 103 to nearly 105 individuals/m3; maxima for stations other than the dam were observed in the summer and early fall, but high values at the dam station occurred throughout winter 1980. When pumped storage operations began in December 1979, zooplankton densities increased at the dam station. Pumpback decreased the intensity of the environmental gradient from riverine to lentic conditions, and led to a more similar zooplankton community structure throughout the reservoir.

CHANGES IN PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL VARIABLES IN A NEW RESERVOIR DUE TO PUMPED STORAGE OPERATIONS1

ABSTRACT: Information on biologically important physical and chemical variables is presented for Lake Oconee, a newly impounded pumped storage reservoir in Georgia. During its first summer, when no pumping occurred, temperature, oxygen, pH, inorganic nitrogen, and phosphorus were vertically stratified with severe hypolimnetic oxygen depletion. During the second summer, when pumped storage was in operation, more homogenous vertical profiles, generally higher oxygen, and lower dissolved nutrient concentrations were observed. These pumped storage effects were observed at all stations, rather than being confined to the immediate vicinity of the dam.

Wind and wave regimes of the Kiev pumped-storage station reservoir

Wind and wave regimes of the Kiev pumped-storage station reservoir

Correction to ‘Estimation of extreme low flows for pumped storage reservoir design’

Correction to ‘Estimation of extreme low flows for pumped storage reservoir design’

Estimation of extreme low flows for pumped storage reservoir design

A method for estimating the probability of nonexceedance of low flows for a reservoir fed directly by one river with additional pumped inflow from a second river is described, The method is based on the joint probability distribution of an extreme value distribution and a truncated extreme value distribution. The estimates of the probabilities of given low flows are given by integrals. These are evaluated numerically for a range of low flows and maximum daily pumping rates. Details are given for the particular case of total inflow during a period of three consecutive months, but the method could be used for any duration.

Accelerated Growth of Smallmouth Bass in a Pumped Storage System

A 12-year study of the smallmouth bass population, Micropterus dolomieui, in a pumped storage reservoir revealed an accelerated growth that was related to the abundance of gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum. Prior to the gizzard shad introduction, the growth of smallmouth bass was generally poorer than that reported for the mid-Atlantic region. Large drawdowns (9 m per day, 15.6 m per week) may have increased the vulnerability of gizzard shad by concentrating both prey and predator. In the lower reservoir, where water levels fluctuated irregularly and much less (up to 1 m per day), smallmouth bass growth was not greatly improved following the introduction of gizzard shad.

AN INTERACTIVE SIMULATION OF PUMPED STORAGE RESERVOIR SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT: A combination pumped storage reservoir system was simulated by modifying the WRE deep reservoir model. Each of the two reservoirs was described by a copy of the WRE model program, the two programs were converted into subroutines and were called upon alternately by a main program. Operationally, the contributing reservoir, i.e., the reservoir from which flow was discharged, was simulated for one execution interval (1 hour), followed by simulating the receiving reservoir for the same execution interval. The main program directed the discharge temperature of the contributing reservoir for each execution interval as input for simulating the receiving reservoir. The two subroutines were run in this interactive mode for a simulation period of one year.Two simulations, labeled “Pump” and “Net,” were effected and differed basically in the distribution of flow volumes exchanged between the reservoirs. In the ‘Pump’ simulation the total hourly flow volumes were distributed into appropriate horizontal layers of the lakes as determined by temperature‐density relationships, i.e., the pumped discharges were distributed into the upper lake and the generation discharges were distributed into the lower lake. In the ‘Net’ simulation only the net daily discharges (daily difference between pump‐back and generation at the upper dam), distributed uniformly over 24 hours, were mixed into the horizontal layers of the two lakes.Both simulations produced annual thermal regimes that were apparently within reason for the geographical area and the nature of the input data. However, neither accurately reflected a generalized conditions for the reservoirs because the Pump simulation reflected conditions in the forebay and tailrace of the Upper dam while the Net simulation reflected conditions of the remaining parts of the reservoirs.

Upstream Passage of Adult Salmon Through an Unlit Tunnel

SUMMARY After conversion of a lake, previously a part of a river system in Gwynedd, North Wales, to a pumped storage reservoir, salmon will be faced with a 2.2 km long diversion tunnel in order to reach parts of their former spawning grounds. The unlit tunnel is described, with notes on water velocities under various discharge conditions. A fish counter, mounted at the peak of the fish pass in the upstream (intake) weir of the tunnel, has indicated that, in the first spawning season following construction of the tunnel, numbers of adults have succeeded in negotiating tunnel and weir, despite the hitherto-assumed unattractive conditions of low velocity and complete darkness.

Technique for Collecting Fish with a Block Net in a Pumped Storage Reservoir

Technique for Collecting Fish with a Block Net in a Pumped Storage Reservoir

MULTI‐CRITERION RANKING OF ALTERNATIVE LONG‐RANGE WATER RESOURCE SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT The definition and comparison of alternative water resource systems designed to meet long‐range goals (say 60 years) is illustrated by a case study in Hungary. A comprehensive cost‐effectiveness approach is adapted to define goals, specifications, criteria, alternatives and their capabilities. Specifications include demands given in probabilistic terms. The comparison of alternative systems is based on 12 criteria, one of which is the balance between total energy consumed and peak energy produced. Important factors involving social elements, such as flood protection and land and forest use, are described both as monetary quantities and as qualitative appreciations. Five alternative systems are defied involving flat land reservoirs, pumped storage reservoirs, interbasin transfer, and conjunctive use of surface and ground water. International cooperation is then used to rank systems and reduce the problem to a tradeoff between only two alternatives.

Passage of Fish Eggs and Young Through a Pumped Storage Generating Station

During June and July 1970, an estimated 5.3 million eggs (4.1/103m3) and 56.6 million young fish (43.8/103m3), 3–62 mm FL, were pumped by the Muddy Run Pumped Storage Generating Station from Conowingo Reservoir (lower Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania) into Muddy Run Pumped Storage Reservoir. A maximum of only 2% of the eggs and 39% of the young were returned to the lower reservoir during generation. The eggs were predominately Carpiodes cyprinus. Of the young, 73% entrained during pumping and 83% entrained during generating were Ictalurus punctatus, Cyprinus carpio, and Carpiodes cyprinus. Similar results are reported for 1969. The species and numbers of specimens entrained reflect the utilization of the area near and above the lower reservoir intake discharge structure as spawning and nursery grounds, the extent and peaks of spawning seasons, and the phases of development and behavior of the young. Sufficient numbers of specimens pumped into and retained by the upper reservoir, in which natural reproduction is nearly precluded by the extensive fluctuation of water level, survive to maintain many of the reservoir’s fish populations.

Streamflow Regulation with Pumped Storage Reservoirs

Streamflow Regulation with Pumped Storage Reservoirs