Recently, France's Fédération Nationale pour la Pêche (National Federation for Fishing) and Électricité de France (EDF) announced the results of a joint six-year study (2006-2011) of the impacts on the down-stream fish populations of these peaking releases (referred to as "éclusées" from the opening of the "écluses" or locks to release the water). The report covered the first phase on an on-going evaluation and looked at water releases from the dams at La Roche-aux-Moines and Éguzon, both on the Creuse River about 50 km south of Châteauroux (about 150 km southeast of Tours and the Loire River). Data was collected at some 50 points identified as fish spawning grounds.
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| Éguzon Dam. © La Nouvelle République and Patrick Gaïda |
Somewhat surprisingly, the study found that the impacts weren't all negative; they varied according to species of fish. Some seemed to do just fine; others not so fine. Among the former were barbels, a small carp-like fish, and chub. Among the latter were perch, trout, and sanders, all of which showed declining numbers.
Already, EDF has agreed to modify its water releases to keep the downstream water levels within specified minimum and maximum amounts. As reported in the newspaper La Nouvelle République the fishermen and the power company, having collaborated in this project, seemed anxious to find ways to manage the river to satisfy everyone's concerns, or at least those of fishermen and power generators. I'm curious, though, about what regulatory requirements apply to habitat protection along rivers in cases like this, and the extent to which those are taken into account. Is there a possibility that governmental agencies may be ceding responsibilities to private interests in this case?
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