"Eric" SHPP Monitoring Results (Photos)

EcoLur

In the frames of “Support to SHPP-relating reforms through the dialogue of public and RA Nature Protection Ministry for Sustainable Use of River Ecosystems” project the expert group visited "Eric" SHPP, which is located on the Getik River (length – 58 km) in the administrative area of Getik community, Gegharkounik Region. The SHPP is operated by “Eric HPP” LLC. As a result of the monitoring the expert group found out:

• The SHPP has been operating since 2010.
• According to the project, the static pressure of the SHPP is 102.6m, estimated pressure –89.1m, the estimated yield used by the SHPP is 3.0m³/s, projected capacity – 2026kW. According to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee, capacity – 1600 kW. According to the certificate issued by the Public Services Regulatory Committee, the factual useful delivery of the electricity is 5.37266 million kWh, according to the project, the estimated production is 7.04 million kWh, duration of license - 28.07.2010- 28.07.2025, water usage permit - 29.09.2011-29.09-2014.
• SHPP operation is partially automated, which doesn’t ensure complete and optimal operation.
• The length of derivation pipeline complies with the project, the pipeline length is 200 and 1850 meters, its diameter is 1400 mm and 1200mm. It runs along the road side, the landscape is not disturbed. Proper measures of recovery were taken in the places where pressure pipeline was laid and the presence of vegetation was visible.
• Percentage correlation of aggregate lenght (14510 meters) of  “Erik”' SHPP (according to project, length of derivation – 200 and 1850 meters), 'Getik 1' SHPP (according to project, length of derivation – 7260 meters), 'Getik 4' SHPP (according to project, length of derivation – 5200 meters) constructed on the Getik River with the length of Getik River makes up 25.01%.
• According to the water usage permit data, the SHPP can annually take 36168.000 cum water from the Getik River. Environmental flow is 70l/sec, which is too low for the vital activities of the Getik River and surrounding ecosystem. Especially in low-water months the river can be deprived of water in 2-kilometer-long section of the pipeline. The environmental flow can’t be controlled, as no water-measuring device is installed in the head section. There is a water-measuring rod, which is installed on the discharge canal of the station building.
• According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Vahagni” SHPP operated for 12 months and produced 3351532 kW electricity.
• Fish-protecting net is missing and it’s evident that the fish passway can’t entirely ensure natural migration of the fish in the river.
• In the upper reach of the Getik river, where the head section of the SHPP is constructed, we can meet the following fish species: brown trout - Salmo fario, Barbus lacerta cyri and Sevan khramulya - Capoeta sevangi, which are red listed in Armenia and the South Caspian sprilin - Alburnoides eichwaldii. Accidental intrusion of rainbow trout - Parasalmo mykiss from nearby located fish farms is also probable.
• Taking into consideration that sewage from residential areas are dumped into river without cleaning, the water pollution level will go up under conditions of lack of water, which will entail danger for the river biodiversity and fauna.
• The water intake section was in anti-sanitary condition. The river flooding collected a huge amount of different garbage in garbage-collecting grid.  The staff ensuring regular operation of the devices cleans the grids from garbage and throws it into river. • • Sufficient measures of greening were taken in the area of SHPP building in line with the project.
• The following protected areas are near the small hydropower plant "Eric": "Dilijan" National park " Getik" reserve and Champarakskoe forestry.
• “Eric” SHPP has 8 employees.

Proposals

• To study whether the environmental flow of 0.07 m³/s is sufficient for the given river an adjacent ecosystems (Gugarq forest).
• To ensure the water intake section with water measuring device, which will regulate the water amount used by the SHPP and the set amount of the environmental flow.
• To ensure online supervision of the environmental low.
• To rehabilitate the fish passway for the preservation and reliable migration of the fish.
• To install a fish protecting net.
• Proper measures shall be taken not to throw the collected garbage back into the river.

"Erik" SHPP in low-water months. Photos by Levon Galstyan.

The material was  developed in the frames of “Supporting reforms in the sector of small hydro power plants through enabling a dialogue between civil society  and the Ministry  of Nature Protection for sustainable use of river ecosystems” supported by UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme".

May 25, 2015 at 16:51