EcoLur
In the framework of the project entitled “Support to the Reforms of SHPPs through a Dialogue between the Public and The Ministry of Nature Protection of the RA for the Purpose of River Ecosystem Use” the expert group visited “Katnarat” SHPP. “Katnarat” SHPP is located in the administrative area of Katnarat community, Lori Region. The SHPP is constructed on the Dzoraget River (length – 67 km). It’s operated by “Vanshain” LLC.
As a result of the monitoring, the expert group found out:
- The SHPP has been operating since 2012.
- “Katnarat”, “Dzoraget 6” and “Dzoraget 5” SHPPs are considered as cascade SHPPs. The water flowing out of “Dzoraget 5” is directed to the head section of “Dzoraget 6” through a discharge canal, while the water flowing out of “Dzoraget 6” is directed to the head section of “Katnarat” SHPP through a discharge canal. Despite this, the SHPP has been considered as an individual structure in the SHPP construction project.
- There is a dam constructed in the head section of 2.6 meters high and 18 meters long.
- There is a stair-like fish passway of 10.28 meters long and 0.85-0.90 meters wide in the head section. There are 6 stairs separated from each other with concrete baffles, the height of which is from 1.20 meters to 1.30 meters. Each baffle has a chess-like slot with the following sized: 0.18-020 X 0.18-0.20 meters. In a distance of around 20-25 meters down the fish passway there is another dam of 1.5-2 meter high, where there is no fish passway. The stones collected under the dam can’t help most fish to overcome the dam.
- There is no fish-protecting structure in the SHPP, there is only a garbage-collector installed.
- You can meet brown trout (Salmo fario) in the part of the Dzoraget River, where SHPP head section is constructed. You could have met Kura barbell, the South Caspian sprilin and other species, as well as fish species having penetrated into the river from the fish farms using the water of the river basin.
- According to the water usage permit data, the SHPP can take water from the Dzoraget for 8 months ensuring the environmental flow of 0.280 m3/s in the river. The water usage permit doesn’t allow water intake in January, February, March and December.
- According to “Computation Center” CJSC data, in 2014 “Katnarat” SHPP operated for 10 months and produced 2967160 kW electricity.
- The length of the pipeline is 3450 meters and its diameter is 1220mm.
- The station building is neat, while the area is taken care of. Site development and sufficient greening and improvement works have been carried out in the station area.
- The area of the station, as well as the transformer substation is fenced with a metallic fence.
- There are three transformers installed in the transformer substation, which are equipped with an oil-collecting system.
- According to the project, three turbines of local production, “Tsatryan” LLC, were installed, while only two were operating at the moment of observation. Most water was used in April-May months, when the SHPP with its 3 turbines ensured projected capacity.
- According to the project solutions, there is a toilet constructed with water-proof well for waste discharge.
- There is no water-meter sealed by a relevant environmental body in the water intake.
- There is a shield of electric protection installed in the station.
- There is no automatic management system of water level in the water intake.
Conclusion
Because of the dam constructed for water supply to Vanadzor, the fish passway of “Katnarat” SHPP has no functional role and is considered as a non-useful structure.
The environmental flow of 0.280 cum/s laid down in the water usage permit is not sufficient for the Dzoraget River and it should be added.
The observations showed that “Katnarat”, “Dzoraget 6” and “Dzoraget 5” SHPPs are considered as cascade SHPPs. In total three SHPPs use 7600 m of river section. Water intakes for different purposes are carried out in this river section and different hydrotechnical structures have been constructed, which results in environmental overload on the Dzoraget River. There is drastic need to ensure environmental flow limit with proper methods, if needed to review and to set control.
Proposals
1.To ensure automatic management of the environmental flow and installing measuring devices in the head section.
2.To find technical solution to install a fish-protecting net.
3.To review and increase the limit of the environmental flow taking into consideration the fact that the river flows along Katnarat village in this section.
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".
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November 09, 2015 at 14:46