China - Hubei Hydroelectric Project - environmental assessment (Vol. 5 of 7) : Aquatic ecological assessment

VOLUME 9 E416 Vol. 5 Aquatic Ecological Assessment HUBEI HYDROPOWER PROJECT Prepared for: The Government of Hubei Province Prepared by: Institute of Hydrobiology - Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan, Hubei Province, Peoples Republic of China February 2002 FILE COPY  Acknowledgements Relevant data and generous assistance during the field work has been gratefully received from the following units: Treasury Department of Hubei Province; Hubei Institute of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering Survey and Design; Hydraulics and Electricity Bureau of Enshi Prefecture; Fishery Politics Bureau of Hubei Province; and Forestry Department of Hubei Province. Relevant data was provided by the following agencies: Water Conservancy and Fishery Bureau of Xuan'en County; Forestry Bureau of Xuan'en County; Company for Development of Zhongjian River Drainage Area; Electric Power Company of Laifeng County; Water conservancy and Fishery Bureau of Laifeng County; Forestry Bureau of Laifeng County; Tangkou Power Station of Electric Power Company of Laifeng County; Meiziyou Village Government of Baifusi Town, Laifeng County; Electric Power Company of Longshan County (Hunan Province); Water Conservancy and Fishery Bureau of Zhushan County; Songshuling Power Station Planning Office of Zhushan County; Fishery Station of Zhushan County; Government of Guandu Town; Electriclpower Bureau of Nanzhang County; Fishery Bureau of Nanzhang County; Hydrological Station of Nanzhang County; Xiakou Electric Power Ltd. of Nanzhang County; Committee for Development Planning of Nanzhang County; Fishery Politics Section of Water Business Bureau of Xuan'en County. For their efforts in identifying zooplankton, zoobenthos and phytoplankton speciments, and writing the section of the report that deals with hydrophilous invertebrates, we extend our appreciation to associate researchers Chen Shouzhong, Liu Baoyuan, Kuang Qijun and Miss Xiang Xianfen. We are grateful to Mr. R. Scott Hanna for his guidance and helpful advice on field investigations and report preparation, and for his efforts in reviewing and editing earlier drafts of this report. We are also grateful to the people, too numerous to mention, who have assisted us in other ways.  Aquatic Ecological Assessment - Hubei Hydropower Project Table of Contents 1. Introduction to the Study ......................................................1 1.1 Introduction .................................................1 1.2 Purpose and Objectives of The Assessment ............................................... 1 1.3 Brief Description of the Four Proposed Hydropower Projects ..............................................2 1.3.1 The Dongping Hydropower Project ..............................................2 1.3.2 The Lajitan Hydropower Project ...............................................3 1.3.3 The Songshuling Hydropower Project ..............................................4 1.3.4 The Xiakou Hydropower Project ..............................................5 1.4 Project Study Team ..............................................6 2. Materials and Methods ................ . . 7 2.1 Introduction ......7 2.2 Literature Review . . . 7 2.2.1 Zhongjian River Basin and Dongping Hydropower Project . . 7 2.2.2 Youshui River Basin and Lajitan Hydropower Project . . 7 2.2.3 Guandu River Basin and Songshuling Hydropower Project . . 7 2.2.4 Juhe River Basin and Xiakou Hydropower Project ..8 2.3 Field Investigations . . .8 2.3.1 Sampling Locations for Each Project ...........................8 2.3.1.1 Zhongjian River Basin ..........................8 2.3.1.2 Youshui River basin ..........................8 2.3.1.3 Guandu River basin ..........................9 2.3.1.4 Juhe basin ...9......................9 2.3.2 Plankton Sampling ..9.......................9 2.3.3 Benthos Sampling .......................... 10 2.3.4 Sampling of Aquatic Vertebrates ......................... 10 2.3.4.1 Zhongjian River Basin ......................... 11 2.3.4.2 Youshui River Basin ......................... 12 2.3.4.3 Guandu River Basin ......................... 12 2.3.4.4 Juhe River basin ......................... 12 3. Morphology of the Project Affected Rivers .............................. . 14 3.1 Introduction .....14 3.2 Morphology of the Zhongjian River . . .14 3.2.1 Physiography ..14 3.2.2 Climatology ..14 3.2.3 Hydrology ....... 14  Aquatic Ecological Assessment - Hubei Hydropower Project 3.3 Morphology of the Youshui River .............................................. 15 3.3.1 Physiography ............................................. 15 3.3.2 Climatology ............................................. 16 3.3.3 Hydrology ............................................. 17 3.4 Morphology of the Guandu River .............................................. 17 3.4.1 Physiography ............................................. 17 3.4.2 Climatology ............................................. 18 3.4.3 Hydrology ............................................. 18 3.5 Morphology of the Juhe River ..19 3.5.1 Physiography .19 3.5.2 Climatology .20 3.5.3 Hydrology .20 4. Aquatic Biological Resources of the Project Rivers . . .22 4.1 Introduction..22 4.2 Phytoplankton .............................................. .. 22 4.2.1 Phytoplankton in Zhongjian River Near Dongping ............................................. 22 4.2.2 Phytoplankton in Youshui River Near Lajitan ............................................. 22 4.2.3 Phytoplankton in Guandu River Near Songshuling ............................................. 22 4.2.4 Phytoplankton in Juhe River Near Xiakou ............................................. 23 4.3 Zooplankton .............................................. 23 4.3.1 Zooplankton in Zhongjian River Near Dongping ............................................. 23 4.3.2 Zooplankton in Youshui River Near Lajitan ............................................. 24 4.3.3 Zooplankton in Guandu River Near Songshuling ............................................. 24 4.3.4 Zooplankton in Juhe River Near Xiakou ............................................. 24 4.4 Zoobenthos .............................................. 25 4.4.1 Zoobenthos in Zhongian River Near Dongping ............................................. 25 4.4.2 Zoobenthos in Youshui River Near Lajitan ............................................. 25 4.4.3 Zoobenthos in Guandu River Near Songshuling ............................................. 26 4.4.4 Zoobenthos in the Juhe River Near Xiakou ............................................. 26 4.5 Fish Species and Abundance ............................................. 27 4.5.1 Fish Species in Zhongjian River Near Dongping ............................................. 27 4.5.2 Fish Species in Youshui River Near Lajitan ............................................. 28 4.5.3 Fish Species in Guandu River Near Songshuling ............................................. 29 4.5.4 Fish Species in Juhe River Near Xiakou .31  Aquatic Ecological Assessment - Hubei Hydropower Project 4.6 Amphibians and Reptiles .................................................. 33 4.6.1 Zhongjian River basin ..33 4.6.1.1 Amphibians .33 4.6.1.2 Reptiles .35 4.6.2 Youshui River Basin ..36 4.6.2.1 Amphibians .36 4.6.2.2 Reptiles .36 4.6.3 Guandu River Basin ..36 4.6.3.1 Amphibians .36 4.6.3.2 Reptiles .37 4.6.4 Juhe River Basin ..38 4.6.4.1 Amphibians .38 4.6.4.2 Reptiles .38 5. Changes to the Aquatic Environments of the Four Projects .39 5.1 Introduction..39 5.2 Changes to the Zhongjian River from the Dongping Project . ................................................ 39 5.2.1 Changes in Hydrology ................................................. 39 5.2.2 Reservoir and Downstream Water Temerparute Changes . ................................. 40 5.2.3 Reservoir Water Level Fluctuations .................................................. 41 5.2.4 Downstream Flow Changes .................................................. 41 5.3 Changes to the Youshui River from the Lajitan Project . . .42 5.3.1 Changes in Hydrology ..42 5.3.2 Water Temperature Changes ..42 5.3.3 Reservoir Water Level Fluctuations ..42 5.3.4 Downstream Flow Changes ..42 5.4 Changes to the Guandu River from the Songshuling Project . . .42 5.4.1 Changes in Hydrology ..43 5.4.2 Water Temperature Changes ..43 5.4.3 Downstream Flow Changes ..44 5.5 Changes to Juhe River from the Xiakou Project . . .44 5.5.1 Changes in Hydrology ..44 5.5.2 Water Temperature Changes ..44 5.5.3 Changes in Water Quality ..45 5.5.4 Changes in the Habitat ..45 6. Impacts on Aquatic Biological Resources . . . . 46 6.1. Introduction . . . . 46  Aquatic Ecological Assessment - Hubei Hydropower Project 6.2 Impacts of Dongping Project on Aquatic Biological Resources . . ............................................... 46 6.2.1 Impacts of the Dongping Project on Fish ..46 6.2.1.1 Changes in the Fish Communities .46 6.2.1.2 Effects of Dam on Fish Migration .47 6.2.1.3 Impacts on Fish Downstream of the Dam .47 6.2.1.4 Impacts on Listed Fish Species .48 6.2.2 Impacts of the Dongping Project on Amphibians ..48 6.2.3 Impacts of the Dongping Project on Aquatic Reptiles . .49 6.3 Impacts of Lajitan Project on Aquatic Biological Resources . . .49 6.3.1 Impacts of Lajitan on Plankton ..49 6.3.2 Impacts of Lajitan on Zoobenthos ..50 6.3.3 Impacts of Lajitan on Fish ..50 6.3.4 Impacts of Lajitan on Listed Species ..50 6.4 Impact of Songshuling Project on Biological Aquatic Resources . .............................................. 50 6.4.1 Impact of Songshuling on Fish ..50 6.4.1.1 Effects of Reservoir on Fish Spawning .51 6.4.1.2 Impacts on Listed Fish Species .52 6.4.2 Impacts of Songshuling on Amphibians ..52 6.4.3 Impacts of Songshuling Project on Aquatic Reptiles ..52 6.5 Impacts of the Xiakou Project on Aquatic Resources . . . 53 6.5.1 Impacts of Songshuling on Fish ..53 6.5.1.1 Impacts on Spawning .53 6.5.1.2 Impacts on Fish Production .53 6.5.1.3 Impacts on Listed Fish Species .54 6.5.2 Impacts on Amphibians and Reptiles ..54 7. Mitigation and Compensation Measures . . . . 55 7.1 Introduction . . . 55 7.2 Project Specific Mitigation and Compensation . . . 55 7.2.1 Provision of Riparian Flows During Initial Reservoir Filling .55 7.2.2 Provision of Continuous Riparian Flows During Operations .56 7.3 Additional Conservation Initiatives Outside the Projects . . .......................... 56 7.3.1 Designate Selected River Reaches or Tributaries ........................................ 56 7.3.2 Increased Protection for Listed Species ........................................ 57 7.3.2.1 Protection of Listed Fish ........................................ 57 7.3.2.2 Protection of Listed Amphibians ........................................ 57 7.3.2.3 Protection of Listed Reptiles ........................................ 58 8. Conclusions....59 9. References....62 iv  Aquatic Ecological Assessment - Hubei Hydropower Project Appendices Appendix A Terms of Reference A-1 Appendix A2 Project Location Maps A2-1 Appendix B Names of Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles B-1 Appendix C Field Survey Data C-1 Appendix D Photos of the Project Areas and Field Sampling Program D-1  Aquatic Ecological Assessment - Hubei Hydropower Project 1. Introduction to the Study 1.1 Introduction This section of the report provides background to the Aquatic Ecological Assessment study, including the purpose and objectives of the assessment, a brief summary of the four hydropower projects that comprise the Hubei Hydropower Project, and information on the the research team that was responsible for undertaking the work. 1.2 Purpose and Objectives of The Assessment The Chinese Ministry of Finance, representing the Government of Hubei Province, has requested a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruciton and Development (The World Bank) to finance four small/medium sized hydropower projects (Dongping, Lajitan, Songshuling, and Xiakou -- collectively referred to as the Hubei Hydropower Project) in western Hubei Province. The Hubei Government, in association with provincial or county owned electrical generating companies, proposes to implement the Hubei Hydropower Project to provide electricity to the provincial power grid, and associated power sales revenues, which will help to alleviate poverty in the region. Secondary objectives include transportation (i.e., shipping), aquaculture (fish cage culturing), irrigation and tourism. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies have been completed for each of the four projects. However, based on a review of each of the EIA reports, environmental experts representing the World Bank determined that additional research was required to assess the potential impacts each project would have on aquatic ecological resources within the affected portions of the respective project rivers. The Wuhan based Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) - Chinese Academy of Sciences was contracted by the Government of Hubei Province to carry out the additional aquatic ecological assessment studies. Terms of reference for the assignment (Appendix A) were prepared by Mr. R. Scott Hanna, Senior Environmental Specialist (Consultant), on behalf of the World Bank. The purpose of the present assignment was to evaluate the potential impacts each of the four hydropower projects would have on aquatic biological resources within the affected river reaches. The specific objectives of the assignment included: (1) Undertaking a literature review and field surveys to identify and species, ecological significance, and economic significance of aquatic vertebrates (fish, Amphibians, Reptiles) in project river. (2) Determine relative abundance of aquatic vertebrates in the affected reaches of the four river systems. (3) Identify whether there are any threatened, rare or endangerd species, or unique natural habitat that could be lost as a result of one or more of the projects, and, if occurring A- I  Aquatic Ecological Assessment - Hubei Hydropower Project within one or more of the rivers, determine how the species in question would be affected by the project(s). (4) Develop feasible recommendations for migigating or compensating for losses incurred as a result of the projects; and (5) Prepare an assessment report which documents the work undertaken, discusses the ecological significance of the project affected rivers, identifies potential impacts, and recommends opportunities for mitigation and compensation. 1.3 Brief Description of the Four Proposed Hydropower Projects The characteristics of the four hydropower projects are described below. 1.3.1 The Dongping Hydropower Project The Dongping project will be a single purpose hydropower project with an installed capacity of 11OMW, located on the Zhongjian river, a major tributary of the Qingjiang river, itself a tributary of the Yangtse. The damsite (30