Hydropower energy generation is a key piece of a diverse energy mix. It offers many benefits, including that, as a renewable source, we can rely on zero emission energy generation for as long as rivers exist.
Hydropower dams have gates through which water flows and turns turbines to generate electricity. Building these dams can also create recreational areas for activities like swimming, boating and fishing. To operate these facilities, like any other fuel source, crews evaluate various environmental considerations to ensure minimal impact to the surrounding ecosystem.
Hydropower facility crews collaborate with local town and county officials, as well as agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state department of natural resources to ensure a project adheres to the highest environmental standards throughout its lifetime.
Operational practices help maintain the reliability of hydropower generation and preserve the surrounding environment. They include:
Physical dam maintenance. This includes efforts like gate restoration and grout work, which are needed infrequently, but essential. More routinely, facility personnel rake vegetation debris like tree branches, stumps and trunks to prevent disruptions to the natural flow of the river and to keep the turbines in top shape.
Environmental maintenance. An example of this type of project is the removal of excess sediment from the river. Sediment moves naturally with a river’s flow and accumulates against dams over time. To prevent it affecting turbine performance, contractors dredge excess sediment and test it for heavy metals and phosphate. Once determined safe, it can be properly disposed.
With nearly any maintenance project, an environmental specialist must first conduct endangered species and habitat assessments. They perform this critical step before crews start work to identify species that live within the facility area or migrate through it, and to develop safeguards to protect them.
By considering the environmental aspects of hydropower dam planning and operation, Alliant Energy crews protect our vital ecosystems as they ensure energy reliability. Check out this video for an exclusive inside look at our Prairie du Sac dam.