Optimizing Win-Win Scenarios Between Hydropower Development and Environmental Improvements By Thinking Outside the Project Boundary

In order to mitigate the environmental effects of hydropower development and operation, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requires environmental compliance by private owners of hydropower facilities.  The environmental issues considered are usually within the vicinity of hydropower facilities because many, if not all, are a direct result of dam construction or operation. “On-site” mitigation techniques typically include fish passage, flow and water quality improvement, habitat enhancement, and recreation improvements. We question whether more environmental benefits could be achieved outside the project boundary (“off-site”).  Off-site benefits include the above listed mitigations, but also land acquisition, wetland mitigation, and riparian restoration. Determining optimal win-win scenarios between energy and the environment requires identifying the most cost-effective route to increase energy production while also identifying environmental improvements with the highest benefit/cost ratio. We use the Roanoke Basin, North Carolina, as a case study to compare relative benefits of on-site versus off-site mitigation.  Much of the priority areas for environmental improvements are not located in areas proximate to facilities.  Because, the full potential of win-win scenarios may be underestimated if based solely on spatial overlap, the optimization of energy gained and environmental improvements requires prioritizing conservation needs at the scale of the entire basin.