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Environmental Effects of Hydro‐Electric Power Generation in Africa and the Potential for Artificial Floods
Author(s) -
Acreman M. C.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1996.tb00076.x
Subject(s) - floodplain , electrification , flooding (psychology) , flood myth , environmental science , electricity generation , agriculture , electricity , electric power , environmental protection , natural resource economics , water resource management , environmental engineering , geography , engineering , economics , power (physics) , psychology , physics , cartography , electrical engineering , archaeology , quantum mechanics , psychotherapist
Electricity is a fundamental requirement for economic growth, and hydro‐electric power is often thought to be environmentally benign. However, the construction and operation of many hydro‐power dams in Africa have had significant negative impacts on the environment and rural economies. Reduced downstream flooding has destroyed fisheries and starved the floodplain soils of moisture and nutrients. Often the worst‐affected areas have no electrification and therefore do not benefit from power generation. New dams which are planned in Kenya and Tanzania have been specifically designed to make flood releases. This will allow electricity to be generated whilst maintaining a dynamic flooding pattern for the short‐term economic importance of fisheries and agriculture and the longer‐term importance of soil fertility and biodiversity. Involvement of local community representatives in deciding when flood waters should be released on the Phongolo River in South Africa has resulted in substantial benefits to floodplain users.