Marco Contextual

The environmental problem Changed habitats through physical impact relates to all types of physical modifications caused by humans and affecting hydrology and habitats in the water area. Physical changes affect the hydrological and morphological processes that create the basic conditions for the aquatic habitats. Examples of physical modifications are drainage, floatway cleaning, straightening, channelling, dams, incorrectly laid road culverts or other barriers that create obstacles to migration, as well as changes that affect hydrology.

Physical changes are divided into changes in flow, changes in connectivity and morphological changes, depending on that type of physical impact the interventions produce.

Physical changes relating to changes of flow to meet the environmental quality standards The water bodies affected by changes in flow and are classified as heavily modified waters are described in the subchapter Artificial and heavily modified water bodies, and no possible measures linked to changes of flow are therefore presented in this section.

Physical measures relating to changes in connectivity to meet the environmental quality standards

Further measures need to be implemented to enable the environmental quality standards to be met with regard to changes in connectivity. The scope of the physical modifications needing to be implemented to counteract and compensate for changes in connectivity is presented in Table 1. Table 1: Possible physical measures relating to changes in connectivity in the Bothnian Bay water district. Source: VISS 2014-08-15

Measure Number of possible

measures

Annual cost* [SEK 000]

Fish passage or removal of migration obstacle 693 39 000

Re-laying/replacement of road culvert 700 6 500

* Based on template costs, annuity 4% and 50 years template life.

Physical measures relating to morphological changes to meet the environmental quality standards

The following physical measures are possible in the Bothnian Bay water district with regard to morphological changes, see Table 2.

Table 2: Physical measures relating to morphological changes in the Bothnian Bay (Source: VISS 2014-08-15)

Measure Number of possible

measures

Annual cost* [SEK 000]

Ecologically functional buffer zones 650 6 000

Floatway restoration 1354 24 700

Restoration of cleared or straightened rivers 179 3 900 * Based on template costs, annuity 4% and 50 years template life.

23 Artificial and heavily modified water bodies

In 2014 the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management drew up detailed guidance for heavily modified water bodies (HMWBs) with application to hydropower36_{. The guidance for} hydropower describes how Chapter 4 Section 3 of the Water Management Ordinance is to be applied in connection with water storage and regulation. This guidance describes how the establishment of ecological potential and environmental quality standard is to be viewed on the basis of the number of implemented measures of significance to biological quality factors that have been or can be implemented in a hydropower facility. The list of measures to be applied is

presented in the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management's guidance and comprises 14 measures, at least ten of which should have been taken for good potential to be achieved in affected water bodies, if these signify benefit for biological quality factors.

Need for measures and time exemptions in implementation

I the Bothnian Bay water district 180 water bodies located in the Lule, Skellefte and Ume rivers, 84 lakes and 96 rivers have been classified as HMWBs and four rivers as artificial water bodies (AWBs). Environmental quality standards for AWBs have been classified and established according to the same method as for HMWBs. None of the larger installations in the Bothnian Bay water district have implemented more than individual measures. Ecological potential has therefore been assessed as poor for all HMWBs. This means that a maximum of six of the 14 measures in the list have been implemented or have not had a substantial biological effect and that the need for measures to achieve good ecological potential is extensive.

The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, together with the Swedish Energy Agency, developed a strategy37 _{in 2014 both for measures that reduce the environmental impact of} hydropower and for measures that signify increased production to meet the energy needs of the future. The strategy proposes a limiting target for environmental improvement measures in hydropower plants at national level that mean that the present-day annual production of hydropower during a normal year, corresponding to 1.5 TWh, may decrease by a maximum of 2.3%. Measures that cause production to decrease are not allowed to have a substantial impact on balancing and regulating power. The decrease is to be regarded as a limit regarding how much impact on the energy system is reasonable. This means that the scope of the measures may be variable among the river basins that today have hydropower, provided the combined effect of the measures does not exceed the limit.

In establishing an environmental quality standard the water authorities have taken account of the strategy by giving the main stream of the Lule river, which has been specially designated as significant in the strategy, the environmental quality standard moderate ecological potential. This standard means that only 6-10 of the 14 measures in the guidance need to be taken or be assessed as lacking significance for biological quality factors in affected water bodies. However, the basis for such as an assessment is highly deficient. The water authorities have therefore included as a general measure for all water bodies classified as HMWBs the measure in the strategy that action plans have to be drawn up for water bodies affected by hydropower. The action plans can

advantageously be drawn up for each river basin and are to be prepared by the end of 2017 to enable them to be adopted by the water delegations during 2018. Even if the decision is not made until 2018, the measures are to be implemented or at least commenced during the period 2015-2021 so that the EQS can be met in 2021, or for the water bodies with exemptions by 2027.

The cost of the measure is calculated on the basis of the action plan no being adopted in the Ume river and comprising a total of 17 installations alongside water bodies classified as HMWBs. The

36 _{Vägledning för kraftigt modifierade vatten med tillämpning på vattenkraft (Guidance for heavily}

modified water bodies). Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management report 2014-XX.

37 _{Nationell strategi för åtgärder inom vattenkraften (National strategy for measures in hydropower).}

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cost has been calculated as totalling around SEK 235 000 per installation, altogether approx. SEK 4 million. Th equivalent sum for the Lule river is approx. SEK 3.1 million and for the Skellefte river approx. SEK 3.8 million.

The water authorities have deemed that it has been technically infeasible to achieve the environmental quality standards in HMWBs by 2015, and for this reason a time exemption is necessary in accordance with the conditions stated in the Water Management Ordinance. Time exemptions may be applied if it is evident that the ecological potential cannot be achieved by 2015. However, the water authorities consider that measures must be commenced during the period 2015-2021 to enable the environmental quality standards to be achieved by 2027.

Synopsis of physical measures targeted at authorities and municipalities

Table 3 shows the relationship between the physical measures and the measures targeted at public agencies and municipalities and described in the previous chapter. As can be seen from the table, most of the physical measures are linked to measures targeted at central agencies, county

administrative boards and municipalities. All these thus need to act for the physical measure to be implemented to the extent needed to meet the environmental quality standards.

Table 3: Link between physical measure and the measures targeted at public agencies and municipalities, together with proposed scope and effect

Overarching physical measure Measure targeted at public agencies and municipalities Scope Effect Measures to reduce the adverse environmental effects of changes in connectivity and flow Swedish Energy Agency and Swedish Agency for Marine and Water

Management Action 1

Guidance for action plans for hydropower

The county administrative board can prioritise its supervision under Chapter 11 at the right place. Environmental Code, so that the correct measure is implemented.

County administrative board Measure 3

Requirement for supervision of dams.

The county administrative board increases its resources for

supervision of dams and hydropower plants in accordance with Chapter 11 of the Environmental Code, leading to measures to reduce the adverse environmental effects of changes in connectivity.

County administrative board Measure 9

Specific action plans for hydropower, supervision can be made more effective.

The county administrative board improves the effectiveness of its examination and supervision for dams and hydropower plants under Section 11 of the Environmental Code, leading to measures to reduce the adverse environmental effects of changes in connectivity.

Swedish Transport Administration Measure 1

Deal with incorrectly laid road culverts in the public road network that pose migration obstacles.

The road culverts in the public road network posing migration obstacles are dealt with.

Swedish Transport Administration Measure 2

Deal with incorrectly laid road culverts in the public road network that pose migration obstacles.

The road culverts in the public road network posing migration obstacles are dealt with.

Municipalities Measure 9

Dealing with road culverts in the municipal road network

The road culverts in the municipal road network posing migration

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posing migration obstacles. obstacles are dealt with.

Measures to reduce the adverse environmental effects of morphological changes County administrative board Measure 1

Review and supervision under Chapter 11 of the Environmental Code..

Physical measures are implemented by requirements being set for operators under the Environmental Code.

Swedish Agency for Marine and Water

Management Measure 5

National strategy and financing for operations without a clear owner.

Floatway restorations and restorations of cleaned or straightened rivers can be implemented.

Swedish Agency for Marine and Water

Management Measure 6

Investigate instruments and conditions to be met for construction of ecological buffer zones.

Ecological buffer zones are constructed, enabling the

environmental quality standards to be met. County administrative board Measure 13 Increased knowledge of cultural heritage assets.

The county administrative board gains increased knowledge of the cultural environment, which facilitates examination and supervision under Chapter 11 of the Environmental Code so that the right measure is carried out at the right place. Swedish

Environmental Protection Measure 7

National strategy and guidance on drainage

More measures that improve the status of waters affected by drainage.

Swedish Forest Agency Measure 6

Guidance to operators in the forestry sector on

environmentally sound cleaning/ditching.

The environmental quality standards can be met in forest waters.

Swedish Board of Agriculture Measure 2 Guidance to farmers on environmentally sound drainage. Environmentally sound cleaning/restoration by drainage enterprises counteracts morphological changes. Overarching measures to reduce the adverse environmental effects of physical impact Swedish Agency for Marine and Water

Management Measure 4

Guidance on the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency's strategy is to be applied in the county administrative board's examination and supervision.

The county administrative board improves the effectiveness of its examination and supervision under Section 11 of the Environmental Code so that the right measure is carried out at the right time. Legal, Financial

and Administrative Services Agency Measure 1

Guidance on how the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency's strategy is to be applied in the county administrative board's examination and supervision.

The county administrative board improves the effectiveness of its examination and supervision under Chapter 11 of the Environmental Code, leading to the right measure being carried out at the right place. County

administrative board Measure 1

Orders and conditions relating to physical measures in examination and supervision under Section 11 of the Environmental Code.

Physical measures are implemented by requirements being set for operators.

County administrative board Measure 2

Requirement for self- inspection.

More checks and measurements are performed and improve the

monitoring and the possibility of follow-up.

County administrative board Measure 8

Establish action plan. The county administrative board improves the effectiveness of its examination and supervision under Section 11 of the Environmental Code so that the right measure is

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carried out at the right time.

National Heritage Board and Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management Measure 1 Guidance to county administrative board on cataloguing of cultural environment.

The county administrative board gains increased knowledge of the cultural environment and can apply this in its examination and

supervision under Section 11 of the Environmental Code, so that the right measure is carried out at the right place.

Swedish Forest Agency Measure 1

Instruments that encourage physical measures.

Physical measures so that the environmental quality standards for water for water can be complied with. Swedish Forest

Agency Measure 2

Follow-up and measurement and methods.

It can identified through follow-up whether the environmental quality standards are complied with. Swedish Forest

Agency Measure 3

Criteria for nature conservation agreements based on consideration of water quality.

The environmental quality standards for water can be followed through adapted forestry.

Swedish Forest Agency Measure 4

Development of forest planning.

The environmental quality standards for water can be followed through adapted forestry.

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