The Connecticut River has been serving as a major source of Hydroelectric energy for local regions in the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut since the 20th century. In late 2012, many facilities producing energy within the Connecticut River began the process of reliscencing, where they take in the concerns and thoughts of the general public and apply them through a refurbished contract about their uses with the river.
Over the years, attention has been brought to the ecological impact of these hydroelectric plantations. This article will go over some of the examples of how ecolife in the river has been impacted by the effect of hydroelectric plantations. (1)
To understand why hydroelectric plant facilities are negatively impacting local ecolife, it is important to first understand how energy is transformed into hydroelectric power. Generally, facilities tend to use a process known as “peaking”, where the dams hold back the flowing water for a certain period of time, and then release it again to turn the turbines, which generate electricity. This process is specifically harmful towards certain threatened/endangered species residing within the river because it disrupts the natural flow of the water. For example, when damselflies go under metamorphosis, they enter a state of severe vulnerability—even the smallest wave of tide can potentially kill them. Under these circumstances, the peaking caused by the process of energy transformation by hydroelectric plantations prove to be especially harmful towards the wildlife of those regions. (1)
Dragonflies and damselflies are not the only endangered species who are being majorly impacted by the “peaking” of hydroelectric facilities. Other federally endangered animals such as the Puritan Tiger beetle, the Fowler’s toad, Shads, and more, are all impacted by the rapidly changing velocity of the Connecticut rivers.
Currently, these concerns are being taken into consideration by Great River Hydro (the core company of most of the hydroelectric facilities in the Connecticut River), the Connecticut River Conservancy, and other major stakeholders to devise a proposal that will address these ecological issues that have arised due to the energy generation process of these plantations.
- Kathy Urffer, “Hydropower on the Connecticut threatens vulnerable river wildlife,” vtdigger (blog), entry posted May 5, 2021, https://vtdigger.org/2021/05/05/hydropower-on-the-connecticut-threatens-vulnerable-river-wildlife/.
