Protected watercourses are exposed to interventions other than hydropower, despite what the national policy guidelines stipulate. A compilation of the current status of protected watercourses is important in order to assess the effects of any hydropower development in the Verdal watercourse or other protected watercourses. Overall assessments, both on a geographical scale and in relation to the national status of species and habitat types, should be central to any assessment of possible hydropower development in protected watercourses.
The report is written as a desk study with a simple site visit to the Verdal watercourse. It builds on available earlier studies, guidelines and assessments.
The report describes the current knowledge base and proposes which further investigations should be carried out in order to assess whether careful hydropower development is possible without degrading the conservation values of the watercourse. The report does not take a position on whether hydropower should be developed in the Verdal watercourse.
The report proposes six measures to better understand the current condition of the watercourse and the potential effects of any development. These studies, together with an impact assessment in accordance with current requirements and guidelines, should form the basis for any future decisions on whether to investigate or refrain from hydropower development.
- Information on the conservation values as described in the protection plan.
- A complete and holistic status of the physical, chemical, hydromorphological and ecological condition, including the condition of the conservation values in relation to the protection plan.
- Historical development of the condition of the conservation values.
- Overview of previously implemented mitigating and compensatory measures.
- Cumulative pressure caused by impacts and measures within the watercourse.
- How interventions in the Verdal watercourse will affect the national cumulative pressure, seen in light of the objectives of the watercourse protection.
The report also concludes that careful development without large dams that can store water will offer little opportunity for flood attenuation in the Verdal watercourse.