Aquatic biodiversity and the electric utility industry
- Duke Power Company, Huntersville, NC (United States)
- Virginia Power, Ashland, VA (United States)
Results for a 1995 survey of utility company biologists indicate that aquatic biodiversity is an emerging and poorly understood issue. As a result, there is some confusion about what aquatic biodiversity actually is, and how we can best conserve it. Only one fourth (24%) of the respondents said their company has a stated environmental policy that addresses biodiversity. Many respondents indicate that over the years they have not specially managed for biodiversity, but have been doing that through their efforts to assure balanced indigenous populations. While regulations are still the major driver for biological work, an increasing number of companies are involved in voluntary partnerships in managing water resources. Of these voluntary partnerships, 70% have biodiversity as a goal. Biodiversity is becoming an increasingly common subject of study, and a vast majority (75%) of the respondents suggested is should be a goal for utility for resource management. Conservation of aquatic biodiversity is a complex task, and to date most aquatic efforts have been directed toward fish and macroinvertebrates. Ecological research and technological development performed by the utility industry have resulted in a number of successful biopreservation and biorestoration success stories. A common theme to preserving or enhancing aquatic biodiversity is preserving aquatic habitat. Increasingly, ecosystem management is touted as the most likely approach to achieve success in preserving aquatic biodiversity. Several utilities are conducting progressive work in implementing ecosystem management. This paper presents the potential interactions between power plants and biodiversity, and overview of aquatic biodiversity preservations efforts within the electric utility industry, more detail on the results of the survey, and recent initiatives in ecosystem management. 17 refs., 1 tab.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 420422
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960329-; ISSN 0364-152X; TRN: 96:006484-0003
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Management, Vol. 20, Issue 6; Conference: Managing for biodiversity: emerging ideas for the electric utility industry conference, Williamsburg, VA (United States), 19-20 Mar 1996; Other Information: PBD: Nov-Dec 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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