Influence of the Vilyui hydropower plant on the regime of the Vilyui river

• Published in: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
• Main Authors: Nogovitsyn, D D, Sheina, Z M, Sergeeva, L P
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: IOP Publishing 2020
• Subjects: Arctic; Sakha; Ice; permafrost; Republic of Sakha; Yakutia
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/579/1/012031; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/579/1/012031/pdf; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/579/1/012031

Abstract Based on the analysis and comparison of the Vilyui river regime in the natural and regulated state, the article reveals the features of changes in the annual distribution of runoff, level and ice regimes and the regime of solid runoff. To assess the consequences of the impact of large hydroelectric power stations in the Far North, comprehensive studies of the Vilyui river basin were conducted. Vilyui hydroelectric station is the first hydroelectric power station in the permafrost zone. The reservoir is completely located within the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Despite the low level of development of water resources in the Far East, the prospects for the construction of traditional hydropower plants remain. The hydropower potential of the republic is estimated at 283 billion kWh, which is 66 % of the total hydropower potential of the Far East region. The construction and operation of hydropower plants on rivers leads to fundamental changes in the natural conditions of the river. The results of the study show that flow regulation by large reservoirs is the main factor of anthropogenic disturbances in the flow volume and water regime of the Arctic rivers. To date, the diverse effects of river regime changes after the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the territory of permafrost are not fully considered in either design or prospective planned developments. The importance of accounting and studying the consequences of flow regulation can be judged by the complex economic problems that arose after the construction of hydropower facilities in the European part of Russia. In this regard, a comprehensive study of changes in environmental conditions in the territory of permafrost distribution after regulation of river flow by large reservoirs is one of the most important tasks.