Monitoring of Impacts of GulpurHydropower Project on Populations of

Mahseer and Other Fish Species

December 04, 2018

Ahmad Shoaib

Introduction

n 100 MW Gulpur Hydropower Project is being constructed on the Poonch River in the Pakistan Administered Kashmir.

n It is expected to start its operation by mid 2019. n Full length of Poonch River is 104 km.n River and its associated tributaries were notified as a

national park by the government in 2010.n Poonch River provides a highly suitable habitat for the

Golden Mahaseer “Tor putitora.”n In addition to Golden Mahaseer,

n At least 35 other species of fish in the river including the Critically Endangered Glyptothorax kashmirensis

n 5 migratoryn 2 restricted range species 2 0f 26

n Condition for construction of project is only given to achieve Net Gain in biodiversity in consistent with the requirements of IFC Performance Standard 6 for projects falling Critical Habitat.

n A Biodiversity Action Plan inclusive of a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan was established to monitor:n The impacts of the project on aquatic biodiversity.n The outcome of actions for in-situ protection of the fish to

achieve the Net Gain in biodiversity.n Seasonal surveys following a defined protocol were

initiated prior to:n Construction of the project.n Construction of the coffer dam that has created a barrier to

fish migration, and have continued since. 3 0f 26

Introduction (Contd…)

Details of Surveys Completed

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Sampling Year, Month

Sampling Season

Sampling MethodsElectrofishing Gill Net Cast Net Fyke Net

October 2015 Fall 2015 ü ü ü ü

December 2015 Winter 2015 ü ü

May 2016 Spring 2016 ü ü ü

August 2016 Summer 2016 ü ü ü

January 2017 Winter 2016 ü

May 2017 Spring 2017 ü ü

August 2017 Summer 2017 ü ü

January 2018 Winter 2017 ü

May 2018 Spring 2018 ü ü

August 2018 Summer 2018 ü ü

Monitoring Locations

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Field Activities

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Cast Netting

Gill Netting

Electrofishing

Fyke Netting

Field Activities (Contd…)

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Periphyton Sampling

Macro-Invertebrates SamplingData Keeping

Monitoring Results of Fish – Spring Surveys

Total fish specimens captured:n 430 in 2016n 495 in 2017n 829 in 2018

10 0f 26

5821 35

316

85

3061

319

153

72

128

476

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Upstream Dam Immediate DownstreamDam

Downstream Dam Tribuatries

2016 2017 2018

Monitoring Results of Fish – Summer Surveys

Total fish specimens captured:n 497 in 2016n 303 in 2017n 668 in 2018NOTE: three locations were not completely sampled in Summer 2017.

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180

27 31

259

21 1551

216

130

5273

413

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Upstream Dam Immediate Downstream ofDam

Downstream Dam Tributaries

Summer 2016 Summer 2017 Summer 2018

Monitoring Results of Fish – Winter Surveys

Total fish specimens captured:n 39 in 2015n 93 in 2016n 109 in 2017

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18

129

53

13

272729

53

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Upstream Dam Immediately Downstream Dam Site Downstream Dam

2015 2016 2017

Monitoring Results of Fish – Spring SurveysMahseer Abundance

Total fish specimens captured:n 81 in 2016n 40 in 2017n 102 in 2018

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0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Upstream Dam Immediate Downstream Dam Downstream Dam Tributaries

Spring 2016 Spring 2017 Spring 2018

Monitoring Results of Fish – Summer SurveysMahseer Abundance

Total fish specimens captured:n 100 in 2016n 82 in 2017n 106 in 2018

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32

25

8

35

10 8

2

62

10

28

14

54

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Upstream Dam Immediate Downstream ofDam

Downstream Dam Tributaries

Summer 2016 Summer 2017 Summer 2018

Monitoring Results of Fish – Winter SurveysMahseer Abundance

Total fish specimens captured:n 5 in 2015n 34 in 2016n 32 in 2017

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0

4

1

33

0 1

15

8 9

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Upstream Dam Immediately Downstream Dam Site Downstream Dam

2015 2016 2017

n Relative increase in fish populations of most of the species upstream of the dam including the Mahaseer, while downstream the population of Mahaseer has remained stable.

n Consistent results with the predictions of impacts made using the DRIFT DSS as a part of the project ESIA, and shows that the impact of the barrier created by the cofferdam has been offset by the conservation program put in place.

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Conclusion of Fish Monitoring Results

Special aspect studied: impact of temporary diversion tunnels on fish populations that allow fish to move downstream only

n Trend in the populations of migratory fish:n species that prefer warmer water have accumulated downstream

of the damn species that prefer cooler water have survived largely upstream of

the dam.

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Entrapment of Fish

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n Observed in the summer sampling that migratory species e.g. Pakistani Labeo, Mahaseer and Snow Trout were trapped below the diversion tunnels.

n A drop of about one meter at the outlet of the diversion tunnel provided a barrier to fish migrating upstream.

n Water velocities were also high and appeared to be 4-5 m/s or more.

Fish Entrapped at the Mouth of Tunnel

Capture and Transportation of Fish

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Collection of FishGill Netting for the Collection of Fish

Transportation of Fish Releasing Fish

Fish Capture and Transportation

n Fish capture and transportation was conducted between October 06 – December 20, 2017

n Gill nets were used for fish capture.n The captured specimens were transported and released at three

points.n Main River near the confluence of Bann Nullahn Main River near the confluence of Rangar Nullahn Main River near the confluence of Nehl Nullah

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Total Fish Transported from Downstream to Upstream of the Dam

§ Total specimens of fish transported: 3,276§ Total Number of Labeo: 2,003§ Total Number of Snow trout: 951§ Total Number of Mahseer: 322§ Mortality rate 2-3%

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Fish Migration Pattern

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0

5

10

15

20

25

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

6-Oct-17 16-Oct-17 26-Oct-17 5-Nov-17 15-Nov-17 25-Nov-17 5-Dec-17 15-Dec-17

Overall Downstream Movement Overall Upstream Movement Temperature

Inspection for Fishing Pressures – Incidents of Fishing Observed

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79

2429

21 24

1419

123

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

May-16 Aug-16 Oct-16 Jan-17 Jun-17 Jan-18 Jun-18 Sep-18

Inspection for Fishing Pressures – Level of Fishing by Selective Fishing Methods

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0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

May-16 Aug-16 Oct-16 Jan-17 Jun-17 Jan-18 Jun-18 Sep-18

Hook and Line Cast Net Gill Net Rods

Inspection for Fishing Pressures – Level of Fishing by Non-Selective Fishing Methods

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0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

May-16 Aug-16 Oct-16 Jan-17 Jun-17 Jan-18 Jun-18 Sep-18

Electrocution Poison Dynamite

26 of 22Thank You.