Course content

The course treats management of water resources with a main focus on hydropower. The main topics are: Challenges for water resources management, Social and Environmental Impacts of Hydropower – the EIA/SIA process, Impact assessment strategies and mitigation measures, sustainable use of water resources, the IHA guidelines for sustainable hydropower, Measures of impacts on water resources, water consumption, water footprint, eco system services, future scenarios: land use and climate change.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The candidate should have an overview of the main challenges facing water resources management today and the central issues for the future. Further, the candidate should have thorough knowledge of hydropower impacts on the hydrology of lakes and rivers and a basic knowledge of the environmental and social impacts that follows from this. The course should provide the basic knowledge of the implementation of the EIA and SIA process in hydropower project. Finally the candidate should obtain knowledge of the most up to date measures of sustainability used in the assessment of water resources.

Skills: The student should be able to carry out investigations of changes in hydrology by regulating river and lakes, and to evaluate mitigation measures. The student should have knowledge on SIA and EIA processes to evaluate their implementation and follow up on formal requirements. The student should be able to evaluate pressures on water resources and understand the recent methods of evaluation.

General knowledge: The course should provide a general overview of the current state of water resources and the challenges faced today and in the future. Knowledge of the methods used to assess the water resources and anthropogenic impacts on water.

Learning methods and activities

A series of lectures and seminars covering central topics in the course will be given. Exercises and project work to illustrate methods and tools. A number of exercises must be passed before the exam. If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

The course requires basic knowledge on hydropower systems and basic hydrology.

Course materials

E. Helland-Hansen, T. Holtedahl and K.A. Lye: Environmental Effects, update 2005. Hydropower Development Series volume 3. NTNU.
Selected articles and book chapters.