"Bureysky Compromise" comprehensive program

The Nizhne-Bureyskaya HPP project is the second stage of the Bureysky cascade of hydroelectric complexes on the Bureya river and the counter-regulator of the upstream Bureyskaya HPP (2010 MW). The installed capacity of the plant is 320 MW, with an average annual output of 1,650 million kWh.

The plant construction started in 2010. Part of the preparations for the construction site area was carried out as part of the construction of upstream Bureyskaya HPP. The plant's reservoir was filled in 2017. The area of the reservoir is about 15,400 hectares at the design level.

In 2014, in order to demonstrate the principles of biodiversity conservation using the example of Nizhne-Bureyskaya HPP construction in the Amur Region, the Project of UNDP/GEF - the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia “The Objectives of Biodiversity Conservation in the Policy and Programs for the Development of the Energy Sector of Russia” was commenced thanks to which environmental measures were focused on measures to minimize and compensate for the negative impact on biodiversity as a result of the creation of dams and reservoirs.

At the design stage of the Nizhne-Bureyskaya and Bureyskaya HPPs, field studies were carried out within the framework of engineering and environmental surveys, which made it possible to obtain information on the background state of the environment. Nizhne-Bureyskaya HPP construction began after the upstream Bureyskaya HPP commissioning and reaching its design capacity. As part of Nizhne-Bureyskaya HPP designing, an environment impact assessment was carried out and environmental measures were planned.

With the beginning of Nizhne-Bureyskaya HPP construction, a program of social and ecological monitoring of the environment, divided into stages corresponding to the phase of the plant's construction was launched. As part of the monitoring, the impact of HPP construction and reservoirs on environmental components (ichthyofauna, hydrology, meteorology, fauna, flora, water quality, social situation) was monitored. In 2014, the socio-ecological monitoring program was supplemented by the studies of the state of biodiversity, which were carried out during reservoir filling and in the period after the start of operation.

Compensatory Measures for Aquatic Biological Resources Conservation

As part of upstream Bureyskaya HPP construction, the damage to aquatic biological resources from the creation of a cascade of HPP, including Nizhne-Bureyskaya HPP was assessed, and as a compensation measure, the Anyui fish hatchery for artificial reproduction of rare fish species was built. Anyui fish hatchery was built in 2001. Over the years of operation of the fish hatchery, several million fish fry were released into the reservoirs of the Amur basin.

Testing of Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP, Protocol)

In order to assess the risks of biodiversity conservation, as well as to demonstrate the possibilities of using the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol at the Nizhne-Bureyskaya HPP in 2014, this Protocol was first applied in the form of testing.

As part of testing, materials from engineering and environmental surveys, EIA, design documentation, results of environmental monitoring, etc. were analyzed, and it showed insufficient elaboration of solutions for biodiversity conservation. This is due to the fact that at the time of testing, assessments of the impact of the project directly on biodiversity, habitat were not completed, the capacity of the forage base, habitats of species were not assessed and, accordingly, targeted measures to support and minimize the impact on the most vulnerable plant species and animals were not planned. The activities planned by project documentation were of organizational and technical nature and aimed at supporting nature conservation services, creating protected areas, but at the same time did not directly contribute to the conservation of biological diversity in general and the most vulnerable species in particular.

As a result, it was possible to show the possibility of using the Protocol in Russia and comprehensively study the project. According to the Protocol testing, the results of addressing the issues of biodiversity conservation showed a level of 2 points, which is lower than the requirements of the Protocol and the world level. The obtained data became the basis for planning biodiversity conservation activities, which later were called “Bureysky compromise”.

Cooperation Agreement

As a measure of management support for the Bureysky Compromise project implementation a quadripartite agreement on biodiversity conservation “The Objectives of Biodiversity Conservation in the Policy and Programs for the Development of the Energy Sector of Russia” was signed between the state authorities, HPP and UNDP/GEF - the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia in 2014. The agreement provided for assignment of responsibility for organizing and taking biodiversity conservation measures, and measures provided for in design documentation, the plans of the Project of UNDP / GEF-Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia and the plans of regional authorities.

Creation of Protected Areas

The first basic measure for the implementation of the project was the creation of a specially protected natural area (SPNA) as a measure to compensate for the negative impact of a hydroelectric complex. In 2015, Bureysky natural park covering 132,000 hectares was formed along the banks of the reservoir. Moreover, the standards of the EBRD and the World Bank were used as a demonstration of measures for broad involvement of stakeholders in the decision-making process during public discussions and EIA when creating the park. The creation of the Bureysky natural park was a basic measure for the implementation of other targeted measures to minimize the impact on the most vulnerable species.

Hoofed Animals Population Conservation Measures

To minimize the impact on hoofed mammals, more than 25 feeding grounds with salt licks, hay, grain waste and "combs" were organized throughout the natural park, The feeding complexes are located in the remote parts of the natural park at a distance from the reservoir and distributed in the form of the central belt of the park. These complexes are designed to create an artificial food base in the remote parts of the natural park in order to concentrate animals in these areas and to minimize the risks for animals in the process of creating a reservoir for HPP. The feeding complexes are equipped with automatic photo and video cameras, which provide obtaining information about the attendance of feeding grounds by wild boars, red deer, roe deer, bears and other animals.

Bird Fauna Conservation Measures

Measures to minimize the impact on bird fauna were targeted at 2 most vulnerable species: the mandarin duck (Aix galericulata), listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, and the Far Eastern stork (Ciconia boyciana).

The habitat of the mandarin duck is directly in the inundation zone of the reservoir. The key habitats of this species and natural nesting sites are at risk. To maintain this population, more than 100 artificial nest boxes were installed above the level of the reservoir design marks, mainly on tributaries, near the future reservoir. The nest boxes are made of fallen dead trees that are as close as possible to natural nest-hollows; the hollows of the nest boxes are directed towards the water so that the bird can notice them, notches in the nest boxes will allow the nestlings freely get out of the nest box and get to the water after hatching. The nest boxes are fixed to the trees with the help of ropes in order to avoid damage to the existing trees. According to the monitoring results, it was established that ducks began to populate the nest boxes even before the reservoir was filled, which confirmed the efficiency of this measure and determined the need to install additional artificial nests.

The range of the population of the Far Eastern stork is located downstream of the planned hydroelectric complex and may suffer from changes in the hydrological regime, which will lead to a change in the conditions of the food supply in the nesting areas, thereby creating a risk of population decline. To minimize the consequences for this species, artificial supports for the nests were installed, which are capable of supporting the weight of stork nests over 200 kg. The locations for the installation of the supports were determined on the basis of predicting the availability of a sufficient forage base after changing the regulation regimes and releases to the downstream. Additional measure: in order to exclude the impact of territory burning out, which is not uncommon in these places, the existing nests in the trees were identified and fireproofed. Also, the crowns of more than 25 trees which are suitable for nesting of this species were sawn off.

Plant Conservation Measures

Five species of rare and endemic plant species were found in the inundation zone of the reservoir. To preserve rare plants, at first several expeditions were carried out to explore places suitable in terms of growing conditions. The next step was the transfer of rare plants. The very removal of plants from their natural environment and planting in a new place had to be carried out in one day, within several hours, in order to avoid drying out. This operation was carried out in 2015 and was additionally repeated in 2016.

As a result, specialists managed to transfer more than 400 specimens to places suitable for growth.

In addition, diamond cutting of the rock foundation on which the plants grow was tested as a method for relocation of plants. This improved the survival rate of the plants growing on rocky ground and demonstrated the possibility of using construction technologies for biodiversity conservation.

An additional measure for plant support is an “ex-situ” for red-listed Aleuritopteris Kuna fern, the main habitats of which are in the inundation zone of the reservoir. In the Botanical Garden of Blagoveshchensk, a specialized climatic chamber was erected. There ferns are sprouting from fern spores for subsequent introduction into places suitable for growth. Additional planting of plant populations grown in the climatic chamber will be carried out before 2019.

General Support Measures

Besides, measures aimed at strengthening fire protection and combating poaching are scheduled during preparation of the reservoir. The construction of two cardon structures on the territory of the Bureysky natural park and their equipping with the necessary equipment and vehicles was carried out. When filling the reservoir, special monitoring was carried out to reduce the risks of death of animals from entering isolated flooded areas.