Environmental flow requirements of two dammed tropical rivers of the Congo Basin (eastern DR Congo)

2015-2018: Volkswagen-Foundation "Environmental flow requirements of two dammed tropical rivers of the Congo Basin (eastern DR Congo)" - Fabrice Muvundja (Universitè de Kisangani and Institut Supérieur Pédagogique Bukavu, DR Congo), VW-Postdoc-Fellowship - Program "Ressources, their dynamics, sustainability capacity development in comparative and integrated approaches"

Hydropower (HP) is the main source of electricity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The need for constructing new dams is higher than ever. However, for almost all HP dams, little attention was paid to environmental and social impacts. This study aims to assess the environmental flow of two impounded rivers of the Congo Basin in order to suggest better water resources use and obtain useful insights to enhance the sustainability of future projects. Thus 3 HP dams are selected in two different eco-geographical settings, namely Ruzizi I and II hydropower dams and Tshopo dam. The flow regime, nutrient and solids retention by the dams, macro-benthic invertebrate communities, erosion and sediment loading as well as human impacts will be analysed. The key expected outcomes include the determination of the best environmental - management practices of HP as well as the social and ecological importance of these rivers. It will be possible to determine the types of species which are adaptive to the new dam-induced conditions and those most vulnerable. Benthic faunal turnover will be calculated and interpreted in terms of community changes.
The knowledge gathered in this study will serve as baseline for future HP projects and conclusions will be of interest for Afrotropical rivers and beyond. Results will help addressing future hydropower project implementation and providing guidance for mitigation on (i) water quality changes, (ii) macro-invertebrate and fish diversity/abundance, as well as (iii) disease vectors. The project will enhance the capacity of local universities in EIA and allow building up environmental awareness.