New ecological solution to combat the vegetation in excess in natural and hydropower lakes

Abstract

In Romania on Bistrita and Siret Rivers were realized between 1960-1970, 15 hydropower plants, some of them being today Natural Reservations. Due to improper management of the water quantity, the capacity of the lakes was reduced, mostly due to excessive, invasive development of vegetation. A specific problem appears in the Vaduri Lake, which is Natural Reservation. Part of the water is used for human necessities for more than 200 localities, and part for electric energy. The lake represents an ecologic environmental for more than 30 species of birds which nest here and for another 78 species who are passing during migration. For them is necessary a clean surface of the lake and a good quality of the water. It was realized a prototype using renewable resources, as to collect and partially dry the collected vegetation for future utilization in a biomass power plant. This new solution activated by solar panels is efficient, optimal, and ecologic, being tested in the lake in the last two years. First are briefly analyzed the local conditions responsible for the ecological changes, affecting the entire environment. First are mentioned the previously tested solutions, without any effect. Some bird species decreased as a number, and some of them disappeared, due to the improper conditions for nesting. This new solution is realized on a mobile pontoon, which moves constantly with a small velocity, without perturbing the ecosystem. It has the possibility of displacement into the affected area, without noise, which could perturb the bird life. Finally, some conclusions and references are presented.