Potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of hydropower plants

The paper describes the main potential environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of large size hydropower plants in Brazil. A number of preventive, mitigation and compensatory measures are traditionally adopted by the Brazilian power sector to deal with these impacts. The magnitude and the importance of environmental impacts are discussed, considering the geographical areas where the projects are located and the specific differences of the social groups affected. The environmental impacts are grouped into two main blocks, one including the physico-biotic environment and the other the socioeconomic environment; the construction stage and the operation stage of hydropower plants are discussed separately in some cases. It is concluded that the conditions in the region where the project is located, as well as the relative degree of conservation and development, are the basis for classifying the importance and magnitude of the impacts. (author). 1 fig