capability statement ecological impact assessment using habitat

evaluation procedure, applied to outfall studies

objectives

The effects on the marine ecology arising from the construction and operation of coastal direct-cooled
power stations stem from offshore dredging or construction operations, the routine abstraction and
discharge of cooling water, habitat loss in the intertidal and subtidal area and oil spill risks. In the
ecological impact assessment studies carried out by WL | Delft Hydraulics, a combined approach is
undertaken in which a detailed survey of hydrometry and biology is combined with 2D-3D
hydrodynamic modelling, water quality modelling and ecological modelling. The result is a quantitative
analysis of the potential effects on the local ecosystem, in particular on mangroves, macroalgae, coral
reefs and seagrass, due to sea bed disturbance, increased turbidity, thermal discharges, and possible
oil spills, using the Habitat Evaluation Procedure. Making use of the model results and estimates of
construction costs, the investigated Intake/Outfall layouts were ranked, with the aid of multi-critreria
analysis techniques.

overview of projects

A number of ecological impact assessments for power plants have recently been carried out:

• Al Taweelah power and desalination plant, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 1997.
• Hirgigo power plant, Eritrea, 1998.
• Vasilikos power station, Cyprus, 1998.
• Al Dhabiya power and desalination plant, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 1999.
• Al Shuwayhat power and desalination plant, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 1999.

keywords:
Habitat Evaluation
Procedure,
Biology,Power Plant,
Outfalls, 3D modelling,
Mangrove, Corals, Seagrass,
Environmental Impact
Assessment
Figure 1.
Avicennia mangrove tree on
intertidal flat in Abu Dhabi.
capability statement

study approach

The ecological impact assessments applied to

outfall studies form part of an integrated study
approach. The project implementation of an
outfall study is split into 5 specific tasks, with
some of them divided into two sub-tasks.
Together, the tasks and sub-tasks complement
each other to form a coherent and logic approach
to assess the impacts and optimise the Intake/
Outfall layout of the planned power and
desalination facility.
The ecological modelling is conducted using
Habitat Evaluation Procedure. A Habitat
Evaluation Procedure (HEP) is a collection of
analytical methods and habitat suitability index
models for faunal and floral species or
communities. The models are used to predict
changes in the suitability, in terms of the carrying
capacity, of the faunal and floral habitats in
response to changes in environmental factors
such as stream flow, water depth, substrate type
and location, inundation frequency or duration,
vegetation cover and water quality. The habitat
suitability requirements are derived from life
history studies, field observations, frequency
analyses of environmental factors characterising
habitats used by fauna and flora and literature
surveys.
In the HEP approach, GIS habitat maps are
combined with abiotic modelling results and
information on species thresholds and
sensitivities for environmental parameters, see
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Study outline.
task 1 Baseline data collection
Figure 3.
Generic representation of
Habitat Suitability
approach to EIA. Delft Hydraulics routinely undertakes biological
prediction based on biological surveys using a
habitat assessment approach as a component of
many projects dealing with establishing the
effects of engineering or environmental
management actions and/or developments. In
such projects, the goal is often to provide
decision makers with quantified evidence of
biological changes and an assessment of the
significance of these changes so that full
cognisance is taken of the potential ecological
effects of decisions.
baseline data collection and GIS-mapping
The aim of the survey is to provide data suitable
for incorporation into the assessment of the
potential impacts of a proposed power and
desalination cooling water discharge. Subtidal,
intertidal and terrestrial habitats will be mapped.
Sediment samples will be used to define benthos
species composition. Detailed recordings will be
undertaken within each recognised habitat/
biotope including photographic recordings, video
imagery, field target notes and faunal and floral
sampling. A report on the survey results is
produced along with a digital GIS-map for
integration with modelling results.

task 1.1 task 1.2 Survey of admissible

air, water and noise
species thresholds and sensitivities
Bathymetry/ Terrestrial and
Hydrometry marine ecology pollution levels
For indicator species or communities ecological
information is gathered on their specific
task 2
Marine hydrodynamics & pollutant transport sensitivities and threshold values for abiotic
parameters, such as temperature, salinity and
task 2.1 task 4 oxygen. The habitat maps, together with the
Hydrodynamic modelling/ Impact on terrestrial
Recirculation of heat & salinity and marine habitats
species data and the modelling results are
incorporated into a Habitat Evaluation Procedure.
task 2.2
Water quality This yields a spatial and quantitative overview of
modelling EIA - report the local ecosystem and the suitability of different
parts of this system as habitat for species or
communities, affected by the cooling water
outfall. The overall habitat suitability is
task 3 task 5
Technical aspects Optimisation of determined by the suitability index rating of the
(conceptual level) Intake/Outfall Layout environmental factor which limits the carrying
E000119a
capacity, that is the minimum rating. The output

WL | delft hydraulics
 capability statement

Figure 6.
Results from the DELFT3D-
flow model for temperature
and salinity.

of a HEP can be expressed as an overall habitat

suitability per species or community (a number
between 0 (unsuitable) and 1 (optimal)), the areal
Figure 4 extent of suitable habitat or even as the potential
Habitat map produced after biomass of a species or community. Figure 4
execution of the survey gives an example for salinity (sensitivity curve of
overlaying the model-grid. corals reefs)

impact quantification

In each study relevant types of habitats are

abiotic modelling
The objective of this task is to develop and
subsequently calibrate a two- or threedimensional
model of the study area which reproduces tidal
and wind-driven flows. The results of the
computations, on base of typical spring - neap
tide cycles, serve as input for the optimisation of
the intake/outfall layout both from recirculation
and ecological viewpoint. The model is based on
DELFT3D-FLOW, WL | Delft Hydraulics’
simulation program for hydrodynamic flows.
Water quality modelling will be conducted with
the Delft3D-WAQ model. The objective of the
water quality modelling is to simulate the water
quality of the waters around the outfall and the
dredging activities associated with the works.
Table 1:Weighed suitable area of habitats
The calculated concentrations of some substances
are compared to international water quality
Habitat type
standards to see if water quality meets required
Coral reef
conditions. Additionally, the calculated
Subtidal seagrass
concentrations are also used as the basis of the
Intertidal seagrass
Figure 5. ecological assessment.
Mangrove
Salinity suitability curve
for corals.
Table 2: Minimum unaffected habitat area
distinguished from the mapping data and the
possible effects of the outfalls and dredging
operations are assessed. As a first step the total
area in the present situation is established and
presented for each of the habitats.
In the next step, the minimum weighed suitable
habitat area for each scenarios for the combined
effects of all constituents is calculated. Table 1
gives an example of the results for four typical
habitat types. Column ‘present’ shows the
present habitat areas based on the survey data.
The worst scenario for coral reefs is scenario S2
in which the cooling water is discharged in the
middle of the coral reef habitat. For subtidal
seagrass the weighed habitat areas are all close
together. Scenarios S1 and S3 show the lowest
weighed habitat area for intertidal seagrass and
for mangroves as well. An additional analysis is
carried out to define the habitat area that is
unaffected by the cooling water outflow. The
unaffected area is defined as the area in which the
habitat suitability always scores higher than 0.99.
The results of this analysis are given in Table 2.
They show that all of the coral reef habitat is
affected by the cooling water outfall for each
scenario.
Present S1 (km2) S2 (km2) S3 (km2)
9.5 4.3 1.9 5.7
22.1 20.2 20.7 20.3
25.3 17.3 20.1 17.6
14.6 9.5 13.9 12.6

Habitat type Present S1 (km2) S3 (km2) S4 (km2)

Coral reef 9.5 0.0 0.0 0.0
Subtidal seagrass 22.1 0.2 0.2 4.4
Intertidal seagrass 25.3 0.0 0.0 1.3
Mangrove 14.6 0.0 0.4 3.7

WL | delft hydraulics
capability statement, 2000

Figure 7
Example of Habitat
Suitability Evaluation
analysis of mangrove
suitability.

Figure 9.
Title page of Shuwayhat
CD-ROM presentation.

A result of a habitat suitability map is presented

in Figure 7.

selection of lay-out scenarios

The results of the tasks as described in this text

have been used for optimisation of the Intake/
Outfall system. For this, multi-criteria analysis
techniques were applied to rank the agreed-upon
and subsequently investigated Intake/Outfall
layout scenario’s in accordance with a set of
criteria. Five ‘objectives’ were defined,
representing objectives to be judged for each
scenario. These most often are: ‘Recirculation’,
‘Water Quality impact’, ‘Ecological impact’,
‘Dredging impact’ and ‘Cost’.
Figure 10.
In any problem setting, determining the best Clickable maps with video performance of the project and the effectiveness
layout is complicated by the relative importance and photos in the CD-ROM of mitigation measures; (5) to verify the
(‘weight’) distributed over the ‘branches’ of the presentation. environmental impacts predicted in the study; (6)
decision tree. On the level of the criteria, another to determine project compliance with regulatory
redistribution of weights can be realised. For requirements, standards and governmental
instance, an impact on suitable area of coral reefs policies and (7) to take timely remedial action if
could be judged more severe than equal impact unexpected problems or unacceptable impacts
on the suitable area of mangroves. Depending on arise.
the view taken by a certain stakeholder, these
weights can be shifted from objective to
objective. CD-ROM presentation and archiving of data

As a final task, a CD-ROM presentation is made.

The CD-ROM presentation shows in detail all
the (animated) model- and study results,
including comprehensive photo and video
presentations of the biological survey. In
addition, the CD-ROM contains the complete
Figure 8. report of the study.
Underwater view in the
Arabic Gulf.
WL | Delft Hydraulics

recommendations for monitoring Decisive advice: from multidisciplinary policy

This task outlines the necessary monitoring and studies to design and technical assistance on
auditing requirements associated with the all water-related issues.
construction and operation of the proposed
power plant. The objectives of the environmental Rotterdamseweg 185
monitoring are (1) to provide a data base against p.o. box 177
which to determine any short or long term 2600 MH Delft
environmental impacts; (2) to provide an early The Netherlands
indication that any of the environmental control telephone +31 15 285 85 85
measures or practices are failing to achieve the telefax +31 15 285 85 82
acceptable standards; (3) to provide data to enable e-mail info@wldelft.nl
an environmental audit of the construction and internet www.wldelft.nl
operation of the power plant; (4) to monitor the

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