Community perceptions and ecosystem services provided by small hydropower plants

Small hydropower plants (SHPs) are increasingly promoted for their potential to provide renewable energy in rural regions, but their impact on river ecosystems and local communities remains a topic of debate. This study explores the ecological and socio-economic effects provided by small hydropower plants (SHPs) on river ecosystem services (ES) in rural regions. Through two case studies of SHPs on the Couto and Avelames Rivers (NE Portugal), we assessed local communities' awareness and perceptions of the implementations of those infrastructures and the ES provided by these modified water bodies, by using a face-to-face survey of 114 respondents near the SHPs locations. The results indicate that 70 % of respondents preferred the water body created by the SHPs weirs for recreational purposes, and 83 % acknowledged that riverside areas enhanced their well-being. Economic benefits were also important, with 39 % of respondents recognizing improvements in job creation, river access, and regional economic growth due to the SHPs. Clean energy production and water storage were identified as the most valued ES, with principal component analysis (PCA) showing high loadings for these services (0.549 for recreational activities and 0.807 for storage). Despite these benefits, 32 % of respondents expressed a preference for pre-SHP river conditions, citing concerns over ecological impacts. Only 39 % of respondents were willing to pay for river conservation efforts, highlighting economic constraints in these rural communities and a perception among locals that the responsibility for maintaining river ecosystems lies with public authorities. The study emphasizes the need for balancing clean energy production with the preservation of river ecosystems and the inclusion of local communities in SHPs environmental impact assessments to ensure a sustainable development of these regions.