I have studies hydropower effects at my university programme, and a vocational aquaculture program, and as you say, there are definitely ways to lower the impact. In Sweden, all the major rivers except for two have large scale dams installed. Most of that was built between 1900 and 1950 and not much after 1970. Not much consideration for biodiversity or environmental impact was taken into account. At some point hydropower supplied 95% of Swedish electricity. Important during the country’s industrialisation.
There is a nice reference list, including many English language reports at the end of this report from the Swedish Agency of Marine and Water Management. [1]
I think they summarise it nicely by saying “Hydropower is one of the biggest impacts on the ecological status of a river. At the same time it is one of our most important energy sources.” [in Sweden]
There is a nice reference list, including many English language reports at the end of this report from the Swedish Agency of Marine and Water Management. [1]
I think they summarise it nicely by saying “Hydropower is one of the biggest impacts on the ecological status of a river. At the same time it is one of our most important energy sources.” [in Sweden]
Sources:
[1] https://www.havochvatten.se/hav/uppdrag--kontakt/publikation...
https://sv.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vattenkraft_i_Sverige