title: Ecohydrological responses to diversion of groundwater: case study of a deep-rock repository for spent nuclear fuel in Sweden.
abstract: Planning and license applications concerning groundwater diversion in areas containing water-dependent or water-favored habitats must take into account both hydrological effects and associated ecological consequences. There is at present no established methodology to assess such ecohydrological responses. Thus, this paper describes a new stepwise methodology to assess ecohydrological responses to groundwater diversion from, e.g., water-drained pits, shafts, tunnels, and caverns in rock below the groundwater table. The methodology is illustrated using the planned deep-rock repository for spent nuclear fuel at Forsmark in central Sweden as a case study, offering access to a unique hydrological and ecological dataset. The case study demonstrates that results of ecohydrological assessments can provide useful inputs to planning of monitoring programs and mitigation measures in infrastructure projects. As a result of the assessment, artificial water supply to wetlands is planned in order to preserve biological diversity, nature values, and vulnerable species.
authors.affiliation: EmpTec, Larmvägen 8, Täby, 187 75, Sweden. kent.werner@emptec.se
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collinder
authors.forename: Sten
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mårtensson
mesh_terms: D004463:Ecology; D005844:Geology; D062070:Hydrology; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D011850:Radioactive Waste