Environmental Impact Assessment Report
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JSC Svaneti Hydro Project on the Construction and Operation of Mestiachala 1 HPP in Mestia Municipality Environmental Impact Assessment Report Executor Gamma Consulting Ltd Director V. Gvakharia Tbilisi 2016 GAMMA Consulting Ltd. 17a. Guramishvili av, 0192, Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: +(995 32) 260 44 33 +(995 32) 260 15 27 E-mail: [email protected] www.gamma.ge; www.facebook.com/gammaconsultingGeorgia EIA Mestiachala 1 HPP 2 /336 Contents 1 Introduction 13 1.1 General Overview 13 2 Environmental Legislation 13 2.1 Environmental Legislation of Georgia 14 2.2 Environmental Standards of Georgia 14 2.3 International Agreements 16 3 Environmental and Social Baseline Survey within the Project Area 17 3.1 General Overview 17 3.2 Physical Environment 18 3.2.1 Climate and Meteorological Conditions 18 3.2.2 Geological Conditions 20 3.2.2.1 Introduction 20 3.2.2.2 Geomorphological and Hydrographical Conditions 20 3.2.2.3 Geological Structure 21 3.2.2.4 Hydrogeological Conditions 27 3.2.2.5 Geophysical Study 27 3.2.2.5.1 Study Area ........................................................................................................................................ 27 3.2.2.5.2 Seismic Hazard Assessment ............................................................................................................. 27 3.2.2.5.2.1 Tectonic Setting 27 3.2.2.5.3 Seismic Hazard Analysis .................................................................................................................. 29 3.2.2.5.3.1 Methodology 29 3.2.2.5.3.2 Used Data 30 3.2.2.5.3.3 Determination of Earthquake Recurrence Characteristics 30 3.2.2.5.4 Estimation of Earthquake Effect ...................................................................................................... 31 3.2.2.5.5 Determination of Hazard at Site ...................................................................................................... 31 3.2.2.5.6 Geophysical Research Description .................................................................................................. 33 3.2.2.5.6.1 Seismic Profiling Using Refracted Wave Method 33 3.2.2.5.7 Results of Seismic Profiling ............................................................................................................. 34 3.2.2.5.7.1 Seismic Profiling 34 3.2.2.5.8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 39 3.2.2.6 Engineering-Geological Conditions 40 3.2.2.6.1 Description of Soils and Rocks......................................................................................................... 40 3.2.2.6.2 Soils ................................................................................................................................................... 40 3.2.2.6.2.1 Individual Glacial Boulders 46 3.2.2.6.3 Rocks ................................................................................................................................................. 46 3.2.2.6.4 Soils and Ground Waters Chemical Analysis and Aggressiveness ................................................. 48 3.2.2.6.5 Permeability Test Result .................................................................................................................. 48 3.2.2.7 Geodynamic Conditions 48 3.2.2.7.1 Geodynamic Settings within the Construction Corridor of the Penstock .................................... 49 3.2.2.8 Conclusions and Recommendations 50 3.2.3 Soils 51 3.2.4 Hydrology 52 3.2.4.1 Description of Mestiachala Catchment Area 52 3.2.4.2 Old Gauging Site Mestia 54 3.2.4.3 Flow Data - Gauging Station Mestiachala-Mestia 55 3.2.4.3.1 Data Availability ............................................................................................................................... 55 3.2.4.4 Plausibility Check for Old Gauge Mestia - Mean Monthly Flows 56 3.2.4.5 Duration Curves 61 3.2.4.6 Flood Frequency Analysis 64 3.2.4.7 Bottom Sediment Transportation 69 3.2.4.8 Flow Measurements 2014 69 3.2.4.8.1 Flow Measurements - General Remarks ......................................................................................... 69 3.2.4.8.2 Evaluation of Flow Measurements .................................................................................................. 69 Gamma Consulting Ltd EIA Mestiachala 1 HPP 3 /336 3.2.4.8.3 Rating Curves at the New Bridge Gauging Site .............................................................................. 77 3.2.4.9 Intake HPP 1 78 3.2.4.9.1 Flow Rate Factor Gauge/New Bridge and Intake ........................................................................... 78 3.2.4.9.2 Mean Flow at the Intake HPP-1 ...................................................................................................... 82 3.2.4.9.3 Duration Curves - Intake HPP-1 ..................................................................................................... 84 3.2.4.9.4 Flood Frequency Analysis - Intake HPP-1 ..................................................................................... 87 3.2.4.10 Evaporation from Water Surface 88 3.2.4.10.1 Assessment of the Impact of Climate Change on Melting of Glaciers in Mestiachala River Basin88 3.2.5 Biological Environment 90 3.2.5.1 Flora 90 3.2.5.1.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 90 3.2.5.1.2 Some Methodological and Conceptual Approaches Concerning Flora and Vegetation Description and Identification of Project Impact on Ecosystems and Habitats .......................................................................... 91 3.2.5.1.3 Overview of Flora and Vegetation Spread within the Project Area .............................................. 92 3.2.5.1.4 Detailed Description of the Flora and Vegetation of the Project Area .......................................... 99 3.2.5.1.5 Georgia Red List Species Occurred in the Proposed Project Corridor ........................................ 108 3.2.5.2 Results of the Forest Taxation Conducted Within the Project Area of Mestiachala 1 HPP 109 3.2.5.2.1 Taxation Method ............................................................................................................................ 109 3.2.5.2.2 Project Area .................................................................................................................................... 109 3.2.5.2.3 Description of the Implemented Works ....................................................................................... 109 3.2.5.2.4 Review of the Results ..................................................................................................................... 110 3.2.5.3 Fauna 112 3.2.5.3.1 Terrestrial Fauna ............................................................................................................................ 112 3.2.5.3.2 Geography of Mestiachala River ................................................................................................... 112 3.2.5.3.3 Field Research Methods ................................................................................................................. 113 3.2.5.3.4 Field Survey Results ....................................................................................................................... 113 3.2.5.3.5 Animal Species of the Red List of Georgia Recorded Within the Project Region ...................... 114 3.2.5.3.6 Sensitive Habitats and Threat ........................................................................................................ 115 3.2.5.3.7 Invertebrates Fauna ........................................................................................................................ 115 3.2.5.3.7.1 Survey Methodology for Invertebrates 116 3.2.5.3.7.2 Invertebrate Animals Species Included in the Red List of Georgia that have been Recorded within the Project Area 116 3.2.5.3.7.3 Field Survey Results 116 3.2.5.4 Fish Fauna 118 3.2.5.4.1 Fish Fauna and Hydrofauna of Enguri River ................................................................................ 118 3.2.5.4.2 Fish Fauna Within the Project Area of Influence ........................................................................ 122 3.2.6 Protected Areas 122 3.2.6.1 Protected Areas within the Study Area 122 3.2.7 Background Contamination of Air with Harmful Substances 124 3.2.8 Natural Background Radiation 124 3.3 Socio-Economical Environment 125 3.3.1 Research Area of Social-Economical Environment and the Source of Information 125 3.3.2 General Characterization of Mestia Municipality 128 3.3.2.1 Economy 128 3.3.2.1.1 Industry and Transportation .......................................................................................................... 128 3.3.2.1.2 Agriculture...................................................................................................................................... 129 3.3.2.1.3 Tourism ........................................................................................................................................... 131 3.3.2.1.4 Employment and Sources of Subsistence ...................................................................................... 134 3.3.3 Population and Demography 135 3.3.3.1 Population 135 3.3.3.2 Demographic Trends 136 3.3.3.3 Migration 136 3.3.3.4 Socially Unprotected – Vulnerable Population 138 3.3.4 Healthcare 138 Gamma Consulting Ltd EIA Mestiachala 1 HPP 4 /336 3.3.5 Education