Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PGandE) conducts environmental studies on geothermal and hydroelectric power plants to plan and evaluate mitigation measures done to minimize negative biological impacts. Representative studies are presented to describe impacts inherent to these facilities and to illustrate the approaches PGandE biologists use to minimize them. The main types of impacts due to geothermal development are loss of vegetation and the resulting effects on wildlife, erosion and the resulting sedimentation of streams, and condensate spills. Many of the impacts inherent to hydroelectric facilities are the same as for geothermal and other power facilities. These include impacts due to the loss of vegetation and the resulting effects on wildlife. Other impacts specific to hydroelectric development are due to the diversion of streamflow, and the formation of barriers limiting the migration of fish and wildlife. As a result of impact studies, PGandE has been able to make these power facilities more compatible with existing plant, fish, and wildlife species.
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