Texas Case Study
Our case study in Texas included a retiring coal-fired power plant located upstream from the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to a wintering population of the endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana). The wintering crane population relies on blue crab and wolf berries in the estuary as their main food source. High salinity levels, because of reduced precipitation and freshwater inflows to the bay, however, have adversely affected the cranes food source. As such, freshwater resources previously used by the coal-fired power plant could represent a source of freshwater for the bay.
Montana Case Studies
We also looked at two plants in Montana that both draw water from the same river and are operated by the same energy company. As such, we used these case studies to understand the potential of purchasing multiple water rights that are spatially connected in order to more effectively capitalize upon environmental benefits generated from putting water back in stream. Both of these plants are located upstream from a population of the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) and downstream of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) habitat. Through our research, however, threats to the pallid sturgeon stem more from obstructions in the river, such as dams, rather than water availability. As for the Yellowstone cutthroat trout, more research needs to be done to understand what the potential impact on their population would be if the water right was purchased for instream flows.