Abstract: Small dam-type hydropower project has negative impact on water resources and water eco-environment despite of electricity generation in substitution of firewood. Assessing the eco-environmental impact of dam-type hydropower is of crucial significance for a rational development of water resources and a coordinative relationship between hydropower construction and nature, economy and society of the drainage basin.In the present research, a comprehensive assessment model for small dam-type hydropower is established. An index scoring system is built by analytical hierarchy process and the weights of indexes are given according to ecological footprint. The applicability of the assessment model is examined by case study on a small dam-type hydropower station in northwest China.Results suggest that the model enhances the practicability and objectivity of assessment results, and also improves the comparability among different stations. It also provides a novel scientific approach for the objective assessment of eco-environmental impact of small dam-type hydropower.

Key words: dam-type small hydropower, analytic hierarchy process, ecological footprint, index scoring system, ecological impact assessment