Low Impact Certification means that the hydropower facility has been found by the Institute to meet or exceed the Institute’s Certification Criteria which address eight key areas: ecological flow regimes, water quality, upstream fish passage, downstream fish passage and protection, shoreline and watershed protection, threatened and endangered species protection, cultural and historic resource protection and recreational resources. Certification is designed to provide consumers with assurance that a facility has avoided or reduced their environmental impacts pursuant to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s criteria. Once certified, the owner or operator can market the power from the facility to consumers as produced by a LIHI certified Facility. Certification from the Institute may also qualify the power produced for other “green” energy certification programs.