Hydropower by Design is based on the full integration of information on environmental resources into decision-making processes for planning and operating dams. This information can help set restoration objectives for the reoperation of existing dams or help inform the review and licensing of new dams, to ensure the protection of the river habitats that have the most value for ecosystems and people.  

The foundation of information for Hydropower by Design can be provided by efforts such as ecoregional plans or conservation blueprints. Processes that set environmental flow standards for large geographic areas, such as the Ecological Limits of Hydrological Alteration (ELOHA), can also provide the necessary information to guide decision-making on dam planning and operations.