That type of power is called "run of the river" hydro power, and is used extensively in the Northwest and somewhat in the Northeast. This diversion is used to generate power when the river flow is diverted, and is especially effective at times of heavy runoff. However, again, environmentalists delay the construction, fight the construction, regulations strangle the construction, and even the Tellico Dam in Tennessee (the protypical enviro-blocked project that started the ball rolling for obstructionists) was delayed for a long, long time, but ultimately built, once the Snail Darter was determined to be less important than the people (immediately when a judge ruled in favor of the project, it was started and Appeals did no good).
Pumped storage is used where flow is less regular and strong, and the water is available, but not enough current is available to run the hydro-turbines. The pumped storage reservoirs are on mountain tops, to provide enough "head" pressure to run turbines at the base of the mountain (which then discharge that water into the rivers below), and the water from the river is pumped up the mountain to re-fill the reservoir.
Thanks fore the info. I used to live out west when Hydro power was so cheap, all new houses were built with electric heating. The envirowackies have really screwed things up.
I was mentioning the aqueduct idea in a tongue and cheek manner, why use electricity when gravity is free? I wasn’t aware of the pump and reserve feature, but it does make sense.