scholarly journals Fish passage post-construction issues: analysis of distribution, attraction and passage efficiency metrics at the Baguari Dam fish ladder to approach the problem

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 751-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Gustavo Martins da Silva ◽  
Lorena Bettinelli Nogueira ◽  
Bruno Pereira Maia ◽  
Lucas Borges de Resende

Fish passages are considered the oldest management tool used to minimize the impact of blocking fish migratory routes by hydroelectric power plants. However, fish passages are being installed without specific criteria in Brazil, with severe consequences to the conservation of the local fish fauna. Therefore, basic data gathered for fish passages already constructed could contribute to define operational rules, in addition to offer subsidies to decision-making and design of future facilities. Thus, the fish ladder of Baguari Dam was evaluated regarding temporal distribution, attraction, and ascension of the local fish fauna. A total of 20 fish samples were conducted immediately downstream of the dam and inside the fish ladder, from January 2010 to June 2011. Seasonal variation in fish abundance and richness was registered below the dam and inside the passage, with higher number of migratory fish in the reproductive season (Kruskall-Wallis, p = 0.04 and p = 0.05). Furthermore, higher concentration of migratory allochthonous and non-migratory species was registered for the spill bay (Wilcoxon, p = 0.009 and p = 0.006) compared to the tailrace, where the fish ladder entrance is located. This result suggests low efficiency of the attraction system of the mechanism during the reproductive period. Once entering the fish ladder, migratory species apparently ascend the facility due to the similar distribution throughout different stretches. Generally, the results showed that an operational rule for the Baguari Dam fish ladder should consider running the facility only during the reproductive period, unless the objectives of the passage are well defined. The attraction system must be more precisely evaluated, using technologies such as radiotelemetry. Similarly, fish ascension also should be better analyzed to evaluate the time spent to ascend and its influence in the reproductive biology of the species using the ladder. Pit-tag system could be used to approach this analysis. It is expected that the discussion of these results would be useful for companies of the energy sector and for environmental agencies in Brazil, subsidizing decisions related to the management of fish passages already installed and to the construction of new facilities in the country.

2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo Antônio Agostinho ◽  
Elineide Eugênio Marques ◽  
Carlos Sérgio Agostinho ◽  
Deusimar Augusto de Almeida ◽  
Rafael José de Oliveira ◽  
...  

Fish ladders are generally conceived to reestablish connectivity among critical habitats for migratory species, thus mitigating the impacts of the blockage of migration routes by dams. If this management tool is to be meaningful for conserving fish species, it must provide a fully permeable connection and assure both upward and downward movements. However, because reservoirs have very different hydrodynamics than the original river, it is expected that, at least in the inner area, they may constitute an additional barrier to this movement, especially for descending fish. Thus, the present study sought to determine if migratory fish and their offspring disperse downstream from the dam after ascending a ladder and spawning in the upper reaches of a basin. To achieve this purpose, we evaluated the limitation imposed by lentic areas to the descent of eggs, larvae and adults of migratory species; we also determined the abundance and composition of larvae present in the plankton near the dam, and compared the intensity of the upward and downward movements of adult fish. Samples of ichthyoplankton were taken upriver, inside the reservoir, in the river downstream from the dam, and in the forebay of the Lajeado Dam on the Tocantins River (Luis Eduardo Magalhães Hydroelectric Plant), from October, 1999 through September, 2004. The densities of fish ascending and descending the ladder were determined experimentally on eight occasions, from June, 2004 to March, 2005. Due to difficulties in identifying the true fish origin (up or down) in the environments connected by the fish passage system, the evaluation of the distribution of migratory fish in reservoirs was based on the landings of the commercial fishery conducted along the Itaipu Reservoir during the four years preceding (2001 through 2003) the construction of the lateral channel (fish-passage mechanism). Fish eggs and larvae drifting down the Tocantins River did not appear in samples taken in the lower half of the reservoir; those found in water flowing through the spillways, turbines or fish ladder of Lajeado Dam belonged essentially to non-migratory clupeids that spawn in the inner part of the reservoir. In addition, results showed that in a reservoir with no fish-passage mechanism, migrants select habitats that still maintain riverine characteristics, in the upper parts of the impounded area. The downward movements are negligible compared to those upward, in the experiments conducted in the fish ladder. It is concluded, therefore, that the Lajeado fish ladder, and possibly those at other dams, is essentially a one-way route that promotes upstream movements of migrants, without the necessary return of adults or their offspring. Thus, the low permeability of the connections provided by these management tools can drastically increase the level of environmental impact that they were actually intended to reduce.


2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo dos Santos Pompeu ◽  
Carlos Barreira Martinez

The construction of fish passages has been one of the strategies adopted by the Brazilian energy sector in order to diminish the effects of barriers on fish communities. However, studies of the efficiency of these mechanisms are scarce. The present study evaluated the efficiency and selectivity of the first trap and truck fish passage system in Brazil, installed in Santa Clara Dam, Mucuri River. The species composition in the Santa Clara Dam fish lift was compared to the original composition of Mucuri River fish fauna and with the populations that gather downstream of the dam during the reproductive season. The proportion of previously tagged individuals translocated by the lift was used to estimate its efficiency. During the 2003/2004 reproductive period, 67,841 individuals of 32 species passed through the lift, which corresponds to 66% of the lower Mucuri river fish richness. Less than 0.5% died or were injured during the passage. When compared to the river's population, less representative captures of smaller individuals and marine species were observed. However, the composition and structure of the community in the fish lift was quite similar to those downstream of the dam during the reproductive season. The estimated efficiency of the fish lift ranged from 0.2% for Pogonopoma wertheimeri to 16.1% for Leporinus conirostris reaching an average of 7% for all migratory species.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 797-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucileine de Assumpção ◽  
Maristela Cavicchioli Makrakis ◽  
Sergio Makrakis ◽  
Ricardo Luiz Wagner ◽  
Patrícia Sarai da Silva ◽  
...  

This study investigated the external body morphology (based on morphometric data) and the swimming efficiency in fish passages (based on the ascent time in a fish ladder) of two Neotropical long-distance migratory species. The fish were collected in the fish ladder of the Porto Primavera Hydroelectric Power Plant (known as Engenheiro Sergio Motta), upper Paraná River, Brazil. The species differ in several morphometric ratios related to swimming performance. Prochilodus lineatus exhibited a higher muscle ratio and caudal fin length ratio. However, Leporinus elongatus showed higher values for the fineness ratio, a higher length from snout to pectoral fin base ratio, and a higher caudal peduncle depth factor. Although both species show good swimming performance, the characteristics listed above may enable L. elongatus to apply greater power and propulsion, allowing it to reach a high swimming speed and to exhibit greater efficiency than P. lineatus. Leporinus elongatus moves faster than P. lineatus and has a lower mean ascent time (1.39 hours) than P. lineatus (3.76 hours). Prochilodus lineatus would require a somewhat longer time to pass through the fish ladder.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 705-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Mayer Pelicice ◽  
Carlos Sérgio Agostinho

Downstream passage through fish ladders and other facilities remains largely uninvestigated in South America. In view of this concern, we monitored ascending and descending fish movements through the fish ladder at Peixe Angical Dam, upper Tocantins River, Brazil, between September 2009 and August 2010. To investigate the extent of downstream passage, the fish fauna was sampled monthly (i) at sites upstream and downstream from the dam and (ii) inside the ladder. To distinguish between ascending and descending movements, the fish ladder remained open (permanent water flow), but a screen blocked the complete passage of fish in both directions. The results of the study indicated that the ladder restricts fish movements in both directions. Few species were found to use the ladder (31 out of 119 species recorded in the area). Moreover, monitoring revealed that downstream passage is even more limited. Only 18 species were recorded moving downstream. In addition, few fish attempted to move downstream during the year; of all fish captured in the ladder (n = 17,335), only 4% were descending. Species performing exclusive downstream movements were numerically rare or infrequent. Most downstream captures involved only four species. We emphasize that several species performed one-way upstream movements or showed a high density of ascending fish. Consequently, the numerical ratio between ascending and descending fish (ind./m²) showed high positive values throughout the year (644:1 on average, considering all species); migratory species showed higher ratios (1069:1). The results of the study show that the facility fails to support the downstream passage of migratory and non-migratory fishes. We conclude that the fish ladder at Peixe Angical Dam does not play a conservation role and may complicate alternative conservation efforts.


2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Sérgio Agostinho ◽  
Angelo Antônio Agostinho ◽  
Fernando Pelicice ◽  
Deusimar Augusto de Almeida ◽  
Elineide Eugênio Marques

Although dozens of fish ladders have been constructed at dams of Brazilian reservoirs, there are few studies evaluating their efficiency as a tool for the conservation of Neotropical ichthyofauna, especially for migratory species. Therefore, the present study evaluated the selectivity of the species that entered and ascended the fish ladder located next to Lajeado Dam (Luis Eduardo Magalhães Hydroelectric Power Plant) on the Tocantins River. Samples were taken monthly from November, 2002 through October, 2003, in the resting pools of the ladder, using cast nets, and in the downstream stretch, using gillnets. The selectivity of the ladder in attracting fish was evaluated by comparing the occurrence, relative abundance, dominance and the congruence of abundance ranks of migratory and non-migratory species in the ladder and in the stretch of river immediately downstream. Species richness and fish abundance in the resting pools were used to evaluate selectivity along the ladder. The effects on selectivity by temporal variations in water level downriver and maximum flow velocity in the fish ladder were also analyzed. Out of the 130 species recorded downriver, 62.3% were caught in the ladder, and migratory species were clearly favored. However, more than 2/3 of the catch belonged to only three species (Rhaphiodon vulpinus, Psectrogaster amazonica and Oxydoras niger). Although the majority of the species that entered the ladder were able to reach its top, there was a sharp reduction in abundance of individuals towards the top. Temporal variations in the water level below the dam influenced richness and abundance of fish concentrated downstream and in the ladder, with lower values during periods of low water. In the ladder, a maximum flow velocity of 2.3 m/s, although also selective, proved to be more appropriate for fish ascension than a velocity of 2.8 m/s. It was concluded that the entry and ascension of the fish in the ladder were not congruent with their proportions in the downriver stretch: fish samples in the ladder were clearly dominated by a few species, including some that do not need to be translocated. Thus, selectivity constitutes an important bottleneck to initiatives for translocating fish aimed at conserving their stocks or biodiversity. It is urgent to review the decision-making process for the construction of fish passages and to evaluate the functioning of those already operating.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 715-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlene Sofia Arcifa ◽  
André Luiz Henríques Esguícero

The composition and abundance of the fish assemblage were evaluated in the fish ladder of Ourinhos Dam, the newest dam (closed in 2005) in the cascade of dams constructed on the Paranapanema River. Samplings were carried out three times on a diel cycle, in three sampling periods, two in the warm season and one in the cold season of 2008 - 2009. The ladder was closed and emptied and the entire fish assemblage was sampled and identified. Most individuals were released alive downstream of the dam. The assemblage found in the ladder was compared with the fish fauna sampled in the reservoir and in downstream sites, in the same period. Twenty seven species and a total of 4682 individuals were caught in the ladder. Pimelodus maculatus was the only migratory species, which was caught in low number in the ladder (0.04% of the total captured), where small sedentary species predominated. The most abundant species were the non-migratory Apareiodon affinis, Bryconamericus stramineus, Astyanax fasciatus and Parodon nasus. Individuals observed in the ladder's window were moving up- and down the passage. The fish ladder is a microhabitat inhabited by an abundant association of benthic organisms that is probably used as a food resource for the fish assemblage in the ladder. The similarity between the fish fauna in the ladder and that of the Ourinhos Reservoir was low (26%). The species richness of migrants in the stretch between the uspstream reservoir (Chavantes) and the downstream one (Salto Grande), before the Ourinhos dam closure (23 species) was reduced to 16 and 12 species in Salto Grande and Ourinhos reservoirs, respectively, after the dam closure, and to a single species in the ladder.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabin R. Watson ◽  
Harriet R. Goodrich ◽  
Rebecca L. Cramp ◽  
Matthew A. Gordos ◽  
Yulian Yan ◽  
...  

AbstractFreshwater ecosystems have been severely fragmented by artificial in-stream structures designed to manage water for human use. Significant efforts have been made to reconnect freshwater systems for fish movement, through the design and installation of dedicated fish passage structures (fishways) and by incorporating fish-sensitive design features into conventional infrastructure (e.g. culverts). Key to the success of these structures is making sure that the water velocities within them do not exceed the swimming capacities of the local fish species. Swimming performance data is scarce for Australian fish, which have a reduced swimming capacity when compared to many North American and European species. To help close this knowledge gap and assist fisheries management and civil engineering, we report the swimming performance capacities of twenty-one small-bodied fish and juveniles (< 10 cm) of large bodied species native to Australia as measured by critical swimming speed (Ucrit) and burst swimming speed (Usprint) in a recirculating flume. This data is complemented by endurance swim trials in a 12-meter hydraulic flume channel, and by measures of flume traverse success. Building on the utility of this dataset, we used a panel of morphological, behavioural and ecological traits to first assess their relative contributions to the observed swimming performance data, and second, to determine if they could be used to predict swimming performance capacity – a useful tool to assist in the management of species of conservation concern where access to swimming performance data may be limited. We found that body length combined with depth station (benthic, pelagic or surface) explained most of the interspecific variation in observed swimming performance data, followed by body shape and tail shape. These three traits were the most effective at predicting swimming performance in a model/unknown fish. This data will assist civil engineers and fisheries managers in Australia to mitigate the impact of in-stream structures on local fish populations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Roberth Frias ◽  
Maria Medina

This research focused on the strategic management tool Balanced Scorecard and strategic planning, as a guide to guide the management of companies, allowing communication and the functionality of the strategy using KPIs that allow to identify, maintain control and increase efficiency and the achievement of optimal results. For the deductive hypothetical analysis, the specific factors that affect business management performance were grouped into two variables: Balanced Scorecard and Strategic Planning. The objective of the work was to demonstrate the impact of the Balanced Scorecard in the strategic planning of a construction company. In order to support the research, the following theories were approached: the Financial Theory, the Economic Theory of the Company, the Transaction Costs, the Network Theory, the Organization Theory, the Dependence on Resources, the Strategic Management Theory and the Business Diagnosis Theory. The result obtained confirms the hypothesis that there is a significant incidence of the Balanced Scorecard in the strategic planning of construction companies. In conclusion, the construction company has obtained significant improvements in the results in each of the indicators evaluated with the implementation of the Balanced Scorecard, demonstrating improvements in their management results, affirming that there is better performance and management control allowing them to achieve the organizational objectives set.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale Douglas Erickson ◽  
Greg Metcalf

Abstract This paper discusses the development and deployment of a specialized online and offline integrated model to simulate the CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Injection process. There is a very high level of CO2 in an LNG development and the CO2 must be removed in order to prepare the gas to be processed into LNG. To mitigate the global warming effects of this CO2, a large portion of the CO2 Rich Stream (98% purity) is injected back into a depleted oil field. To reduce costs, carbon steel flowlines are used but this introduces a risk of internal corrosion. The presence of free water increases the internal corrosion risk, and for this reason, a predictive model discussed in this paper is designed to help operations prevent free water dropout in the network in real time. A flow management tool (FMT) is used to monitor the current state of the system and helps look at the impact of future events (startup, shutdowns etc.). The tool models the flow of the CO2 rich stream from the outlet of the compressor trains, through the network pipeline and manifolds and then into the injection wells. System behavior during steady state and transient operation is captured and analyzed to check water content and the balance of trace chemicals along with temperature and pressure throughout the network helping operators estimate corrosion rates and monitor the overall integrity of the system. The system has been running online for 24/7 for 2 years. The model has been able to match events like startup/shutdown, cooldowns and blowdowns. During these events the prediction of temperature/pressure at several locations in the field matches measured data. The model is then able to forecasts events into the future to help operations plan how they will operate the field. The tool uses a specialized thermodynamic model to predict the dropout of water in the near critical region of CO2 mixtures which includes various impurities. The model is designed to model startup and shutdown as the CO2 mixture moves across the phase boundary from liquid to gas or gas to liquid during these operations.


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