Passage Performance of Technical Pool-Type Fishways for Potamodromous Cyprinids: Novel Experiences in Semiarid Environments

Endemic freshwater fish from semiarid environments are among the most threated species in the world due to the water overexploitation and habitat fragmentation problems. Stepped or pool-type fishways are used worldwide to reestablish longitudinal connectivity and mitigate fish migration problems. Many of them are being installed or planned in rivers of semiarid environments, however, very few studies about fish passage performance through pool-type fishways has been carried out to date on these regions. The present work focuses on the passage performance of two potamodromous cyprinids endemic of these regions, with different ecological and swimming behavior: southern Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus sclateri) and Iberian straight-mouth nase (Pseudochondrostoma polylepis), in two of the most common types of stepped fishways: vertical slot and submerged notch with bottom orifice fishways. Experiments were carried out during the spawning season in the Segura River (South-Eastern Spain), using a PIT tag and antennas system. Ascent success was greater than 80%, with a median transit time lower than 17 minutes per meter of height in all trials and for both species and fishway types. Results show that both types of fishways, if correctly designed and built, provide interesting alternatives for the restoration of fish migration pathways on these regions.

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Passage Performance of Technical Pool-Type Fishways for Potamodromous Cyprinids: Novel Experiences in Semiarid Environments

Water ◽

10.3390/w11112362 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 2362 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sanz-Ronda ◽

Bravo-Córdoba ◽

Sánchez-Pérez ◽

García-Vega ◽

Valbuena-Castro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fish Passage ◽

Antenna System ◽

Fish Migration ◽

Pit Tag ◽

Passive Integrated Transponder ◽

Semiarid Environments ◽

Vertical Slot ◽

Longitudinal Connectivity ◽

Migration Pathways ◽

Pool Type

Endemic freshwater fish from semiarid environments are among the most threated species in the world due to water overexploitation and habitat fragmentation problems. Stepped or pool-type fishways are used worldwide to reestablish longitudinal connectivity and mitigate fish migration problems. Many of them are being installed or planned in rivers of semiarid environments, however, very few studies about fish passage performance through pool-type fishways has been carried out to date on these regions. The present work focuses on the passage performance of two potamodromous cyprinids endemic of these regions, with different ecological and swimming behavior: southern Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus sclateri) and Iberian straight-mouth nase (Pseudochondrostoma polylepis). These are assessed in two of the most common types of stepped fishways: vertical slot and submerged notch with bottom orifice fishways. Experiments were carried out during the spawning season in the Segura River (southeastern Spain), using a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag and antenna system. Ascent success was greater than 80%, with a median transit time lower than 17 minutes per meter of height in all trials, and for both species and fishway types. Results show that both types of fishways, if correctly designed and constructed, provide interesting alternatives for the restoration of fish migration pathways in these regions.

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Turning Pools in Stepped Fishways: Biological Assessment via Fish Response and CFD Models

Water ◽

10.3390/w13091186 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1186

Author(s):

Francisco Javier Bravo-Córdoba ◽

Juan Francisco Fuentes-Pérez ◽

Jorge Valbuena-Castro ◽

Andrés Martínez de Azagra-Paredes ◽

Francisco Javier Sanz-Ronda

Keyword(s):

3D Models ◽

Fish Passage ◽

Biological Assessment ◽

Fish Migration ◽

Longitudinal Development ◽

Passive Integrated Transponder ◽

Design Component ◽

Cfd Models ◽

Vertical Slot ◽

Fish Response

With the aim of building more compact fishways and adapting them to field conditions to improve their location by fish, it is common to use turning pools, reducing the longitudinal development of the construction. However, depending on their design, turning pools may affect the hydraulic performance of the fishway and consequently the fish passage. To study these phenomena, turning pools in a vertical slot and in different configurations of submerged notches with bottom orifice fishway types were assessed. Both types of fishways were studied using numerical 3D models via OpenFOAM, a computational fluid dynamics software, in combination with fish responses, assessed with PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tag telemetry for three different species of potamodromous cyprinids in several fishways. Results show differences between the hydrodynamics of straight and turning pools, with lower values in the hydrodynamic variables in turning pools. Regarding fish behavior, the ascent was slower in turning pools but with no effect on passage success and without being a problem for fish migration. This information validates the use of turning pools as a key design component for fishways for studied species.

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Innovative On-Site Adapted System for Fish Migration with Flow Divider and Glass Collector Basin

Transylvanian Review of Systematical and Ecological Research ◽

10.2478/trser-2020-0006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 81-98

Author(s):

Răzvan Voicu ◽

Artur Radecki-Pawlik ◽

Liliana Voicu ◽

Joseph Dominick Urbani ◽

Doru Bănăduc

Keyword(s):

High Water ◽

Fish Passage ◽

Fish Migration ◽

Large Fish ◽

Urban Sector ◽

Stream Bank ◽

Flow Divider ◽

Longitudinal Connectivity ◽

Lotic System ◽

The Right

Abstract The authors designed a new site-adapted fish passage system for upstream and downstream migration of small and large fish on the urban sector of the Bistriţa River. The longitudinal connectivity of this lotic system is interrupted by numerous transversal hydrotechnical works (weirs). This proposed system was designed to facilitate fish migration, promote fish recolonization of upstream and downstream habitats, allow the expansion of fish range, and increase spawning potential. All components of the proposed system are attached to a concrete girder located to the right stream bank, except a glass basin that is submerged in the riverbed. The positioning of the system in this girder ensures its resistance to high water events, while offering safe passage for fish in both directions.

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Improving Upstream and Downstream Fish Passage at Retis Dam on Hârtibaciu River - Sibiu County (Transylvania)

Annals of Valahia University of Targoviste Geographical Series ◽

10.1515/avutgs-2017-0005 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 47-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Răzvan Voicu ◽

Pete Baki

Keyword(s):

Fish Fauna ◽

Fish Passage ◽

Hydraulic Structures ◽

Fish Migration ◽

Lateral Connectivity ◽

Longitudinal Connectivity ◽

Barbatula Barbatula ◽

Cobitis Taenia ◽

Misgurnus Fossilis ◽

Squalius Cephalus

Abstract Retis (dam Retis), hydro-technical development like many other transverse hydraulic structures cancel the longitudinal connectivity of Hârtibaciu water course, blocking the migration of different (migrating) species of fish in the river. Also, the lateral connectivity was heavily affected on this water course at a rate of 60%. Therefore, proposing engineering solutions to recover both (lateral and longitudinal) types of connectivity is vital to restore the local ecobiom. The purpose of this article is to establish longitudinal connectivity through an engineering solution that facilitates the fish migration upstream - downstream of Retis dam. This paper proposes an engineered fish passage solution for Retiș Dam on the Hârtibaciu River, using the criteria described in the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC document. Anthropogenic barriers located in the Hârtibaciu River disrupt and delay movement of local fish fauna including: Alburnoides bipunctatus (Bloch, 1782), Squalius cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758), Alburnus alburnus (Linnaeus, 1758), Rhodeus amarus (Bloch, 1782), Gobio gobio (Linnaeus, 1758), Romanogobio kessleri (Dybowski, 1862), Barbatula barbatula (Linnaeus, 1758), Barbus meridionalis Risso, 1827 Misgurnus fossilis (Linnaeus, 1758), Cobitis taenia Linnaeus, 1758, Cobitis romanica (Băcescu, 1943), and Cobitis aurata (De Filippi, 1863).

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Design and Function Monitoring of an Enature® Vertical Slot Fish Pass in a Large Potamal River in Carinthia/Austria

Water ◽

10.3390/w12020551 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 551 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Helmut Mader ◽

Andreas Brandl ◽

Sabine Käfer

Keyword(s):

Power Plant ◽

Ecological Status ◽

Fish Passage ◽

Ecological Effect ◽

Survey Method ◽

Hydro Power ◽

Pass System ◽

Fish Pass ◽

Vertical Slot ◽

Longitudinal Connectivity

To establish good ecological status in European rivers, firstly there is the question of how to re-establish unhindered migration for fish at barriers. This article documents a project to re-establish longitudinal connectivity at a large epipotamal river at the Schwabeck Hydro Power Plant, Carinthia/Austria, from the selection of an appropriate fish pass system to the final function control. Instead of a standard vertical slot, the innovative enature® fish pass shape with a significant reduction of flow, velocities, energy dissipation rate, and turbulences, but with a clear enhancement of fish passage capability, was chosen. Using 2D hydraulic modelling and a statistical evaluation of fish passage, physical and ecological effects were reviewed, with the clear result that there is no identifiable, positive ecological effect on the number of fish migrating with an increase of concurrent flow in the fish pass. Passability and findability were monitored with the new FishCam, an automatic, precise, and constant (24/7 24 h a day, seven days a week) collection and pre-evaluation field data survey method which does not involve trapping of, contact with, or stress for fish. It was shown that the enature® fish pass enables an unhindered migration for all available fish species. As >99% of fish migrate from April to November, there is no ecological need to operate a fully functional fish pass year-round. Combining all the individual factors together, the fish pass at the Schwabeck Hydro Power Plant is an almost exemplary solution for a fully functioning restauration of the continuum with a minimized loss of generation of electricity.

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Multislot Fishway Improves Entrance Performance and Fish Transit Time over Vertical Slots

Water ◽

10.3390/w13030275 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 275

Author(s):

Filipe Romão ◽

Ana L. Quaresma ◽

José M. Santos ◽

Susana D. Amaral ◽

Paulo Branco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transit Time ◽

Reynolds Shear Stress ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Fish Passage ◽

Entrance Time ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Vertical Slot ◽

Longitudinal Connectivity ◽

Water Uses ◽

Entry Efficiency

Pool-type fishways have been increasingly tested to improve fish passage performance and minimize migration delays. Designing cost-effective fishways is essential for a trade-off between water uses and successful longitudinal connectivity restoration. The multislot fishway (MSF) concept, which operates with 30–50% lower discharge than a vertical slot fishway (VSF), was recently developed. This study assessed and compared the entrance performance (entrance time; entry efficiency) and transit times of two cyprinids for VSFs and MSFs. Four configurations, with the same structural characteristics (slope; water depth; head drop; pool width and depth), operating with different discharges (Q), were tested (VSF 1: Q = 112 L·s−1; VSF 2: Q = 80 L·s−1; MSF 1: Q = 58 L·s−1; MSF 2: Q = 37 L·s−1). Hydrodynamics characterization was performed using a numerical model. Results showed that entry efficiency was higher in MSFs than in VSFs, while entrance time and transit time were overall lower. Numerical modelling revealed that velocities were around 30% lower in MSFs, and turbulence could reach a difference of around 70% in Reynolds shear stress and 50% in turbulent kinetic energy. Overall, MSFs can be considered as a cost-effective fishway solution that can balance the trade-offs between divergent interests in water uses.

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Fishways as Downstream Routes in Small Hydropower Plants: Experiences with a Potamodromous Cyprinid

Water ◽

10.3390/w13081041 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1041

Author(s):

Francisco Javier Sanz-Ronda ◽

Juan Francisco Fuentes-Pérez ◽

Ana García-Vega ◽

Francisco Javier Bravo-Córdoba

Keyword(s):

General Assumption ◽

Downstream Migration ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Hydropower Plant ◽

Small Hydropower ◽

Pit Tag ◽

Safe Alternative ◽

Hydropower Plants ◽

Longitudinal Connectivity ◽

Alternative Routes

Fish need to move upstream and downstream through rivers to complete their life cycles. Despite the fact that fishways are the most commonly applied solution to recover longitudinal connectivity, they are not considered viable for downstream migration. Therefore, alternative facilities are recommended to facilitate downstream migration. However, a few recent studies have disagreed with this general assumption, showing the potential for bidirectional movements. This study advances our understanding of the potential of fishways for downstream migration by studying their efficiency in a run-of-the-river hydropower plant in the Duero River (Spain). To achieve this, downstream movements of the Iberian barbel (n = 299) were monitored in a stepped fishway for two years with passive integrated transponder (PIT)-tag technology, considering the effect of fish origin and release zone. The results showed that 24.9% of barbels descended through the fishway, with the origin and release zone affecting the fishway location. In addition, downstream movements were observed throughout the whole year, except in winter. The study concludes that, under specific scenarios, fishways could act as safe alternative routes for downstream migration.

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Analysis of fishways in the Middle and Lower Jinsha River Basin (China)

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-15963 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Siqi Tong ◽

Silke Wieprecht ◽

Martin Schletterer

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Jinsha River ◽

Vertical Slot ◽

Upper Yangtze River ◽

Artificial Breeding ◽

Longitudinal Connectivity ◽

Target Fish ◽

Regional Sustainable Development ◽

Vertical Slot Fishway ◽

Hydropower Stations

This study was carried out in the middle and lower reaches of the Jinsha River in southwest China, which represents the upper Yangtze River. Hydraulic structures (14 cascade hydropower stations) are planned and/or constructed in this system, which is considered as largest hydropower base. We aim to summarize appropriate measures to restore the riverine continuum in the middle and lower reaches of the Jinsha River, where high-head cascade hydropower dams are located or planned.We distributed a questionnaire to Chinese researchers in the related fields (scientists, hydropower operators and NGOs in China, n = 60). According to the responses, fishways, fish lift, fish lock, trap-and-truck system as well as fish hatcheries (artificial breeding) are recognized to ensure passing respectively preserving fish in the Jinsha River basin.A longitudinal connectivity assessment of the study area revealed a severely disturbed continuity status. Based on the biological analyses of the demands of the target fish species and review of fish pass technologies, a vertical-slot fishway is proposed.Considering the dam heights and the geographical conditions, it is recommended to combine the vertical-slot fishway with these alternatives to achieve a higher efficiency in passing fish as well as to recover the river continuity towards regional sustainable development.

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