| Fish passage solutions
federally protected humpback chub and other native fish.
USBR says it will assess various reservoir
releases, considering temperature and flow velocity combinations and these analyses will encompass a flow option that does not utilise the dam’s river outlet works to reduce water temperatures. The goal is to determine the effectiveness of these strategies in disrupting smallmouth bass spawning behaviour and preventing their establishment below the dam. Furthermore, USBR will update the high flow protocol sediment accounting process, incorporating the latest scientific findings.
Safe passage
A new A$7million fishway project is set to revolutionise the Fitzroy Barrage System and facilitate the safe movement of 31 native fish species to 545 hectares of habitat in Australia. Construction of the fishway will be undertaken by Queensland-based construction firm, Pensar Infrastructure, and is one of six additional projects within the Rookwood Weir Project which is designed to enhance water infrastructure while promoting ecological well-being. The landmark Rookwood Weir, located upstream of the Fitzroy Barrage, introduces a pioneering fish lock system, providing a mechanism for species migration. The new fishway will further amplify this effort, with its design incorporating ‘cone’ type blocks to enable seamless migration of smaller fish upstream and downstream, effectively connecting fish populations across the river.
In conjunction with road upgrades and bridge construction, this fish passage initiative is a key component of the Rookwood Weir Project’s comprehensive approach to fostering regional growth, environmental health, and water security. “ With the Queensland and Australian Governments contributing a total of A$367.2 million and Sunwater financing the remainder, amounting to A$568.9 million, the Rookwood Weir Project is a substantial investment in the region’s future.
Fish funds The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced
funding exceeding US$6.3 million is to be allocated to six research and development projects focused on the advancement of fish passage and protection technologies, ultimately reducing the environmental impact of hydropower on aquatic ecosystems. Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, emphasised the dual importance of clean energy and biodiversity protection, stating: “Hydropower is a flexible renewable energy resource that has a central role as we move toward a clean electricity sector and economy. But the climate crisis is also a biodiversity crisis, and we need to protect species as we move toward a clean energy system. This investment in fish passage and protection technologies will help fish move safely through hydropower facilities while reducing the overall environmental impact of hydropower and restoring fish population levels.” The US$6.3 million investment will drive the development of innovative fish passage and protection technologies through six selected projects:
Electric Power Research Institute’s Fishheart Hydraulic Fishway will deploy and assess a novel fish entry and transport system at the Santee Spillway hydropower project in Pineville, South Carolina.
MarineSitu’s Automated Fish Passage Monitoring will create an automated tool to track and classify fish navigating fish ladders. Natel Energy’s Safe Downstream Fish Passage will evaluate Natel Energy’s Restoration Hydro Turbine as a secure downstream passage for American Eel. Percheron Power’s Helical Fish Passage will test the Stralkin Helix. This is a novel fish passage approach utilising a rotating helix that seeks to significantly reduce costs compared to conventional methods while improving multi-species fish passage. University of California, Davis’ White Sturgeon Passage Assessment is focused on assessing the safe turbine passage of White Sturgeon populations. This laboratory research aims to provide valuable insights to turbine designers, operators, and fish regulators, balancing renewable energy production and biodiversity protection. University of Massachusetts Amherst’s D-Cylinder Fish Ladder Evaluation will address the limitations of existing fish ladder designs.
Work at Holyoke Dam Kleinschmidt Associates, an engineering, regulatory,
and environmental consulting firm, has been selected by Holyoke Gas and Electric (HG&E) to conduct an extensive study on the movement and upstream passage of the Shortnose Sturgeon at the Holyoke Dam in Massachusetts, US. The study aims to assess the efficiency of the fish passage infrastructure at the dam in facilitating the safe and timely migration of adult Shortnose Sturgeon. Kleinschmidt’s team plans to employ an acoustic telemetry monitoring system to track approximately 70 sturgeons as they approach the dam and navigate through a fish lift to move upstream. Bryan Apell, Project Manager and Senior Fisheries Ecologist at Kleinschmidt, emphasised the critical role of habitat connectivity for the Connecticut River ecosystem, particularly for diadromous and
www.waterpowermagazine.com | November 2023 | 31
Above: Rendering of the planned fishway at Fitzroy Barrage in Queensland, Australia
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