Location

Groningen, The Netherlands

Event Website

http://fishpassage.umass.edu/

Start Date

24-6-2015 2:45 PM

End Date

24-6-2015 3:00 PM

Description

Abstract:

Connectivity in salmonid-streams is vital for juvenile as well as adult trout, yet most upstream passage studies consider only larger adults. Upstream passage of juvenile and adult Salmo trutta at individual and cumulative low-head (< 3 m) barriers on two tributaries of the River Ribble (NW England) was investigated using PIT telemetry during summer/autumn 2013 and 2014. The efficiency of a low-cost baffle fish pass (Servais, 2006) was evaluated for the first time, along with two more traditional poolweir passes, an embedded rock ramp and two culverts. We used a combination of naturally migrating S. trutta and novel innature displacement experiments, where resident fish were displaced from above to below structures and their homing instinct utilised to instigate their ascent of the structure. Each structure was evaluated using several metrics measuring the passage efficiency (PE) and delays incurred before successful passage (time and number of attempts). We show that instigating ascent of a structure through downstream displacement can be successful with up to 91% of displaced fish attempting to pass. Passage efficiencies of up to 82% for the low-cost baffle design were observed, which was comparable to the pool-weir design (up to 84%) and better than the embedded rock ramp (71%). The two culverts had contrasting impacts, with the shorter control (within predicted swim performance) Culvert 1 representing a manmade structure which had little impact on passage efficiency (96% - 100%) and delay metrics compared to Culvert 2 (PE = 41%). Logistic regression demonstrated a strong body-length effect on passage success at passes, with shorter individuals (< 91–132 mm depending on the structure) having a less than 50% probability of successful passage. The study demonstrates the efficacy of three fish passage designs at low-head barriers and the variation in delay that can be incurred even between similarly designed passes.

Comments

Presenting Author: Michael Forty is a final year Ph.D. researcher at Durham University, UK. His research interests are in the field of river restoration ecology, including the efficacy of fish passage and habitat restoration techniques. He previously completed his M.Sc. in River Environmental Management and and B.Sc. in Geography at the University of Birmingham.

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Jun 24th, 2:45 PM Jun 24th, 3:00 PM

Session E8: Not Just for Adults! Evaluating the Efficacy of Multiple Fish Passage Designs at Low-Head Barriers for the Upstream Movement of Juvenile and Adult Trout Salmo Trutta

Groningen, The Netherlands

Abstract:

Connectivity in salmonid-streams is vital for juvenile as well as adult trout, yet most upstream passage studies consider only larger adults. Upstream passage of juvenile and adult Salmo trutta at individual and cumulative low-head (< 3 m) barriers on two tributaries of the River Ribble (NW England) was investigated using PIT telemetry during summer/autumn 2013 and 2014. The efficiency of a low-cost baffle fish pass (Servais, 2006) was evaluated for the first time, along with two more traditional poolweir passes, an embedded rock ramp and two culverts. We used a combination of naturally migrating S. trutta and novel innature displacement experiments, where resident fish were displaced from above to below structures and their homing instinct utilised to instigate their ascent of the structure. Each structure was evaluated using several metrics measuring the passage efficiency (PE) and delays incurred before successful passage (time and number of attempts). We show that instigating ascent of a structure through downstream displacement can be successful with up to 91% of displaced fish attempting to pass. Passage efficiencies of up to 82% for the low-cost baffle design were observed, which was comparable to the pool-weir design (up to 84%) and better than the embedded rock ramp (71%). The two culverts had contrasting impacts, with the shorter control (within predicted swim performance) Culvert 1 representing a manmade structure which had little impact on passage efficiency (96% - 100%) and delay metrics compared to Culvert 2 (PE = 41%). Logistic regression demonstrated a strong body-length effect on passage success at passes, with shorter individuals (< 91–132 mm depending on the structure) having a less than 50% probability of successful passage. The study demonstrates the efficacy of three fish passage designs at low-head barriers and the variation in delay that can be incurred even between similarly designed passes.

https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conference/2015/June24/24