Location

Oregon State University

Start Date

27-6-2013 3:50 PM

End Date

27-6-2013 4:10 PM

Description

Providing fish passage at high-head hydroelectric facilities can be prohibitively expensive due to the challenges associated with maintaining acceptable velocities and pressures for fish migrating over a large drop in elevation. Traditional solutions involve large concrete structures such as fish ladders, locks, lifts, or bypass flumes. Hauling operations are another option, using transport trucks, but these can also be prohibitively expensive due to high operating costs. Equally important, they can cause significant stress and delay for migrating fishes. An innovative, cost-effective system for downstream fish passage at high-head hydropower facilities has been developed, and is currently awaiting prototype-scale testing. The system uses engineered decompression raceways to safely pass fish using conventional screens by regulating pressures and controlling bypass flows. The development of the decompression raceway allows proven in-conduit screening systems, such as Eicher-type or MIS-type screens, to be used at high-head hydropower facilities because it solves the problem of controlled decompression at the discharge location. Results from Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model tests verify the hydraulic performance of the decompression raceways and their ability to meet fish passage criteria. Hyperbaric pressure tests on salmonids verify low injury and mortality rates during controlled decompression scenarios. Decompression raceways expand the applicability of existing screening methods to allow volitional downstream fish movement at high-head facilities with minimal delay and a small physical footprint. This presentation will be of interest to a diverse blend of stakeholders, including federal, state and local agencies, seeking a viable approach to add lower-cost fish passage at high-head hydropower projects.

Comments

Ryan S. Greif is a water resources engineer at Mead & Hunt. Mr. Greif specializes in hydraulic modeling, design and analysis of water conveyance systems, including applications at hydroelectric facilities. His other experience includes dam safety, flood control and agricultural water supply design. He applies engineering principles from a fresh perspective to produce environmentally and financially sound solutions.

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Jun 27th, 3:50 PM Jun 27th, 4:10 PM

Concurrent Sessions B: Case Studies of Passage at Dams - Innovative Fish Passage: A Cost-Effective Solution for High-Head Hydro

Oregon State University

Providing fish passage at high-head hydroelectric facilities can be prohibitively expensive due to the challenges associated with maintaining acceptable velocities and pressures for fish migrating over a large drop in elevation. Traditional solutions involve large concrete structures such as fish ladders, locks, lifts, or bypass flumes. Hauling operations are another option, using transport trucks, but these can also be prohibitively expensive due to high operating costs. Equally important, they can cause significant stress and delay for migrating fishes. An innovative, cost-effective system for downstream fish passage at high-head hydropower facilities has been developed, and is currently awaiting prototype-scale testing. The system uses engineered decompression raceways to safely pass fish using conventional screens by regulating pressures and controlling bypass flows. The development of the decompression raceway allows proven in-conduit screening systems, such as Eicher-type or MIS-type screens, to be used at high-head hydropower facilities because it solves the problem of controlled decompression at the discharge location. Results from Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model tests verify the hydraulic performance of the decompression raceways and their ability to meet fish passage criteria. Hyperbaric pressure tests on salmonids verify low injury and mortality rates during controlled decompression scenarios. Decompression raceways expand the applicability of existing screening methods to allow volitional downstream fish movement at high-head facilities with minimal delay and a small physical footprint. This presentation will be of interest to a diverse blend of stakeholders, including federal, state and local agencies, seeking a viable approach to add lower-cost fish passage at high-head hydropower projects.