HomeMy WebLinkAboutFishway Research at the Fisheries- Engineering Research Laboratory 1960FISHWAY RESEARCH
AT THE ;
FISHERIES- ENGINEERING RESEARCH LABORATORY
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
sel FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
CIRCULAR 98
i ie i la i 5 iia
Cover: Bonneville Dam, Bradford Island fishway in the foreground.
Fisheries-Engineering Research Laboratory may be seen at
the far end of the spillway.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
FISHWAY RESEARCH AT THE FISHERIES-ENGINEERING
RESEARCH LABORATORY
By
Gerald B. Collins and Carl H. Elling
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
CIRCULAR 98
Washington, D.C.
November 1960
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C. - Price 20 cents
CONTENTS
Page
Abstract ii
Introduction ~ 1
Fishway capacity - 6
Fishway slope and 8
Fish swimming abilities __ ou 10
Attraction of fish_---_------ 7 11
Fishway hydraulics - - - -- apie Aene, 11
Effect of light on fish movement - -__-.-- 12
General observations --___-_----- 7 14
Current research c u L eee 15
Appendix 16
ABSTRACT
Results of 4 years of research on fishway problems, data on rates of movement of
salmonids ascending fishways, and of spatial requirements of fish are given and experi-
ments to measure fishway capacity are described. The effect of fishway slope and
fishway length on fish performance and biochemical state were measured in “endless”
fishways. No evidence of fatigue was found when proper hydraulic conditions were
obtained. One salmon ascended over 6,600 feet vertically. Experiments to measure
swimming abilities of salmon indicated that the critical velocity was between 8 and 13
feet. per second. Maximum observed swimming speed was 26.7 feet per second.
Preferences of salmonids for water velocities and light conditions revealed marked
differences between species. Effects of light and water velocity on rates of passage
through channels and fishways are described. Experiments involving fingerling
passage problems and the testing of fullscale prototype fishway designs are illustrated.
Reports and publications on laboratory research are listed.
FISHWAY RESEARCH AT THE FISHERIES-ENGINEERING
RESEARCH LABORATORY
by
Gerald B. Collins and Carl H. Elling
Fishway problems are many and complex on the Columbia River system where a long series of major dams interrupts the migration of several species of anadromous fishes. Adult fish returning to the Columbia from the sea may have to ascend as many as nine dams to reach their spawning areas. Young fish must pass downstream over all of these dams on their journey to the sea. Even small losses, injuries, or delays in the passage over each dam could threaten the entire fishery resource because of the cumulative effects of many dams. Similarly, the costs involved in providing adequate fishways to pass fish safely over a large dam must be multiplied by the increasing number of dams. It is therefore highly important that fish passage facilities be designed with both a maximum of safety for fish and also a maximum of economy in construction and operation costs. To accomplish these goals obviously requires a sound basic knowledge of the behavior, abilities, and require- ments of migratory fish, particularly in relation to fishways.
To supply precise information on the behavior and performance of migrating fish, a special type of laboratory was constructed! in which it is possible to measure the reactions of fish under controlled experimental conditions while the fish are actually migrating. The F isheries-Engineering Research Laboratory adjoining one of the major fishways at Bonneville Dam (fig. 1) is the only
Nore.—Gerald B. Collins and Carl H. Elling, Fishery Research Biologists, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Seattle, Washington. 1 Financed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a part of their Fisheries-Engineering Research Program for the purpose of providing design criteria for more econom- ical and more efficient fish-passage facilities at the Corps’ projects on the Columbia River,
laboratory of its kind in the world. Fish diverted (fig. 2) from the Washington-shore fishway at Bonneville Dam swim into this laboratory (fig. 3) where their responses to full-scale fishway situa- tions are observed and recorded. Fish then swim out of the laboratory and re-enter the main fishway to continue their migration upstream.
The laboratory basically consists of a level experimental flume (fig. 4) with a fish collection pool at the downstream end that is connected to the main fishway by a small entrance fishway (“B” in fig. 2), and with a flow introduction pool at the upstream end that is connected to the main fishway by an exit fishway (“F” in fig. 2). Vari- ous types of fishway structures are erected (fig. 5) in the experimental area while it is dry, then water is introduced and the gates to the main fishway are opened to permit the entry of fish. A water supply and discharge system is independent of the main fishway and is capable of delivering and discharging up to 200 cubic feet of water per second without disturbing the flow pattern of the main fishway outside. Light control is provided by a completely covered building and eighty 1,000-watt mercury-vapor lamps (fig. 6) that under standard operating conditions produce illumination equivalent to a cloudy bright day. The ability to control large flows, water levels, structures, and light makes it possible to create a wide variety of test conditions. Adult migrating fish are available to the laboratory for approxi- mately 6 months of the year. Migrants include chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), blue- back salmon (O. nerka), silver salmon (O. kisutch), steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri), shad (Alosa sapidissima), and also the Pacific lamprey (Lam- petra tridentata).
Figure 1.—Fisheries-Engineering Research Laboratory adjoining Washington-shore fishway at Bonne- ville Dam. The dam is on the Columbia River 140 river-miles from the sea.
Figure 3.—Entrance to the fish collection pool. Fish swim into the laboratory
through a narrowing funnel that prevents them from leaving.
Figure 4.—Interior of Fisheries-Engineering Research Laboratory when empty and unwatered.
Experimental area (center) is 104 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 17 feet deep. Fish collec-
tion pool at far end is 50 feet long and 24 feet deep.
Figure 5.—Experimental fishways under construction.
Careful planning and great ingenuity are required
in building temporary structures capable of sup-
porting and controlling large volumes of water.
The Fisheries-Engineering Research Laboratory
is now (1960) in its fifth year of full-scale opera- tion. The following is a review intended only as
a brief summary of research to show the scope and
general progress of the studies at the laboratory.
Listed in Appendix A are the proposals, reports,
and publications that describe in detail the major
aims and objectives of the project, the experi-
mental designs and procedures followed, complete
observations and results with the limitations and
qualifications of the data and conclusions. Re-
580816 O—61——2
ae
Figure 6.—Full-scale experimental fishways in op-
eration. Standard lighting conditions are created
by mercury-vapor lamps. Picketed barriers and
release gates for the control of fish have yet to be
erected.
search at the laboratory is planned and conducted
as a team effort, with the task of reporting divided
among the staff by assignment. Selection of
major research items to be assigned priority or
studied in greatest detail follow the recommenda-
tions of the Corps of Engineers with the advice
of the Technical Advisory Committee for the
Corps’ Fisheries-Engineering Research Program
composed of representatives of State and Federal
fishery agencies.
FISHWAY CAPACITY
In a pool-type fishway, “capacity” (ie., the
maximum number of fish of a given size that a
fishway of specified design and dimensions can
pass per unit time) is controlled by the rate of fish
movement from pool to pool and the space re-
quired for each fish. Examples of laboratory
data on rates of movement for chinook salmon,
blueback salmon, and steelhead trout obtained
from a wide variety of experiments are shown in
table 1. Examination shows that although rates
vary with species and time of year there is
considerable consistency in the average rates of
movement under a wide range of experimental
Figure 7.—The 4-foot wide, 1-on-16-slope fishway
used for fishway capacity tests. Passage of 3,000
salmonids per hour was demonstrated in this fishway.
Table 1.—Passage times per pool of individual and groups of
salmonids oscending experimental fishways! at Bonneville
laboratory
Time per pool by species and source ? of data
Spring chinook Blueback Steelhead Fall chinook
Min- Min- Min- Min-
utes Source utes Source utes Source utes Source
2.2] 5,table 1] 1.7] 5,tablel| 1.6] 6, page 1 | 1.6 | 10, No. 38
2.7| 5,table 1] 1.6] 5,tablel | 22] 6,page1 | 1.5 10, No. 38
3.0 | 10, No. 22] 1. 10, No. 11] 1.0 | 10, No. 11] 2.0 | 10, No. 40
3.2 | 10, No. 22] 2 10, No. 24] 2.0 | 10, No. 13] 1.1 | 10, No. 14
2.0] 10, No. 46} 1. 10, No. 24| 1.6 | 10, No. 13) 1.1 | 10, No. 14
2.4] 10,No. 46] 1. 10, No. 36 | 2.4 | 24, table 3
1.9 | 10, No. 47 1.7 | 24, table 3
1.9 | 10, No. 47 -| 1.4 | 24, table 2
3.0 | 16, table 1 |.. 1,3 | 24, table 2 |-- wy wo
1 Pool-and-overfall-type fishways with slopes of 1 on 8 and 1 on 16, varying in
width from 3 to 11.5 feet. No orifices in fishways, pool depth approximately
6.5 feet, rise between pools 1 foot and head on weirs 0.8 foot. Total rise varying
from 6 to 6,600 feet.
2 See Appendix A.
Figure 8.—The 16-pool, 1-on-8-slope endless fishway
nearing completion. Worker stands in fish entry
gate. Locking unit for lowering and recycling fish
appears in center.
conditions. A basis for estimating spatial require-
ments is provided by data (table 2) from a series
of capacity experiments in 1957. In these experi-
ments large numbers of fish were collected over a
48-hour period and then released in a 1-hour test.
During one such experiment, fish averaging 9.2
pounds in weight were passed through a 1-on-16-
slope fishway (a fishway that rises 1 foot for every
16 feet of fishway length) only 4 feet wide (fig. 7)
at a rate of 3,000 fish per hour without any indica-
tion that capacity had been reached. Experi-
ments in the Washington-shore fishway at
Bonneville examining possible effects of the
collection-and-release technique upon fish per-
formance, although not yet completed, appear
to confirm the laboratory data shown.
Figure 9.—The two endless fishways, 1-on-16 slope
on left and 1-on-8 slope on right. Observers
along walkways record progress of fish in the re-
spective fishways.
J To Exit Fishway
|— Direction Fish Moves
7
ye 8
a | By-pass Channel (elev. 50)
Diffusion Chamber
Entrance Fishway —) IE L| TELL Leck
[i | ke Spillout | —Fishway Entry Gates
|_| Introductory Pool Gate fa — Release Compartment
|—~ Introductory Pool
J—Collection Pool
Entry Channel (elev.50')—- [7 Er a
lon-I6 — |-on-8 Slope Slope
Figure 10.—Plan view of the 1-on-16- and 1-on-8-
slope endless fishways with auxiliary approach chan-
nels and pools.
Table 2.—Observed space utilization in two fishway capacity
tests, 1957
Estimated | Cubic feet
Species weight- | per fish in | Source ! pounds first pool
Ohinook....._.......--------------4 14.0 2.6 | 16, table 3.
Chinook, steelhead, blueback....--- 9.2 2.2 | 16, table 3.
1 See Appendix A.
FISHWAY SLOPE AND FISHWAY LENGTH
Initial experiments comparing the performance
of salmonids in fishways with slopes of 1 on 8 and
1 on 16 indicated a higher rate of passage in the
steeper slope fishway. However, the tests were
conducted in short segments of fishways and the
possibility that the increased rate was the result of
turbulence and lack of resting area had to be con-
sidered. To make a further comparison of the
Figure 11.—Biologist extracting a sample of blood
from a fish exercised in one of the endless fishways.
Blood samples were analyzed for lactate and
inorganic phosphate to determine if the fish was
fatigued.
8
effect of slope upon rates of fish movement and to
measure the effect of length of fishway on fish per-
formance, experiments were undertaken using a
pair of “endless” fishways with slopes of 1 on 8
and lon 16. These endless fishways (figs. 8 and 9)
were pool-and-overfall fishways constructed so
that each made a complete circuit (fig. 10), with
the highest pool connected to the lowest pool by
means of a lock. When a test fish had ascended
to the top of one of these fishways, it was rapidly
lowered by lock to the lowest pool to ascend again.
By repeating this procedure, fishways of any
desired length could be simulated. Comparisons
were made on the basis of fish performance and
also on the basis of biochemical indices of fatigue
such as lactate and inorganic phosphate of the
blood (fig. 11) and muscle.
No evidence of fatigue was found in either fish-
way when the proper pool flow conditions pre-
vailed. Blood lactates, the most sensitive of the
biochemical measurements, showed (fig. 12) a
moderate increase (lactate levels above 125 mg.
percent may be lethal to fish under certain circum-
stances) during active ascent and were back to the
control level] in both fishways within 1 hour. Most
of the fish were tested with an ascent of approx-
imately 100 pools. However, a limited number
were permitted tc make extended ascents exceed-
ing several hundred pools and at least four of each
species were allowed to ascend more than 1,000
pools. One blueback salmon was permitted to
ascend for over 5 days, climbing continuously over
6,600 pools before the test was terminated. This
was a vertical ascent of more than a mile in a
l-on-8-slope fishway. The conclusion drawn is
that ascent of a properly designed fishway is only
a moderate exercise for the fish, possibly similar to
swimming at a “cruising” speed that can be
maintained over long periods of time.
The exaggerated pattern of work-and-rest that
appeared in the 1-on-8 endless fishway resulted in
the fish spending about 70 percent of the time
resting in the turn pools (fig. 13). In an actual
fishway this would result in about 70 percent of
the fish being in resting pools at any given time.
To avoid this impractical condition, the hydraulic
pattern in the l-on-8 fishway was changed by
modifying the weirs. This changed the pattern
of movement so that the fish rested in each pool
(fig. 14), clearly demonstrating the importance of
pool flow pattern to fishway design. The steeper
BLUEBACK CHINOOK
60 a
Y Controls
| t-on-8 slope
%, 50 I= on-I6 Slope
=
2 8 2 40 2 1 2 =
3 30
2 3 8 NY 5 20 :
Faulo a oy TNS o|= = ols
« cle cle « cde cle 10)
°
B Lock & 66 ° g 65 2 3 64 é < 63) - ° 3 Pe I-on-16 slope (n=9) é
i ° g 20 " 8 oe 3 5 ° 3 57 6 l-on-8 slope (n=7)
2 56 °
= 55) ° Ss 54 ° a) ° sug CHINOOK
wot oc 1 r 1 r T 1 ° 5 10 15 20 25 430 35 40 45 Time in minutes
Figure 13.—Pattern of ascent in the 1-on-8- and 1-on-
16-slope endless fishways when full overfall weirs
and resting turn pools were in use. Note exag-
gerated “work-rest’’ pattern in 1-on-8-slope fishway.
Control Terminated Volitional Control Terminated Volitional
Figure 12.—Comparison of blood lactate levels of blueback and chinook salmon ascending 1-on-8-
and 1-on-16-slope endless fishways. Note that
fish actively ascending (‘‘Terminated”) show an increase in lactate levels typical for each species,
and that lactate levels of fish that have stopped for
60 minutes of their own volition (‘‘Volitional”) are not significantly different from levels of fish that have
not been exercised in a fishway (‘‘Controls”).
1-on-8 slope was shown to be as suitable for the passage of salmonids as the 1-on-16 slope when the proper hydraulic conditions were provided. As to the effect of fishway length on the rate of fish movement, the evidence shows that rates of move-
ment tend to increase slightly in the initial stages of a prolonged ascent, probably due to learning, and then become quite consistent. An example is given in figure 15. Note that the blueback sal- mon had ascended over 5,000 feet before slowing down to its initial rate of movement. This means that for all practical purposes the rate of move- ment of ascending fish will not decrease in the upper end of a long fishway and so result in crowd- ing or delay.
Experiments at the laboratory support two fur- ther generalizations on the rate of fish movement in fishways. The first is that ascending fish show a tendency to do a certain amount of work in a given amount of time regardless of the slope of mag Gog
= N30) a &. T T T T T 5S 20 25 30 35 40 45 Time in minutes
3 g s
8 62
6I ges
€ 59 l-on-I6 slope (n=9)
g 58
7 57
o 56
3 55
s* CHINOOK
§ TY (Alternate Restricted Weirs) 3 8 3 uw ° of 3 Figure 14.—Pattern of ascent in the 1-on-8- and 1-on-
16-slope endless fishways after rest areas were
removed from turn pools and with restricted overfalls
in the 1-on-8-slope fishway.
40
30
€ 20 £ ° £ Filo
° Circuit No.1 5 101 105 201 205 30! 305 401 405 Date July | July 2 July 3 July 4 July 6 Pools ascended previously 1600 3200 4800 6400
Figure 15.—Passage time per circuit (16 pools) of a
blueback salmon that ascended over 6,000 feet in
the 1-on-8-slope endless fishway.
9
the fishway. The rate of ascent in a 1-on-8-slope
fishway of proper hydraulic design is approxi-
mately the same as in a 1-on-16-slope fishway.
The second is that for practical purposes the rate
of fish movement in fishways is independent of
the numbers of fish. Groups of fish in the labora-
tory tests moved as fast as individual fish. This
behavior pattern reduces the concern that the
rate of fish movement might drop suddenly if a
fishway became crowded.
FISH SWIMMING ABILITIES
Tests with adult chinook salmon and steelhead
trout have shown that all fish negotiated an 85-
- foot flume when velocities were approximately 8
feet per second. When the velocity was increased
to 13 f.p.s. approximately 50 percent of the chinook
and 9 percent of the steelhead failed to pass the
flume. Thus, somewhere in the range of 8-13
f.p.s., we can expect some of the fish of these
species to be blocked when the distance to be
negotiated approaches 100 feet.
Figure 16.—Experimental channel with a water veloc-
ity of 16 feet per second appears on right. Entrance
to channel on left is screened to prevent access
during swimming ability tests.
10
Table 3.—Response of chinook and silver salmon and steelhead
trout presented with a choice between entering a high- or a
low-velocity channel
Test condition Number of fish tested ! Chose high-velocity
channel
High- Low- Steel- | Chi- | Silver | Steel- | Chi- | Silver velocity | velocity | head | nook |salmon| head | nook | salmon
channel channel trout | salmon trout | salmon
F.p.s. F.p.s. Percent| Percent| Percent
8 2 258, 100 12 79.4 93.0 83.3
8 4 249 80 14 59.0 67.5 85.7
8 6 266 66 13 52.2 45.4 46.1
6 2 264 139 a 73.1 87.1 83.3
4 2 253 134 5 67.2 73.4 100.0
6 4 257 69 22 63.8 62.3 68.2
1 Includes all size groups.
Additional tests were conducted in which sal-
monids were subjected to a velocity of approxi-
mately 16 f.p.s. (fig. 16). Marked declines in
performance were noted. About 95 percent of
the chinook salmon and approximately 50 percent
of the steelhead failed to negotiate the 85-foot
flume.
Differences in performance with respect to size
were also noted. Two size groups were considered
(1) fish estimated at 24 inches and under, and (2)
fish over 24 inches. Respective performance
(distance negotiated) of the two groups in velo-
cities of approximately 13 and 16 f.p.s. are shown
in figure 17. Clearly, “large” fish were capable of
greater performance than “‘small”’ fish.
Measurements of the rate at which salmonids
travel in a channel under a variety of water
velocities suggest that a velocity of 2 f.p.s. may
be most satisfactory for transportation purposes.
These experiments utilized fall chinook salmon,
silver salmon, and steelhead trout which were
subjected to water velocities ranging from 2 to
16 f.p.s. Rate of movement in relation to the
channel is shown in figure 18. Chinook salmon
made their fastest progress at 2 f.p.s. and exhibited
a progressive decline in rate of movement up to
13 f.p.s. Conversely, steelhead trout and silver
salmon indicated an increase in performance as
the water velocity increased up to 8 f.p.s. The
three species tested registered approximately
equal median rates of movement (5+ f.p.s.) in a
water velocity of 8 f.p.s. Any slight advantages
the higher flows may have in expediting the move-
ment of certain species are minimized by the fact
that considerably more water would be required
1008s , Lorge Steelhead
Small Steelhead
2 Large Chinook Small Chinook =<nubVouoo ecS565000000 oo 38
Percentage negotiating designated distance Small Steelhead
15.8 fps Large Chinook
~ Small Chinook 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Distance (in feet) negotiated in channel
=-NUBUAND eo00 50000 ° Figure 17.—Swimming performances of chinook sal-
mon and steelhead trout by size in water velocities
of approximately 13 and 16 feet per second.
for transport. It might also be expected that fish
would have to expend more energy in passing
through the higher velocities. Maximum swim-
ming speeds in relation to the water were 26.7
f.p.s. for steelhead trout and 22.1 f.p.s. for chinook
salmon measured over a distance of 30 feet.
ATTRACTION OF FISH
Chinook and silver salmon and steelhead trout
presented with a choice between entering channels
carrying either a “high” or a “low” water velocity
demonstrated a significant preference for the
high-velocity channel in virtually every test. The
response to the high velocity is given in table 3.
Following these tests an additional experiment
was conducted in which a sample of chinook
salmon and steelhead trout were presented with a
choice between flows of approximately 3 and 13
f.p.s. The high-velocity channel was chosen by
89.5 percent of the chinook and by 75.6 percent
of the steelhead. The choice of the high-velocity
channels by the chinook salmon is of particular
interest since approximately half of the total
sample of 51 fish failed to negotiate the channel
after entry. Fish swept back after failing to pass
the flume again selected the higher velocity on
their second attempt.
Responses of the nature indicated in these tests
suggest the possibility that upstream migrating
- salmonids may actually be diverted from fishway
entrance flows into those of the spillway or even
into the turbine discharges under certain hydraulic
conditions.
Experiments at Bonneville exploring the
preference of adult migrating salmonids for light
conditions have demonstrated that pronounced
species differences prevail. Steelhead presented
with a choice of entering a light or dark channel
exhibited a marked preference (80 percent) for
the dark channel. In contrast, chinook salmon
entered the light and dark flumes in nearly equal
proportions, indicating no particular preference
for either condition. In both instances, fish were
light adapted prior to exposure to the test
condition.
FISHWAY HYDRAULICS
The importance of controlling hydraulic condi-
tions in fishway pools and channels has been
brought to light in several experiments at the
Bonneville laboratory. A change in fishway flow
from a plunging to a streaming condition was
found to halt temporarily almost all movement
for a period of several minutes. Such information
indicated that unstable flow conditions could
seriously interfere with fish movement in fishways.
Demonstration of the importance of maintaining
a uniform flow in fishway channels was evidenced
in a series of tests in which fish were passed through
an open channel approximately 2 feet deep.
7
Steelhead Trout Chinook Salmon [J Silver Salmon a oO oO T o Rate of movement in relation to channel (feet per second) 15.8 4 6 8 13.4 Water velocity in feet per second n Figure 18.—Salmonid rate of movement in an open
channel with water velocities ranging from 2 to 16
feet per second.
11
When flows were uniform, evidence of interrupted
passage of fish was lacking. When hydraulic
jumps were established in the channel a number
of fish were observed to linger in the low-velocity
areas created by these jumps. Occasionally fish
remained in these areas for several minutes
before continuing their movement through the
channel. Improper design and operation of
diffusion chambers conceivably may create similar
disturbances in the flows of collection and entrance
channels, giving rise to delays in fish movement
comparable to those occasioned by the hydraulic
jumps in these tests.
Tests examining the performance of fall chinook
salmon in a fishway under a uniform plunging
or streaming flow indicated there was no significant
difference between the rate of ascent in the two
flow conditions. Respective rates of ascent under
plunging and streaming flows were 37 and 34
pools per hour.
Figure 19.—Covered fishway used in darkened passage
experiments. All laboratory lights were turned off
during dark tests.
12
Table 4.—Chinook salmon and steelhead trout rate of movement
in light and dark channels. Water velocity—4 feet/second,
distance measured—30 feet
Rate (feet per second) in relation to floor
Channel condition Steelhead Chinook
n Mean | Median| n Mean | Median
F.ps. | Fp. Fips. | Ppa.
Dark-......- 22 0.6 0.6 20 0.5 0.7 Light.....-.. 37 3.8 4.3 20 5.2 5.3
The influence of hydraulic conditions in the
pools on the pattern of ascent in the endless
fishways was previously noted. The change in
pool hydraulics brought about by restricting the
length of the weirs in the 1-on-8-slope fishway was
sufficient to correct the pattern of movement to
that desired, i.e., encourage fish to utilize each
pool for resting (figs. 13 and 14).
EFFECT OF LIGHT ON FISH MOVEMENT
Measurement of the swimming performances of
chinook salmon and steelhead trout in light and
dark channels indicated that the movement of
both species was significantly slower in the dark
channel (table 4). In these tests the fish were
light adapted before they entered the channels.
Light intensities averaged approximately 750 foot-
candles in the “light” channel and 0.3 foot-candle
in the “dark” channel.
In contrast to the foregoing channel experi-
ments, a series of passage trials in light and dark
fishways (fig. 19) indicated that faster movement
occurred under the dark condition (table 5).
These data apply principally to steelhead trout
(98 percent steelhead and 2 percent chinook
salmon). Before entering the fishway, fish were
light adapted under the “light” condition and
dark adapted under the “dark” condition. Pre-
vailing light intensities in the fishways were about
800 foot-candles in the light and less than .01
foot-candle in the dark. Further research will be
necessary to explain why the fish moved so securely
and effectively through the fishway pools in the
dark, apparently oriented by the patterns of jets,
eddies, and turbulences, while in a straight, level
channel with a uniform laminar-type flow they
appeared to move only with great caution in the
dark.
Figure 20.—Chinook salmon jumping over a weir. Salmon usually swim over an
overfall of this height. Proximity to the wall is characteristic.
Table 5.—Comparison of passage times in “light” and “dark”
fishways *
Passage time for 6 pools
_
Light fishway
Dark fishway ‘Test number
Median | Mean Median | Mean
n elapsed time n elapsed time
time time
Minutes | Minutes Minutes | Minutes
30 6.1 10.5 || 22 1.3 6.4
24 7.3 6.6 || 19 2.2 4.6
23 11.9 12.2 || 20 2.8 5.9
26 8.5 7.9 || 22 1.8 8.0
Simmary.---| 103 as 9.3 83. 21 6.2
1 Six-pool fishway, 1-on-16 slope, 4 feet wide, 6.3 feet deep and 1-foot rise
between pools.
Tests involving around-the-clock passage of
salmonids have indicated that rate of ascent
during the night in a lighted fishway compared
favorably with ascent in daytime hours. A blue-
back salmon that ascended over a mile in height
during a 5%-day period averaged 52 pools per
hour between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and 53
pools per hour from 6:00 a.m. to 6 00 p.m. Light-
ing in the fishway was constant throughout the
test period, ranging from 700 to 1,000 foot-candles
at the surface of the pools. Similar trends in day
and night movement were exhibited by steelhead
trout and chinook salmon when constant light
prevailed.
13
Figure 21.—Experimental arrangement for examining reactions of salmon fingerlings. to overfalls and orifices. Approach channel is 24 feet wide and 15 feet deep. Release box may be seen at the far end of the channel. trap is visible in the foreground.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
The effect of human odors on fish behavior has been quite conspicuous during laboratory experi- ments. Fish near the surface rapidly sounded on detecting the odor and activity was suppressed for as long as 20 minutes. This re-emphasizes that in the operation of fishways, effort should be made to avoid physical contact with equipment that will be immersed in the water.
Fish movement through auxiliary pools and channels can be expedited by restricting these channels to less than 4 feet of depth. The tendency for salmon to linger and accumulate in deeper pools and channels at the laboratory was effectively discouraged by the use of wire-mesh grills at shallow depths.
Figure 22.—Ice Harbor prototype fishway with 1-on- 10 slope now undergoing tests at Bonneville labora- tory. Temporary divider walls have been inserted in each pool. Note paired orifices in each weir. Large numbers of fish use these Ports in ascending the fishway.
14
Inclined plane screen
Figure 23.—Ice Harbor design fishway in operation.
Transitions in spatial relationships, water veloc-
ities, and particularly light affect the movement
of fish into, through, and out of the laboratory.
The effect of an abrupt change in conditions is
usually hesitancy and delay.
The ability of all species of salmonids to nego-
tiate overfalls up to 3 feet was frequently demon-
strated in the laboratory (fig. 20). However, it
was generally observed that the fish would swim easily over a 1-foot overfall but that it usually had
to resort to jumping over higher overfalls. The
additional energy expended, the delays and the
increased probability of minor injuries that would
make the fish more susceptible to disease suggests
that overfalls greater than 1 foot are undesirable
for standard fishways.
Research directed toward the passage problems
of downstream migrants was largely postponed
because of the priority given to adult passage
problems.
Exploratory experiments conducted to test the
reactions of chinook fingerlings to an overfall,
an orifice, and a siphon are illustrated in figure
21. A 3.5-inch orifice at a depth of 7 feet was
far more effective (80 percent) in attracting and
collecting fingerlings than a 7-inch overfall of
comparable width. The siphon with an intake
18 inches below the surface was also more ef-
fective than the overfall.
CURRENT RESEARCH
Experiments now in progress at the laboratory
are centered around a full-scale model (figs. 22
and 23) of the 1-on-10-slope fishway designed for
the north shore of Ice Harbor Dam, now under
construction on the lower Snake River, a major
tributary of the Columbia. Pattern and rate of
fish movement, space utilization, and capacity
potential are being examined in the 6-pool section
of the fishway.
The experiments this year demonstrate a special
function of the Fisheries-Engineering Research
Laboratory—that of providing the means by
which new fish passage devices and new features
of fishway design may be biologically tested and
proven to have merit before being permanently
cast in concrete.
15
APPENDIX A
Proposals, Reports, and Publications Related to Research at the Fisheries-Engineering Research Laboratory
UNPUBLISHED REPORTS
(Distributed to state and federal agencies and universities
participating in the research program.)
1. Coxuins, GERALD B.
1950. Outline of proposed program of research
on orientation in migrating fish. U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Commercial
Fisheries, Biological Laboratory, Seattle, Wash.
9 pp., typewritten.
2. 1952. Proposed research on fishway problems,
Proposal submitted to North Pacific Division
Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, Portland’
Oregon, by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Biological
Laboratory, Seattle, Wash., 36 pp., type-
written.
3. 1953. <A special type of laboratory for research
on fish orientation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries,
Biological Laboratory, Seattle, Wash., 6 pp.,
ditto process.
4, 1954. Explanatory notes on the Fish and
Wildlife Service proposal for research on
fishway problems. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries,
Biological Laboratory, Seattle, Wash., 9 pp.,
ditto process.
5. Coxuins, Geratp B., and Cari H. Evuine.
1958. Performance of salmon in experimental
“endless” fishways with slopes of 1 on 8 and
1 on 16. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Biological
Laboratory, Seattle, Wash., 19 pp., ditto
process.
6. 1958. Supplement I to performance of salmon
in experimental “endless” fishways with slopes
of 1 on 8 and 1 on 16. U.S. Fish and Wild-
life Service, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries,
Biological Laboratory, Seattle, Wash., 3 pp.,
ditto process.
7. Couuns, Geratp B., Cari H. Exuina, and Epcar
C. Buack (with technical assistance of Arthur
Hanslip)
1958. II. Blood lactates and performance of
salmon and trout in experimental ‘endless”
fishways. Jn: Summary report from Edgar C.
16
Black on “Further studies on the effects of
muscular fatigue on fish.” Department of
Physiology, University of British Columbia,
N.R.C. Grant TR-7, November 1, 1958, p. 3,
mimeographed.
8. Cotins, Geratp B., Cart H. Exxine, Epaar C.
Buack, and ANNE C. RoperTson (with technical
assistance from Edward Trevor-Smith)
1959. II. Lactate and glycogen in relation to
the performance of salmon and trout in experi-
mental ‘‘endless” fishways. In: Summary re-
port from Edgar C. Black on “Further studies
on the effects of muscular fatigue on fish.”
Department of Physiology, University of Brit-
ish Columbia, N.R.C. Grant TR-7, November
1, 1959, p. 3 mimeographed.
9. Exune, Cart H.
1958. The effect of water velocity on the re-
sponse and performance of adult salmonids.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of
Commercial Fisheries, Biological Laboratory,
Seattle, Wash., 13 pp., typewritten.
10. Exiine, Caru H., and others.
1955-1960. Monthly progress reports on re-
search on fishway problems. Nos. 1 to 58.
Prepared by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
under Contract No. DA-35-026-25142 for
North Pacific Division, Corps of Engineers,
U.S. Army, Portland, Oreg. Irregular paging
including tables, graphs, and photos.
PUBLICATIONS
11. Buacx, Epgar C., ANNE C. Ropertson, and RoBERT
R. PARKER.
Some aspects of carbohydrate metabolism in
fish. University of Washington Press, Seattle,
Wash. In press, expected 1960.
12. Couns, GERALD B.
1954. Research on anadromous fish passage at
dams. Transactions of the Nineteenth North
American Wildlife Conference, pp. 418-423.
13. CoLuins, GERALD B.
1956. Research on fishway problems. In: Re-
port on Fisheries Engineering Research Pro-
gram. North Pacific Division, Corps of Engi-
neers, U.S. Army, Portland, Oreg., pp. 118-125.
14.
15.
16.
T7.
18.
19.
Couns, GERALD B.
1958. The measurement of performance of
salmon in fishways. Jn: H. R. MacMillan
Lectures in Fisheries, a symposium held at
the University of British Columbia, April 29
and 30, 1957. Edited by P. A. Larkin, Insti-
tute of Fisheries, University of British Colum-
bia, Vancouver, B.C., pp. 85-91.
Enumne, Cart H., and Howarp L. Raymonp.
1959. Fishway capacity experiment, 1956. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific
Report—Fisheries No. 299, 26 pp.
Exuine, Cari H.
1960. Further experiments in fishway capacity,
1957. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Special
Scientific Report—Fisheries No. 340, 16 pp.
Lanper, Roperr H.
1959. The problem of fishway capacity. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific
Report—Fisheries No. 301, 5 pp.
Lone, Cuirrorp W.
1959. Passage of salmonids through a darkened
fishway. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Special Scientific Report—Fisheries No. 300,
9 pp.
vaNHaacen, Ricwarp H.
1956. Audio in salmon research. Journal of the
Audio Engineering Society, vol. 4, no. 4, Octo-
ber, pp. 151-158.
MANUSCRIPTS
(Reports by the staff of the Biological Laboratory,
Seattle, Wash., except as noted, in various stages of prep-
aration and review for future publication.)
20.
a al cy a a eck om a a Sl
. Coins, GERALD B.
Research in fish passage problems.
21.
22.
23,
24,
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Couns, GERALD B., and Cart H. Ex.ina.
Progress in fishway research
Bonneville Dam.
Couuins, Grratp B., Cart H. Exxine, Joserx R.
GauLey, and Crarx S. THompson.
Effect of slope on performance of
salmonids in experimental “endless’’ fish-
ways.
. Coins, GERALD B., and Josepu R. GauLry.
Ability of salmon to ascend long
fishways.
GauLey, Josrra R,
Effect of fishway slope on rate of
passage of salmonids.
Gautey, Josepx R., and CiarKk 8. THompson.
Further studies on fishway slope and
its effect on rate of passage of salmonids.
Lone, Cuirrorp W.
Effect of light on orientation and
rate of movement of adult salmonids in a
channel.
Tuompson, CiarK 8.
Influence of flow patterns on per-
formance of chinook salmon in pool-type
fishways.
TREFETHEN, ParKER S.
Effect of sonic tags on fish movement.
Trevor-Smitu, Epwarp.
Changes in carbohydrate in salmon
and trout in experimental “endless” fishways.
M.D. thesis. University of British Colum-
bia, Vancouver, B.C.
Weaver, Cuar.es R.
Influence of water velocity upon
orientation and performance of adult migrat-
ing salmonids.
MS #994
17
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1961 O—580816