Detailed Research Information

Detailed project information for
Study Plan Number 09042

Branch : Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory

Study Plan Number : 09042

Study Title : Evaluation of passage performance of adult American shad at lower Connecticut river mainstem fish passage facilities

Starting Date : 10/01/1998

Completion Date : 09/30/2001

Principal Investigator(s) : Haro, Alexander

Primary PI : Haro, Alexander

Telephone Number : (413) 863-3806

Email Address : alex_haro@usgs.gov

SIS Number : 5003631

Primary Program Element : Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Second Program Element : Fish and Aquatic Habitats

Status : Completed

Abstract :
Upstream and downstream fish passage facilities have been in place on the lower Connecticut River mainstem (Vernon Dam, Turners Falls Dam, Holyoke Dam; Fig. 1) since 1981. Although the Holyoke fishlift has passed from 181,000 to 720,000 American shad (Alosa sapidissima) annually, only a small proportion of these fish ( <0.01% to 10%; mean 4.6%; 1982-1997 data; Table 1) pass the Turners Falls fishway complex (Fig. 2). However, from 5.5 to 85.7% (mean 41.2%) of American shad that successfully pass the Turners Falls fishways are able to negotiate the Vernon fishway. More than 50% of postspawning adults may return to the ocean after spawning (Kynard and O'Leary 1993) and 25 to 55% may return as repeat spawners (Leggett and Carscadden 1978).

The fishways at the upper two dams are of varying size and design. At present the Turners Falls fishway complex consists of a modified Ice Harbor design (Cabot fishway), a "half" Ice Harbor design (Spillway fishway) and a Hells Gate type vertical slot fishway (Gatehouse fishway). Vernon fishway consists of a "serpentine" vertical slot fishway and an unmodified Ice Harbor design in the upper and lower sections, respectively.

The high variability in passage of upstream migrant shad between the dams strongly indicates the inefficiency of fishways at the Turners Falls complex or Vernon sites. This is especially supported in the case of Cabot fishway by the observation of high densities of shad in the turnpools, decreasing density of fish in higher fishway pools, and retention of some individual fish in turnpools for days to weeks. Additionally, only 52% (on average; Table 2) of shad passed by the Cabot and Spillway fishways are passed at the Gatehouse fishway, indicating problems in passage with the Gatehouse fishway and/or the Cabot canal complex.

Only a few studies of limited scope have attempted to address the efficiency of these facilities or causes of their problems. Low potential passage efficiency for American shad has been documented for Cabot fishway (Haro and Kynard 1997, Northeast Utilities Service Company 1982, Rideout et al. 1985), and may be related to high turbulence and air entrainment. A radio telemetry study in 1993 of 155 American shad tagged and released above Holyoke Dam (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Northeast Utilities unpubl. report) indicated that only 21 shad migrated to the Cabot tailrace, 13 of these fish entered Cabot fishway, and only 1 tagged fish was successful in ascending the fishway (nine of the remaining 12 fish spent less than 1 day in the fishway). The performance of the Spillway, Gatehouse, and Vernon fishways has largely been assessed only by qualitative observations and counts of fish at counting windows at fishway exits.

There is a current need within the management agency community to re-evaluate the passage performance of Turners Falls and Vernon fishways in a quantifiable and repeatable manner. Reliable estimates of passage efficiencies are required to identify passage "bottlenecks" or operating procedures that are detrimental to shad passage or cause migratory delays. Also, the advent of new telemetry technologies allows for this evaluation to be done with a large number of fish, over a wide range of environmental and operating conditions, and throughout several migratory seasons. The techniques used to evaluate the efficiencies of the fishways can also be used to evaluate designs for structural and operational modifications to the fishways and canal complex. The information gained from the study will be used to refine designs of existing and new fishways to accommodate specific behaviors of American shad and their responses to physical and hydraulic environments.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Evaluate the passage performance of adult American shad through Turners Falls (Cabot, Spillway, and Gatehouse) and Vernon fishways.

2. Identify hydraulic and environmental conditions which influence passage performance at each fishway.

3. Assess the effect of run timing, fish size, sex, and other biological variables on passage rates and performance.

4. Identify and evaluate potential modifications to fishway structure or operation that may enhance fishway performance.

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URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov
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Last Modified: October 21, 2002 dwn
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Branch :	Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory
Study Plan Number :	09042
Study Title :	Evaluation of passage performance of adult American shad at lower Connecticut river mainstem fish passage facilities
Starting Date :	10/01/1998
Completion Date :	09/30/2001
Principal Investigator(s) :	Haro, Alexander
Primary PI :	Haro, Alexander
Telephone Number :	(413) 863-3806
Email Address :	alex_haro@usgs.gov
SIS Number :	5003631
Primary Program Element :	Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Second Program Element :	Fish and Aquatic Habitats
Status :	Completed
Abstract :	Upstream and downstream fish passage facilities have been in place on the lower Connecticut River mainstem (Vernon Dam, Turners Falls Dam, Holyoke Dam; Fig. 1) since 1981. Although the Holyoke fishlift has passed from 181,000 to 720,000 American shad (Alosa sapidissima) annually, only a small proportion of these fish ( <0.01% to 10%; mean 4.6%; 1982-1997 data; Table 1) pass the Turners Falls fishway complex (Fig. 2). However, from 5.5 to 85.7% (mean 41.2%) of American shad that successfully pass the Turners Falls fishways are able to negotiate the Vernon fishway. More than 50% of postspawning adults may return to the ocean after spawning (Kynard and O'Leary 1993) and 25 to 55% may return as repeat spawners (Leggett and Carscadden 1978). The fishways at the upper two dams are of varying size and design. At present the Turners Falls fishway complex consists of a modified Ice Harbor design (Cabot fishway), a "half" Ice Harbor design (Spillway fishway) and a Hells Gate type vertical slot fishway (Gatehouse fishway). Vernon fishway consists of a "serpentine" vertical slot fishway and an unmodified Ice Harbor design in the upper and lower sections, respectively. The high variability in passage of upstream migrant shad between the dams strongly indicates the inefficiency of fishways at the Turners Falls complex or Vernon sites. This is especially supported in the case of Cabot fishway by the observation of high densities of shad in the turnpools, decreasing density of fish in higher fishway pools, and retention of some individual fish in turnpools for days to weeks. Additionally, only 52% (on average; Table 2) of shad passed by the Cabot and Spillway fishways are passed at the Gatehouse fishway, indicating problems in passage with the Gatehouse fishway and/or the Cabot canal complex. Only a few studies of limited scope have attempted to address the efficiency of these facilities or causes of their problems. Low potential passage efficiency for American shad has been documented for Cabot fishway (Haro and Kynard 1997, Northeast Utilities Service Company 1982, Rideout et al. 1985), and may be related to high turbulence and air entrainment. A radio telemetry study in 1993 of 155 American shad tagged and released above Holyoke Dam (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Northeast Utilities unpubl. report) indicated that only 21 shad migrated to the Cabot tailrace, 13 of these fish entered Cabot fishway, and only 1 tagged fish was successful in ascending the fishway (nine of the remaining 12 fish spent less than 1 day in the fishway). The performance of the Spillway, Gatehouse, and Vernon fishways has largely been assessed only by qualitative observations and counts of fish at counting windows at fishway exits. There is a current need within the management agency community to re-evaluate the passage performance of Turners Falls and Vernon fishways in a quantifiable and repeatable manner. Reliable estimates of passage efficiencies are required to identify passage "bottlenecks" or operating procedures that are detrimental to shad passage or cause migratory delays. Also, the advent of new telemetry technologies allows for this evaluation to be done with a large number of fish, over a wide range of environmental and operating conditions, and throughout several migratory seasons. The techniques used to evaluate the efficiencies of the fishways can also be used to evaluate designs for structural and operational modifications to the fishways and canal complex. The information gained from the study will be used to refine designs of existing and new fishways to accommodate specific behaviors of American shad and their responses to physical and hydraulic environments. OBJECTIVES: 1. Evaluate the passage performance of adult American shad through Turners Falls (Cabot, Spillway, and Gatehouse) and Vernon fishways. 2. Identify hydraulic and environmental conditions which influence passage performance at each fishway. 3. Assess the effect of run timing, fish size, sex, and other biological variables on passage rates and performance. 4. Identify and evaluate potential modifications to fishway structure or operation that may enhance fishway performance.
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U.S. Department of the Interior \|\| U.S. Geological Survey 11700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov Maintainer: lsc_webmaster@usgs.gov Last Modified: October 21, 2002 dwn Privacy Policy and Disclaimers \|\| FOIA \|\| Accessibility