Fish passage design for sustainable hydropower in the temperate Southern Hemisphere: an evidence review

Wilkes, Martin; Mckenzie, Morwenna; Webb, J. Angus

doi:10.1007/s11160-017-9496-8

Cited by 31 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 112 publications

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“…Including the effect of removing barriers to potamodromous species could show a different priority, such as with the Gabčíkovo dam for the Danube salmon ( Hucho hucho ; Schiemer et al, ). Moreover, fish passages that allow migration to an upstream large reservoir could serve as an ecological trap (Pelicice & Agostinho, ), and small reservoirs are unfavourable habitats for migratory fish, causing high mortality (Birnie‐Gauvin et al, ; Jepsen et al, ), whereas the mortality risk by turbine passage during downstream migration should also be considered (Calles et al, ; Wilkes et al, ). Therefore, dam removal is preferred above fish passages as a measure to improve connectivity (Bednarek, ; J. E. O'Connor et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, fish passages are not a 100% effective and vary in their efficacy per species. Higher mortality is caused by enhanced predation in impoundments and by hydropower turbine passage during downstream migration (Brevé et al, ; Calles, Rivinoja, & Greenberg, ; Jepsen et al, ; Wilkes, Mckenzie, & Webb, ). In addition, it takes time to pass through a fish passage (Baisez et al, ; Croze, Bau, & Delmouly, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Species and river specific effects of river fragmentation on European anadromous fish species

Puijenbroek

Buijse

Kraak

et al. 2018

River Research & Apps

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Fragmentation is one of the major threats to riverine ecosystems and this is most explicitly expressed by the decline in numbers of migratory fish species. Yet each species has different migration requirements and their natural distribution can include several catchments with multiple dams. Hence, to prioritize candidate rivers for improving accessibility, differences between species and between catchments have to be taken into account. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse the species and river specific effects of river fragmentation on migratory fish on a European scale. The effect of river damming on migratory fish was quantified for all 16 European long‐ and mid‐distance anadromous species and for 33 large European rivers. The historical distribution was compared with the current upstream accessibility of the main river and the current distribution and population status of each species. The observed effects of reduced connectivity were further quantified using the Dendritic Connectivity Index for species and the Fragmentation Index for rivers. Our results showed that only very few rivers are still unaffected by dams in the main stem and that the few remaining viable migratory fish populations in Europe occur in these accessible rivers. Barriers were prioritized for making passable based on the potential accessibility gain and the number of benefitting species, showing that the main stems of the rivers Shannon and Nemunas are the best candidates. It was concluded that evaluating species and river specific effects of fragmentation strongly aids in prioritizing rivers for improving upstream accessibility.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species and river specific effects of river fragmentation on European anadromous fish species

Puijenbroek

Buijse

Kraak

et al. 2018

River Research & Apps

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, the ecological basis for this target is restricted to only those populations with critical habitats clearly separated by the barrier in question (Pompeu et al, ). More practically, in light of recent global syntheses, the target hardly seems achievable even for highly motivated migratory species (Bunt et al, ; Noonan et al, ; Wilkes et al, ; Wilkes, Mckenzie, & Webb, ). In some instances, as we shall discuss, targeting such high efficiency may actually do more harm than good (Pelicice et al, ; Pompeu et al, ; Silva, Falcão, & Oliveira, ).…”

Section: Evaluating Fishway Effectivenessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Not just a migration problem: Metapopulations, habitat shifts, and gene flow are also important for fishway science and management

Wilkes

Webb

Pompeu

et al. 2018

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Worldwide, fishways are increasingly criticized for failing to meet conservation goals. We argue that this is largely due to the dominance of diadromous species of the Northern Hemisphere (e.g., Salmonidae) in the research that underpins the concepts and methods of fishway science and management. With highly diverse life histories, swimming abilities and spatial ecologies, most freshwater fish species do not conform to the stereotype imposed by this framework. This is leading to a global proliferation of fishways that are often unsuitable for native species. The vast majority of fish populations do not undertake extensive migrations between clearly separated critical habitats, yet the movement of individuals and the genetic information they carry is critically important for population viability. We briefly review some of the latest advances in spatial ecological modelling for dendritic networks to better define what it means to achieve effective fish passage at a barrier. Through a combination of critical habitat assessment and the modelling of metapopulations, climate change‐driven habitat shifts, and adaptive gene flow, we recommend a conceptual and methodological framework for fishway target‐setting and monitoring suitable for a wide range of species. In the process, we raise a number of issues that should contribute to the ongoing debate about fish passage research and the design and monitoring of fishways.

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“…However, beyond several commercially important migratory species native to northern Europe and North America (e.g. salmonids, clupeids), few empirical data are available to guide the design of efficient fishways, especially for downstream movement (Bunt, Castro‐Santos, & Haro, ; Pracheil, DeRolph, Schramm, & Bevelhimer, ; Wilkes, Mckenzie, & Webb, ; Williams & Katopodis, ). There are exceptions to this in Australia (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fish need to move in both upstream and downstream directions but design criteria to minimize fish mortality during downstream movement through turbines and spillways have received far less attention globally than traditional upstream fishway design (Coutant & Whitney, ; Pracheil et al., ; Wilkes et al., ). The criteria that have been proposed for downstream passage relate to minimizing injury and mortality resulting from rapid decompression (barotrauma), fluid shear and blade strike.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish‐Net: Probabilistic models for fishway planning, design and monitoring to support environmentally sustainable hydropower

et al. 2018

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The construction of fishways for upstream and downstream connectivity is the preferred mitigation measure for hydropower dams and other riverine barriers. Yet empirical evidence for effective design criteria for many species is missing. We therefore assembled a group of international fishway designers and combined their knowledge with available empirical data using a formal expert elicitation protocol and Bayesian networks. The expert elicitation method we use minimizes biases typically associated with such approaches. Demonstrating our application with a case‐study on the temperate Southern Hemisphere, we use the resulting probabilistic models to predict the following, given alternative design parameters: (i) the effectiveness of technical fishways for upstream movement of migratory fish; (ii) habitat quality in nature‐like bypasses for resident fish; and (iii) rates of mortality during downstream passage of all fish through turbines and spillways. The Fish Passage Network (Fish‐Net) predicts that fishways for native species could be near 0% or near 100% efficient depending on their design, suggesting great scope for adequate mitigation. Sensitivity analyses revealed the most important parameters as follows: (i) design of attraction and entrance features of technical fishways for upstream migration; (ii) habitat preferences of resident fish in nature‐like bypasses; and (iii) susceptibility of fish to barotrauma and blade strike during turbine passage. Numerical modelling predicted that mortality rates of small‐bodied fish (50–100 mm TL) due to blade strike may be higher for Kaplan than Francis turbines. Our findings can be used to support environmentally sustainable decisions in the planning, design and monitoring stages of hydropower development.

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Fish passage design for sustainable hydropower in the temperate Southern Hemisphere: an evidence review

Abstract: This document is the author's post-print version, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer-review process. Some differences between the published version and this version may remain and you are advised to consult the published version if you wish to cite from it.

Cited by 31 publications

References 112 publications

Species and river specific effects of river fragmentation on European anadromous fish species

Species and river specific effects of river fragmentation on European anadromous fish species

Not just a migration problem: Metapopulations, habitat shifts, and gene flow are also important for fishway science and management

Fish‐Net: Probabilistic models for fishway planning, design and monitoring to support environmentally sustainable hydropower

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