Passage Performance of Potamodromous Cyprinids over an Experimental Low-Head Ramped Weir: The Effect of Ramp Length and Slope

Amaral, Stephen V.; Branco, Paulo; Katopodis, C; Ferreira, Maria Teresa; Pinheiro, António N.; Santos, José Maria

doi:10.3390/su11051456

Cited by 12 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…No fish were sacrificed during the experiments, and efforts were made to minimize stress. Experiments were performed during late spring-early summer, reported by some authors as the main reproductive season for this species [5,44,45], following the previous findings by Amaral et al [41]. Four replicates were carried out for each configuration tested (6 configurations × 2 discharges × 4 replicates = 48 trials) using schools of 5 fish (20 fish tested per configuration) with similar size, which were not individualized.…”

Section: Fish Capture and Holdingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Model performance was validated with values of water depth and velocity magnitude measured during experiments in 27 sampling points (Figure 3), located along the ramped weir and both up and downstream (more details in Amaral et al [41]). Velocity magnitude was measured with a flow probe (model FP 101, Global Water Instrumentation Inc., College Station, TX, USA), since water column was not deep, and there was excessive aeration and turbulence in most of the configurations tested, conditions that narrow the use of a 3D acoustic doppler velocimeter.…”

Section: Hydrodynamic Modellingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The experimental low-head ramped weir used in this study, with a length of 3.00 m and a slope of 10%, was selected based on the results of a previous study by Amaral et al [41], in which it was found that this combination of ramp length and slope may have adversely affected the successful negotiations for the same species. As in Amaral et al [41], the experimental ramped weir, made of maritime plywood, was fixed in the flume ( Figure 1A) at 2.50 m upstream of the acclimation area, a 0.60 m 2 area created by two mesh panels in the downstream zone of the flume, and immediately downstream of the ramp toe, a 0.50 m long zone was established as the approach area. Six different configurations ( Figure 1B) were tested, considering a Control ramp, without substrates, and five retrofitted designs contemplating: a Nature design, where cobbles of 10 to 30 cm were randomly distributed along the ramp; Small Boulders Aligned and Small Boulders Offset, using boulders 7.5 cm long × 7.5 cm wide × 15 cm high, spatially aligned and alternating respectively; and Large Boulders Aligned and Large Boulders Offset, where larger boulders (25 cm long × 7.5 cm wide × 30 cm high) were set in an aligned and alternating design respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lower discharge (Q = 55 L·s −1 ) was selected considering the recommendations by Baudoin et al [5] that suggests that the minimum water column over the ramp, referred to as non-limiting for the successful upstream passage of fish, should be between one and two times the body depth of the fish. Regarding the higher discharge (Q = 110 L·s −1 ; double the lower Q), which was previously tested by Amaral et al [41], it was selected to test the effect that higher water velocities and turbulence may have on hydrodynamics of different RD and, consequently, on the passage performance of fish. Discharge was measured by a flow meter installed in the supply pipe.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Retrofitted Ramped Weirs to Improve Passage of Potamodromous Fish

Amaral

Quaresma

Branco

et al. 2019

Water

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The addition of substrates to small instream obstacles, like low-head ramped weirs, has been considered a useful management solution to retrofit those structures and enhance fish passage. Substrate dimensions and spatial arrangement, together with discharge, and consequently water depths, appear as important factors for the creation of hydrodynamic conditions that may facilitate the successful passage of fish, though related studies are scarce to support decision-making. This study assessed the influence of discharge (Q) and different retrofitting designs (RD) on the upstream passage performance of a potamodromous cyprinid, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei). Different substrates (small boulders, large boulders, cobbles) and spatial arrangements (aligned, offset) were tested. Numerical modelling was performed to characterize the hydrodynamics. Results indicate that Q and RD influenced the upstream negotiation of ramped weirs. Cobbles randomly distributed along the ramp (Nature design) was the most successful configuration, recording the highest number of upstream passages. Low velocities along the ramp, and low turbulence downstream, were registered in this configuration, indicating that the use of natural substrate may help to increase the permeability of ramped weirs to fish movements. The outcomes from this work can help engineers and biologists to design more appropriate passage structures for low-head instream obstacles.2 of 18 after assessment, could not be removed, have undergone rehabilitation works to include ramps in their designs (e.g., [11,12]). This design reconfiguration enables water to pass over the ramp, not generating a waterfall [5,10], a condition that may afford a more holistic negotiation by fish [5,13]. Nevertheless, fish swimming abilities, which are closely related to fish guilds and body size [14][15][16][17], and hydrodynamic conditions, such as water depth, discharge, and turbulence present over the ramp and in the vicinity of the structure [5,[18][19][20], are key factors that influence the permeability of such structures to fish movements.The addition of substrates to instream obstacles and fish transposition devices, commonly referred to as retrofitting, has been considered a useful management solution to enhance upstream fish passage [5,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. The placement of substrates in culverts to mimic natural stream conditions and facilitate fish passage has been successfully implemented since the early 1970s [29]. In low-head ramped weirs, natural substrates like pebbles, cobbles, or boulders, are frequently used as retrofitting solutions to increase the bed roughness, and consequently promote energy dissipation, creating localized zones of low-velocity and turbulence [23][24][25]30] that may be used by fish as resting areas during the upstream negotiation of ramps [20,27,[31][32][33]. These low velocities may be especially important to species of weaker swimming capabilities, such as potamodromous cyprinids [5,21,22]. Substrate dimensions and spatial arrang...

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Section: Fish Capture and Holdingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hydrodynamic Modellingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Assessment of Retrofitted Ramped Weirs to Improve Passage of Potamodromous Fish

Amaral

Quaresma

Branco

et al. 2019

Water

Self Cite

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Evaluation of the performance of successive multispecies improved fishways to reconnect a rehabilitated river

Ovidio

Sonny

Watthez

et al. 2020

Wetlands Ecol Manage

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The equipping of barriers with fishways has useful applications for testing hypotheses of fish migration and connectivity in river networks, but multiple passage performance for potamodromous fish is poorly known to date. The aim of this study was to analyse the performance of new fishways installed in the river Vesdre (Belgium). Thirty-eight barbel (Barbus barbus; mean: 508 mm, 2133 g) and seven chub (Squalius cephalus; mean: 372 mm, 935 g) were captured by electric fishing and fish pass monitoring and were equipped by RFID-tags and/or radio-transmitters. They were translocated downstream of three different fishways (nature-like pool-type, block ramp, and technical pool-type) in the lower course of the Vesdre. Detection antennas connected to automatic receivers were placed downstream and upstream of each fishway to evaluate the approaching rate, the overall and adjusted passage efficiencies, the passage delays, temperature, dates and time period. The best passage performance and passage delays were observed for the block ramp fishway (88%; 9 h median time to pass) in comparison with pool structures (47 and 73%; 94 and 144 h median time to pass, respectively). The overall passage efficiency was 18.2 and 29.4% for two successive fishways, and 18.2% for three fishways. Passages occurred mainly during dark periods at median temperatures of 14°C (barbel) and 12.3°C (chub), and during highly variable flow conditions. This study provided evidence of the success rate of the reestablishment of the ecological continuity in the river Vesdre as a result of the construction of improved fish-passage structures.

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