Potential Impact of Large-Scale Tidal Power Developments in the Upper Bay of Fundy on Fisheries Resources of the Northwest Atlantic

Dadswell, Michael J.; Rulifson, Roger A.; Daborn, Graham R.

doi:10.1577/1548-8446(1986)011<0026:pioltp>2.0.co;2

Cited by 39 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…High tidal current velocities maintain high turbidity levels in Minas Basin (Dadswell et al, 1986) and thereby keep fine-grained sediment continually in suspension. Extraction of energy from the tidal currents may cause a decrease in the suspended sediment concentration in the Basin.…”

Section: List Of Figuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variability of total suspended matter in Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy

Tao¹,

Hill²,

Mulligan³

et al. 2014

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

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Section: List Of Figuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variability of total suspended matter in Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy

Tao¹,

Hill²,

Mulligan³

et al. 2014

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

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“…Pressures associated with conventional hydro turbines have been measured from a high of 460 kPa to a low of 2 kPa (Montgomery Watson 1995). Following entrainment into a turbine intake, a surface-oriented fish is subjected to an increase in pressure upstream of the runner, with the duration varying from seconds to minutes depending on the resistance of the fish to passage (Dadswell et al 1986, Abernethy et al 2001. When passing through the runner into the draft tube, fish experience a rapid decrease in pressure, often in a matter of seconds or less, that often falls below atmospheric levels (Čada 1990(Čada , Abernethy et al 2001).…”

Section: Review Of Pressure Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Effects of Hydrokinetic Turbines on Fish: Desktop and Laboratory Flume Studies

Jacobson

Amaral²,

Castro‐Santos³

et al. 2012

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A primary issue of concern of regulatory and resource agencies is how the operation of hydrokinetic turbines will affect local and migratory fish populations. In particular, two major concerns are the potential for fish to be killed or injured if they pass through one or more turbines and the potential for fish movements and migrations to be disrupted or blocked if fish are reluctant or unwilling to move past operating turbines. Fish that pass through hydrokinetic turbines may be injured or killed due to blade strike or damaging hydraulic shear and/or pressure conditions. This collection of three reports describes desktop and laboratory flume studies that provide information to support assessment of the potential for injury and mortality of fish that encounter hydrokinetic turbines of various designs installed in tidal and river environments. Behavioral responses to turbine exposure also are investigated to support assessment of the potential for disruptions to upstream and downstream movements of fish.Accurate and precise determination of the probability of blade strike and injury, and of the behavior of fish as they encounter hydrokinetic turbines, was the primary goal of the studies. This goal is achieved by: (1) conducting an assessment of potential injury mechanisms using available data from studies with conventional hydro turbines; (2) developing theoretical models for predicting blade strike probabilities and mortality rates; and (3) performing flume testing with three turbine designs and several fish species and size groups in two laboratory flumes to estimate survival rates and document fish behavior. The strike probability and mortality models are verified using data collected during flume testing. These desktop analyses include an assessment of existing biocriteria for the safe passage of fish through conventional hydro turbines with respect to relevance and application to hydrokinetic devices, and development of theoretical models for predicting blade strike and mortality probabilities. Flume studies were conducted with three hydrokinetic turbine designs and several fish species/sizes to estimate turbine passage survival and injury rates and to determine behavior of fish as they approach and encounter operating turbines. Flume testing was conducted at Alden and CAFRL.The project provides valuable data and information on behavior and injury and survival rates of fish passing hydrokinetic turbines. The behavioral data demonstrate that fish approaching turbines actively avoid passing through the blade sweep area. Estimates of survival and injury allow potential losses of fish to be determined for single or multiple unit installations. The information from these studies facilitates determination of potential impacts to fish populations and may diminish the need for expensive field studies, which often provide only marginal or incomplete data.The project yielded three reports which this document comprises. The three constituent documents are: This report reviews information on impacts of conventional hydr...

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“…Hydraulic impacts could be quite far-reaching and Daborn (1986) reviewed the effects of changing sea level and tidal range in the entire Bay of Fundy, Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank system. Dadswell, Rulifson & Daborn (1986) and Dadswell & Rulifson, 1994, have addressed the impacts on fishery resources. This paper briefly reviews projected environmental impacts in the intertidal zone of the headpond, where changes in water level would be most pronounced.…”

Section: Projected Environmental Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intertidal ecology and potential power impacts, Bay of Fundy, Canada

Gordon

1994

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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A large-scale tidal power project in the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy would cause major changes in the tidal elevations of the headpond which would have a pronounced effect on intertidal ecology. The new mean low water level would be, on average, slightly above the present mean sea level whilst the new mean high water level would drop about 0.7 m. This would result in a much compressed intertidal zone. Mud and sand flats, below the present mean sea level, would be converted to sub-tidal habitat, whilst the high saltmarsh, flooded at present only on the highest spring tides, would become colonized by terrestrial vegetation. There would be major shifts in the relative importance of primary production by saltmarshes, intertidal microalgae and phytoplankton, but overall, it is likely that production would increase. Changes in both primary food sources and habitat area would affect the abundance of intertidal invertebrate organisms and the fish and migratory shorebirds that feed upon them.

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Potential Impact of Large-Scale Tidal Power Developments in the Upper Bay of Fundy on Fisheries Resources of the Northwest Atlantic

Cited by 39 publications

References 14 publications

Seasonal variability of total suspended matter in Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy

Seasonal variability of total suspended matter in Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy

Environmental Effects of Hydrokinetic Turbines on Fish: Desktop and Laboratory Flume Studies

Intertidal ecology and potential power impacts, Bay of Fundy, Canada

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