Baumgartner L. J.Barlow C.Mallen-Cooper M.Boys C.Marsden T.Thorncraft G.Phonekhampheng O.Singhanouvong D.Rice W.Roy M.Crase L.2019Achieving fish passage outcomes at irrigation infrastructure; a case study from the Lower Mekong Basin.Aquaculture and Fisheries[Published online 6 February 2019]10.1016/J.AAF.2018.12.008
Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH FRONT (Open Access)

Evaluation of a fish-friendly self-cleaning horizontal irrigation screen using autonomous sensors

Aljon Salalila A , Zhiqun Daniel Deng A C , Jayson J. Martinez A , Jun Lu A and Lee J. Baumgartner B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy and Environment Directorate, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA 99354, USA.

B Charles Sturt University, Institute for Land, Water and Society, Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona, NSW 2640, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: zhiqun.deng@pnnl.gov

Marine and Freshwater Research 70(9) 1274-1283 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF19194
Submitted: 25 May 2019  Accepted: 20 June 2019   Published: 16 July 2019

Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2019 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Irrigation modernisation is booming globally because of the increasing demand on water and food. However, irrigation infrastructures can injure fish or entrain them into irrigation water. Screening is an effective method to mitigate fish entrainment. In this study, two autonomous sensor devices, developed and manufactured at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Sensor Fish and its miniaturised version, Sensor Fish Mini) were deployed to evaluate the physical and fish passage conditions of a unique horizontal, flat-plate fish and debris screen (known as the Farmers Screen) that was installed in Oregon, USA. Only 1 of the 27 Sensor Fish Mini releases had a severe acceleration event, whereas 0 of the 37 Sensor Fish releases had severe events. The rates of severe events and amplitudes of accelerations at the Farmers Screen were significantly lower than those at other hydraulic structures, including a fish-friendly surface weir that recorded nearly 100% fish survival. Overall, the results indicated that the Farmers Screens can provide safe downstream passage for fish at irrigation diversions. This study also demonstrated that the Sensor Fish technology, including Sensor Fish Mini, is a suitable technology for evaluating irrigation structures and providing important information for the development of sustainable irrigation.


References

Baumgartner, L. J., and Boys, C. (2012). Reducing the perversion of diversion: applying world-standard fish screening practices to the Murray–Darling Basin. Ecological Management & Restoration 13, 135–143.
Reducing the perversion of diversion: applying world-standard fish screening practices to the Murray–Darling Basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Baumgartner, L. J., Deng, Z. D., Thorncraft, G., Boys, C. A., Brown, R. S., Singhanouvong, D., and Phonekhampeng, O. (2014). Perspective: towards environmentally acceptable criteria for downstream fish passage through mini hydro and irrigation infrastructure in the Lower Mekong River Basin. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy 6, 012301.
Perspective: towards environmentally acceptable criteria for downstream fish passage through mini hydro and irrigation infrastructure in the Lower Mekong River Basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Baumgartner  L. J.Barlow  C.Mallen-Cooper  M.Boys  C.Marsden  T.Thorncraft  G.Phonekhampheng  O.Singhanouvong  D.Rice  W.Roy  M.Crase  L.2019 Achieving fish passage outcomes at irrigation infrastructure; a case study from the Lower Mekong Basin.Aquaculture and Fisheries[Published online 6 February 2019]10.1016/J.AAF.2018.12.008

Béné, C., Barange, M., Subasinghe, R., Pinstrup-Andersen, P., Merino, G., Hemre, G. I., and Williams, M. (2015). Feeding 9 billion by 2050 – putting fish back on the menu. Food Security 7, 261–274.
Feeding 9 billion by 2050 – putting fish back on the menu.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boys, C. A., Pflugrath, B. D., Mueller, M., Pander, J., Deng, Z. D., and Geist, J. (2018). Physical and hydraulic forces experienced by fish passing through three different low-head hydropower turbines. Marine and Freshwater Research 69, 1934–1944.
Physical and hydraulic forces experienced by fish passing through three different low-head hydropower turbines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brown, R. S., Colotelo, A. H., Pflugrath, B. D., Boys, C. A., Baumgartner, L. J., Deng, Z. D., Silva, L. G., Brauner, C. J., Mallen‐Cooper, M., Phonekhampeng, O., and Thorncraft, G. (2014). Understanding barotrauma in fish passing hydro structures: a global strategy for sustainable development of water resources. Fisheries 39, 108–122.
Understanding barotrauma in fish passing hydro structures: a global strategy for sustainable development of water resources.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Carlson, T. J., and Duncan, J. P. (2009). Evaluation of fish passage conditions for a top spillway weir at John Day Dam using the sensor Fish. Report for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.

Carlson, T. J., Duncan, J. P., and Ham, K. D. (2010). Characterization of conditions at McNary Dam spillways and temporary spillway weirs in 2007 using the sensor Fish. Report for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Wall Walla District, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.

Deng, Z., Guensch, G. R., McKinstry, C. A., Mueller, R. P., Dauble, D. D., and Richmond, M. C. (2005). Evaluation of fish-injury mechanisms during exposure to turbulent shear flow. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 62, 1513–1522.
Evaluation of fish-injury mechanisms during exposure to turbulent shear flow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Deng, Z. D., Lu, J., Myjak, M. J., Martinez, J. J., Tian, C., Morris, S. J., Carlson, T. J., Zhou, D., and Hou, H. (2014). Design and implementation of a new autonomous Sensor Fish to support advanced hydropower development. The Review of Scientific Instruments 85, 115001.
Design and implementation of a new autonomous Sensor Fish to support advanced hydropower development.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25430138PubMed |

Duncan, J. P. (2011). Sensor fish characterization of fish passage conditions through John Day Dam Spillbay 20 with a modified flow deflector. Report for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.

Duncan, J. P., Deng, Z. D., Arnold, J. L., Fu, T., Trumbo, B. A., Carlson, T. J., and Zhou, D. (2018). Physical and ecological evaluation of a fish-friendly surface spillway. Ecological Engineering 110, 107–116.
Physical and ecological evaluation of a fish-friendly surface spillway.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gale, S. B., Zale, A. V., and Clancy, C. G. (2008). Effectiveness of fish screens to prevent entrainment of westslope cutthroat trout into irrigation canals. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 28, 1541–1553.
Effectiveness of fish screens to prevent entrainment of westslope cutthroat trout into irrigation canals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gregory, R., Funge-Smith, S., and Baumgartner, L. (2018). An ecosystem approach to promote the integration and coexistence of fisheries within irrigation systems. Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular number 1169. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome, Italy.) Available at http://www.fao.org/3/CA2675EN/ca2675en.pdf [Verified 17 May 2019].

Hou, H., Deng, Z. D., Martinez, J. J., Fu, T., Duncan, J. P., Johnson, G. E., Lu, J., Skalski, J. R., Townsend, R. L., and Li, T. (2018). A Hydropower Biological Evaluation Toolset (HBET) for characterizing hydraulic conditions and impacts of hydro-structures on fish. Energies 11, 990.
A Hydropower Biological Evaluation Toolset (HBET) for characterizing hydraulic conditions and impacts of hydro-structures on fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jaramillo, F., Desormeaux, A., Hedlund, J., Jawitz, J. W., Clerici, N., Piemontese, L., Rodríguez-Rodriguez, J. A., Anaya, J. A., Blanco-Libreros, J. F., Borja, S., and Celi, J. (2019). Priorities and interactions of sustainable development goals (SDGs) with focus on wetlands. Water 11, 619.
Priorities and interactions of sustainable development goals (SDGs) with focus on wetlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Khoa, S. N., Lorenzen, K., Garaway, C., Chamsinhg, B., Siebert, D., and Randone, M. (2005). Impacts of irrigation on fisheries in rain-fed rice-farming landscapes. Journal of Applied Ecology 42, 892–900.
Impacts of irrigation on fisheries in rain-fed rice-farming landscapes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Martinez, J., Deng, Z. D., Tian, C., Mueller, R., Phonekhampheng, O., Singhanouvong, D., Thorncraft, G., Phommavong, T., and Phommachan, K. (2019). In situ characterization of turbine hydraulic environment to support development of fish-friendly hydropower guidelines in the lower Mekong River region. Ecological Engineering 133, 88–97.
In situ characterization of turbine hydraulic environment to support development of fish-friendly hydropower guidelines in the lower Mekong River region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McMichael, G. A., Vucelick, J. A., Abernethy, C. S., and Neitzel, D. A. (2004). Comparing fish screen performance to physical design criteria. Fisheries 29, 10–16.
Comparing fish screen performance to physical design criteria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mesa, M. G., Rose, B. P., and Copeland, E. S. (2012). Field‐based evaluations of horizontal flat‐plate fish screens, II: testing of a unique off‐stream channel device – the Farmers Screen. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 32, 604–612.
Field‐based evaluations of horizontal flat‐plate fish screens, II: testing of a unique off‐stream channel device – the Farmers Screen.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Moyle, P. B., and Israel, J. A. (2005). Untested assumptions: effectiveness of screening diversions for conservation of fish populations. Fisheries 30, 20–28.
Untested assumptions: effectiveness of screening diversions for conservation of fish populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

National Marine Fisheries Service (2008). Anadromous salmonid passage facility design. (National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region: Portland, OR, USA.) Available at https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/4045 [Verified 24 June 2019].

Neitzel, D. A., Abernethy, C. S., and Martenson, G. A. (1990). A fisheries evaluation of the Westside Ditch and Town Canal fish screening facilities, Spring 1990. Prepared by the Pacific Northwest Laboratory for the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bonneville Power Administration, Portland, OR, USA.

Normandeau Associates (2011). Estimate of direct effects of passage through John Day Dam Spillbay 20 with a modified flow deflector on juvenile salmonids. Report for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Normandeau Associates, Drumore, PA, USA.

Normandeau Associates (2015). Direct injury and survival of yearling Chinook salmon passing the removable spillway weir following Ogee and Deflector modifications to Spillbay 2 at Ice Harbor Dam, Snake River, 2015. Report for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Normandeau Associates, Drumore, PA, USA.

Normandeau Associates, Skalski, J. R., and Townsend, R. L. (2008a). Direct survival and injury evaluation of yearling Chinook salmon passing through temporary spillway weirs and conventional spillbays with guide wall(s) at McNary Dam, 2007. Report for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, Normandeau Associates, Drumore, PA, USA.

Normandeau Associates, Skalski, J. R., and Townsend, R. L. (2008b). Direct survival and injury evaluation of juvenile Chinook salmon passing John Day Dam spillway with and without a top spillway weir (TSW). Report for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Normandeau Associates, Drumore, PA, USA.

Pflugrath, B. D., Boys, C. A., Cathers, B., and Deng, Z. D. (2019). Over or under? Autonomous sensor fish reveals why overshot weirs may be safer than undershot weirs for fish passage. Ecological Engineering 132, 41–48.
Over or under? Autonomous sensor fish reveals why overshot weirs may be safer than undershot weirs for fish passage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Playán, E., and Mateos, L. (2006). Modernization and optimization of irrigation systems to increase water productivity. Agricultural Water Management 80, 100–116.
Modernization and optimization of irrigation systems to increase water productivity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Richmond, M. C., Deng, Z., McKinstry, C. A., Mueller, R. P., Carlson, T. J., and Dauble, D. D. (2009). Response relationships between juvenile salmon and an autonomous sensor in turbulent flow. Fisheries Research 97, 134–139.
Response relationships between juvenile salmon and an autonomous sensor in turbulent flow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Swanson, C., Young, P. S., and Cech, J. J. (2005). Close encounters with a fish screen: integrating physiological and behavioral results to protect endangered species in exploited ecosystems. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 134, 1111–1123.
Close encounters with a fish screen: integrating physiological and behavioral results to protect endangered species in exploited ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Turnpenny, A. W. H., Struthers, G., and Hanson, P. (1998). A UK guide to intake fish-screening regulations, policy and best practice with particular reference to hydroelectric power schemes. (Fawley Aquatic Research Laboratories & Hydroplan: Oxon, UK.) Available at Https://Www.Osti.Gov/Etdeweb/Biblio/20005332 [Verified 26 May 2019]

Weitkamp, L. A., Teel, D. J., Liermann, M., Hinton, S. A., Van Doornik, D. M., and Bentley, P. J. (2015). Stock-specific size and timing at ocean entry of Columbia River juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead: implications for early ocean growth. Marine and Coastal Fisheries 7, 370–392.
Stock-specific size and timing at ocean entry of Columbia River juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead: implications for early ocean growth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |