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Evaluation of Juvenile salmon passage and survival through a fish weir and other routes at Foster Dam, Oregon, USA
Author(s) -
Hughes James S.,
Khan Fenton,
Liss Stephanie A.,
Harnish Ryan A.,
Johnson Gary E.,
Bellgraph Brian B.,
Znotinas Katherine R.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
fisheries management and ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1365-2400
pISSN - 0969-997X
DOI - 10.1111/fme.12481
Subject(s) - weir , chinook wind , oncorhynchus , fishery , spillway , juvenile , fish <actinopterygii> , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , biology , geography , ecology , engineering , geotechnical engineering , cartography
Downstream passage for juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum) and steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) through the fish weir at Foster Dam, Oregon, was evaluated to assess the weir's efficacy as a long‐term passage solution. Radio telemetry was used to estimate survival, passage and effectiveness for the fish weir, spillway and turbines. Survival of Chinook salmon through the fish weir varied by season and reservoir elevation (66%–87%), and passage proportions were low (8%–20%). Fish weir effectiveness was low to moderate (0.39–2.09). Steelhead survival was lower (57%–77%) but passed the fish weir in higher proportions (77%), and weir effectiveness was consistently high (2.96–5.49). The results indicate the existing fish weir will not be a suitable long‐term passage solution for all species. However, because of the high passage proportions and effectiveness observed for steelhead, further development of the surface‐flow concept appears to be promising for safely passing downstream‐migrating fishes.