Safe passage of American Eels through a novel hydropower turbine. Issue 6 (1st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Watson, Sterling; Schneider, Abraham; Santen, Leon; Deters, Katherine A.; Mueller, Robert; Pflugrath, Brett; Stephenson, John; Deng, Z. Daniel
• Is Part Of: Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. Volume 151:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 711
• Page End: 724
• Publication Date: 2022-12-01
• Subjects: American Eel -- downstream fish passage -- low‐head hydropower -- hydraulic turbine -- fish‐friendly -- fish‐safe; Fish culture -- Periodicals; Fishery management -- Periodicals; Pisciculture -- Périodiques; 639.2
• DOI: 10.1002/tafs.10385
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8487

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Study the effects of downstream passage through a novel turbine designed for fish safety, the Restoration Hydro Turbine (RHT), on American Eels Anguilla rostrata in a recirculating turbine test facility. Methods: A 55‐cm‐diameter RHT was operated under 10 m of hydraulic head and 667 revolutions/min. In total, 131 eels were passed through the turbine and 43 eels were used as experimental controls (length = 33.9–65.5 cm). High‐speed video of passage through the runner region was captured for 89% of turbine‐passed eels, and injury and behavioral effects were recorded immediately before and after passage, as well as after a 48‐h holding period. A subset of 37 eels was additionally examined with X‐ray imaging for internal injuries. Result: The 48‐h survival rate for both treatment and control groups was 100%, with no major internal or external injuries present after the holding period. Conclusion: This is a substantial improvement over eel survival rates through conventional Kaplan and Francis turbines, which may range from 40% to 95%, and suggests that hydropower turbines designed for safe downstream fish passage could be implemented without major impacts to eels.