Consolidation of the ethohydraulic basis for delay-free fish descent

© IGF Jena

Short Description

Motivation and objectives

The continuity of watercourses - in and against the direction of flow - is one of the most important prerequisites for achieving good ecological status and is required by the Federal Water Act in Germany. While there are recognized specifications for the design of fish ladders among experts, there is a lack of scientifically sound and transferable specifications, particularly for the hydraulic conditions upstream and in bypass entrances.

With regard to the ‘blocking’, ‘guiding’ and ‘diverting’ functions of fish ladders, the ‘diverting’ process in particular lacks hydraulic specifications for practical use.

The OptiPass project aims to define limit values for the spatial velocity gradient (SVG for short) parameter and use them to develop recommendations for the design of bypasses, especially their entry, so that a delay-free descent or diversion is guaranteed in the future. Functional fish protection systems thus reduce the negative impact of transverse structures on fish populations.

Methodology

To determine the SVG limit value, ethohydraulic laboratory tests are to be carried out. After the laboratory tests, the limit values determined are to be validated in a field study.

Laboratory experiment in the hydraulic lab

The plan is to investigate fish behaviour using video tracking in three test setups, initially for one fish species, the common barbel (barbus barbus) of the Cyprinidae taxonomic group. Setup 1 represents the state of the art and is intended to show the low utilization rates. Setup 2 is used for the uniform characterization of the SVG and the derivation of the limit value based on escape reactions using statistical algorithms.

In Setup 3, the limit value is not to be exceeded in order to demonstrate an improvement in utilization rates when the limit values are adhered to.

The animal experiments are carried out by the partner IGF.

Field study in Shakhimardan, Uzbekistan

In order to validate the findings from the laboratory, the results obtained are tested in the field. The planned hydropower plant in Shakhimardan (Uzbekistan), which is being funded by the EU in the Hydro4U project, offers a good opportunity for this thanks to the involvement of OptiPass project partner sje. The plant is to be designed based on the recommendations from the OptiPass project and its functionality confirmed through monitoring.

Outlook

Finally, the project partners plan to put their results into practice in the form of planning recommendations.

In a potential follow-up phase, it is planned to repeat the tests for the taxonomic group of Salmonidae and to implement the limit values as a planning tool in the CASiMiR software of the partner sje.

Media

Project Data

Project Lead

© Andrè Terpe

Professor

Name

Mr Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Stamm

Chair Hydraulic Engineering, Dean Faculty Civil Engineering

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Contact Information

Organization Name

Office of the Chair of Hydraulic Engineering

Office of the Chair of Hydraulic Engineering

Address work

Visiting address:

Haus 116, Room 04-22 August-Bebel-Straße 30

01219 Dresden

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fax Fax

+49 351 463-37120

Office hours:

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Project Management

© André Terpe

Research Associate

Name

Mr Dipl.-Ing. Tom Rößger

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Contact Information

Address work

Visiting address:

Haus 116, Raum 04-11 August-Bebel-Straße 30

01219 Dresden

Show map of this location.

work Tel.

fax Fax

+49 351 463-37120

Project Partners

Publications

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Further Information

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Funding

© Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

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