Passage behavior of radio-tagged yearling chinook salmon and steelhead at Bonneville Dam associated with the Surface Bypass Program, 2000

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Evans, S.D., J.M. Plumb, A.C. Braatz, K.S. Gates, N.S. Adams and D.W. Rondorf

Publish Date: February 2001

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: cedric.x.cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: In 1994, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) initiated a program to develop and evaluate surface-oriented juvenile salmonid bypass systems at hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The goal of the program was to develop juvenile bypass systems that would significantly improve the passage efficiency and survival of juvenile salmonids during their downstream migration. In 1998 a prototype surface collector (PSC) was installed at Bonneville Dam's first powerhouse. The PSC was designed not to bypass fish around the turbines but rather to examine fish behavior and hydraulics at the entrances and to determine the efficacy of surface bypass at BI before building a full production surface bypass system. In 1998 and 1999, our radio telemetry evaluation indicated that only 27-49% of the fish that came within 6 m of the entrances entered the PSC. We also determined that a 6 m entrance width was more efficient than a 1.5 m entrance width. In 2000, the PSC was extended to include turbines 1-6 and each of the six entrances was 6 m wide. To continue our evaluation of the PSC in 2000, we used radio telemetry to examine the movements and behavior of subyearling chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the forebay of Bonneville Dam. The objectives of this research were to: 1) determine the behavior, distribution, and approach patterns of subyearling chinook salmon in the forebay areas of Bonneville Dam; 2) determine the time and route of dam passage of sub yearling chinook salmon; 3) determine movement patterns and behavior of subyearling chinook salmon in the vicinity of the PSC; and 4) assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the PSC. From 25 April to 1 June 2000, we radio-tagged and released 1,193 juvenile hatchery steelhead and 2,075 yearling chinook salmon. These fish were released from four locations upstream of Bonneville Dam: Rock Creek, John Day Dam, The Dalles Dam, and Hood River, Oregon. Median travel times from release to Bonneville Dam ranged from 14 h to 76 h, depending on species and the location of release. Of all the fish released, we detected 80% of steelhead and 82% of chinook salmon at Bonneville Dam. Of the fish released at Hood River, we detected 95% of steelhead and 94% of chinook salmon. Median residence time in the forebay areas of Bonneville Dam ranged from 8 min to 9 .7 h, depending on species and forebay area. Discharge rates and die! periods effected residence times of both species. Passage routes were determined for 91 % of steelhead and 92% of chinook salmon detected at Bonneville Dam. Nearly half ( 49%) of steelhead passed at powerhouse one (BI), and the largest proportion ( 44%) of chinook salmon passed through the spillway. Thirty-four percent of steelhead detected at Bonneville Dam passed through the spillway. Of the steelhead that passed at Bl, 44% passed into the sluiceway, 33% were guided into the downstream migration channel (DSM) via the standard-length submersible traveling screens (STS) or extended-length submersible bar screens (ESBS), and 23% were unguided and passed directly through the turbines. Of the chinook salmon that passed at Bl, 29% passed into the sluiceway, 36% were guided into the DSM, and 35% were unguided and passed directly through the turbines. Of the fish that passed at B2, 55% of steelhead and 39% of chinook salmon were guided into the DSM by the STS and 45% of steelhead and 60% of chinook salmon passed through the turbines unguided. No steelhead and 1 % of chinook salmon were detected passing through the sluice chute at B2, which was minimally operated during spring 2000. Passage rates were highest for both species during the day at the spillway and B 1. However, passage rates were highest for both species during the night at B2. Of the fish that entered the Bl forebay, 74% of steelhead and 63% of chinook sahnon were detected within 6 m of the PSC and were therefore considered to have discovered the PSC. Of the fish that discovered the PSC, 60% of steelhead and 72% of chinook salmon entered the PSC. However, of the fish that entered the PSC, only 29% (61 of 214) of steelhead and 41 % (100 of 246) of chinook salmon entered the PSC via the entrance they were first detected at without meandering to one or more entrances. Therefore, of the fish that entered the PSC, 71 % (153 of214) of steelhead and 59% (146 of 246) of chinook salmon meandered to one or more entrances before entering the PSC. In relation to units 1-6 at B 1, the PSC was quite efficient at collecting fish. Of the fish that passed at units 1-6 (guided and unguided) 83% of steelhead and 78% of chinook salmon entered the PSC. The PSC was also relatively effective compared to water passing into the turbines and the spillway. An effectiveness of 2.5 for steelhead and 2.4 for chinook salmon indicated that the proportion of fish that entered the PSC out of total passage at units 1-6 was over twice as high as the proportion of discharge that entered the PSC out of total discharge into and under the PSC at units 1-6. When compared to spillway effectiveness (1.0 for steelhead and 1.3 for chinook salmon), PSC effectiveness was about twice as high. Since fish that entered the PSC could pass through other routes, the PSC was not considered an actual passage route for purposes of calculating passage metrics such as FPE. However, if the PSC were an actual passage route, FPE would have increased from 78% to 85% for steelhead and from 73% to 78% for chinook salmon.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: 1998-2000

Geographic Extent: Columbia River, Bonneville Dam

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF File

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Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown