Efficacy of increasing discharge to reduce tow-mediated fish passage across an electric dispersal barrier system in a confined channel
Journal of Great Lakes Research
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Abstract
The Electric Dispersal Barrier System (EDBS) in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) was built to limit the interbasin transfer of aquatic invasive species between the Mississippi River Basin and the Great Lakes Basin. Commercial barge traffic, or tows, moving downstream through the EDBS can facilitate the upstream passage of small fish through the barrier by reducing the voltage gradient of the barrier and causing localized upstream return currents. This study tested whether it is possible to prevent upstream passage of small fish across the barrier by preventing upstream return currents. Measurements of water velocity, voltage gradient, and tow speed, as well as sonar-based observations of resident fish, were made as a tow transited the EDBS moving downstream. The results indicate that upstream return currents can be prevented for typical flow conditions in the CSSC (ambient velocity = 0.15 to 0.23 m/s) when tow speeds are <0.46 m/s. Similarly, increasing the ambient velocity above typical values can prevent upstream return currents for faster tow speeds and larger tows. Additionally, preventing upstream return currents at the EDBS may reduce, but does not prevent, tow-mediated upstream fish passages because tows also cause a temporary reduction in the streamwise voltage gradient at the EDBS. These results have implications for the management of invasive bigheaded carps in the Illinois Waterway.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Efficacy of increasing discharge to reduce tow-mediated fish passage across an electric dispersal barrier system in a confined channel |
| Series title | Journal of Great Lakes Research |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.jglr.2019.08.007 |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Year Published | 2019 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | Central Midwest Water Science Center |
| Description | 12 p. |
| First page | 1320 |
| Last page | 1331 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| Other Geospatial | Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |