Survival and behaviour of Atlantic salmon smolts passing a run‐of‐river hydropower facility with a movable bulb turbine
Abstract Downstream migration of radio‐tagged Atlantic salmon smolts, Salmo salar L., was studied in the Kinzig, Germany, to examine effects of passing a run‐of‐river hydropower station with a movable bulb turbine. Immediate mortality for smolts passing the power station was low (3%–6%), probably fa...
Published in: | Fisheries Management and Ecology |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
Other Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2017
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/fme.12216 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Ffme.12216 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/fme.12216 |
Summary: | Abstract Downstream migration of radio‐tagged Atlantic salmon smolts, Salmo salar L., was studied in the Kinzig, Germany, to examine effects of passing a run‐of‐river hydropower station with a movable bulb turbine. Immediate mortality for smolts passing the power station was low (3%–6%), probably facilitated by a curved rack in front of the turbine and the possibility to pass over it. Mortality in the impounded stretch above the power station was also low (1.5% extra mortality compared to a control stretch). The combined mortality due to hydropower was 5%–8%, excluding delayed effects. Most smolts followed the main flow passing through the turbine area (94%). Only few used a fishway (4%) or a nearby millstream (2%). Migration speed was slowed down at the power station, but the passage only caused a short delay (average/median 8.6/1.3 hr). However, even low mortality and short delays at several power stations and reservoirs may have considerable cumulative effects. |
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