PNNL

Abstract

Hydropower is a crucial source of clean and reliable energy worldwide, and its importance will continue to grow. To enhance the environmental sustainability of hydropower development and operations, it is essential to predict the strike injury rates of fish passing through turbines accurately and cost-effectively. This study proposes two novel strike metrics, based on velocity and pressure (M_V and M_P), designed to quantify the biological effects of strikes/collisions between fish and rigid hydraulic structures. Sensor Fish (SF) measurements and 48-hour survival rates of live fish from a study conducted at the Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River were used to establish thresholds for the two proposed metrics. These metrics and thresholds then were applied to three additional SF studies conducted at hydropower facilities featuring Kaplan turbines within the Columbia River basin. Results of the strike metrics applications indicate that the estimated survival rates derived from both metrics closely align with previously reported live fish survival rates, differing by 3% for M_V and 6% for M_P. Furthermore, the study identified specific passage regions with elevated risks of fish mortality due to strikes/collisions. Overall, the proposed strike metrics present a promising approach to reducing reliance on live fish and lowering costs in fish passage studies.