69 5 Technical fish passes succession of stepped pools. The discharge is usually passed through openings (orifices) in the cross-walls and the potential energy of the water is Technical fish passes include the following types: dissipated, step-by-step, in the pools (Figure 5.1). m Pool passes Fish migrate from one pool to the next through m Vertical slot passes openings in the cross-walls that are situated at the bottom (submerged orifices) or at the top m Denil passes (counter flow passes) (notches). The migrating fish encounter high flow m Eel ladders velocities only during their passage through the cross-walls, while the pools with their low flow m Fish locks velocities offer shelter and opportunities to rest. A m Fish lifts rough bottom is a prerequisite to make pool passes negotiable for benthic fauna. This section describes only the common types of technical fish pass, whose hydraulic and biological effectiveness have been adequately studied. 5.1.2 Design and dimensions 5.1.2.1 Plan view 5.1 Pool pass The design of pool passes is usually straight from 5.1.1 Principle headwater to tailwater. However, curved passes or passes that are folded so as to wind-back once on The principle of a pool pass consists in dividing up themselves by 180°, or even several times a channel leading from the headwater to the (Figure 5.2), resulting in a shorter structure, are tailwater by installing cross-walls to form a headwater tailwater Figure 5.1: Conventional pool pass (longitudinal section and detail pool structure) (modified and supplemented after JENS, 1982) trash rack weir trash rack weir trash rack weir power- power- power- house house house fishway fishway fishway turbulent turbulent turbulent zone zone zone Curved fishway Linear fishway Folded fishway (reversed several times) Figure 5.2: Pool passes (plan view) (modified and supplemented after LARINIER, 1992a) 70 also used. Wherever possible, the water outlet The number of pools needed (n) is obtained # (downstream entrance to the fish pass ) below the from the total head to be overcome (htot) and the weir or turbine outlet must be located in such a way permissible difference in water level between two that dead angles or dead-ends are not formed. pools (⌬h) (Figure 5.4): Basic principles, similar to those outlined in Chapter 3, apply here to regulate the distance of h n = tot Ϫ 1 (5.2) the fish pass entrance in relation to the weir or the ⌬h turbine outlet. An alternative design and arrangement of the pools where the total height htot is obtained from the is shown in Figure 5.3. difference between the maximum filling level of the reservoir (maximum height) and the lowest tailwater level upon which the design calculation for 5.1.2.2 Longitudinal section the fish pass is to be based. Differences in water level between individual pools govern the maximum flow velocities. They are therefore a limiting factor for the ease with which 5.1.2.3 Pool dimensions fish can negotiate the pass. In the worst case, the Pool pass channels are generally built from difference in water level (⌬h) must not exceed concrete or natural stone. The partition elements 0.2 m; however, differences in level of ⌬h = 0.15 m (partition cross-walls) can consist of wood or at the normal filling level of the reservoir are more prefabricated concrete. suitable. The ideal slope for a pool pass is The pool dimensions must be selected in such a calculated from the difference in water level and way that the ascending fish have adequate space length of the pools (lb): to move and that the energy contained in the water ⌱ ⌬ is dissipated with low turbulence. On the other = h / lb (5.1) hand, the flow velocity must not be reduced to the extent that the pools silt up. A volumetric dissipated where lb is as shown in Figure 5.4, power of 150 W/m3 should not be exceeded to so that values of ⌱ = 1:7 to ⌱ = 1:15 are obtained for ensure that pool flows are not turbulent. A volumetric dissipated power of 200 W/m3 is permissible in the the slopes if the value lb ranges from 1.0 m to 2.25 m. Steeper slopes can only be achieved by salmonid zone (LARINIER 1992a). making the pools shorter if the permissible The pool size must be chosen as to suit the differences in water-level are respected. However, behavioural characteristics of the potential natural this results in considerable turbulence in the pools fish fauna and should match the size and expected and should be avoided if possible. number of migrating fish. Table 5.1 gives the recommended minimum dimensions for pool sizes and the design of the cross-walls taken from # remark by the editor Figure 5.3: A pool pass made of clinker bricks, with alternating pools, at a mill dam in Hude on the Berne (Lower Saxony). The construction fits in well with the general picture of the historical mill. 71 headwater floating beams emergency shutter or flow regulating device max. impounding head BrŸcke/ Steg Δh 1 Δ l tailwater h<0.2 m b emergency shutter h + Δh min h= 0.6 m bottom 2 mean flow 3 4 5 low-water flow n = 6 bottom substrate bottom Figure 5.4: . Longitudinal section through l tot = n l b a pool pass (schematic) lb notches d Δh h Δh a cross-walls b hü h bs a submerged w orifices h h hs s Figure 5.5: b bottom substrate hü = h weirhead Pool-pass terminology various literature sources and adapted to the which fish can ascend by swimming into the next hydraulic design criteria and empirical values for pool. The openings reach to the bottom of the pool functioning fish passes (see Figure 5.5 for and allow to create a continuous rough-surfaced definitions of the technical terms). The smaller pool bottom when the substrate is put in. dimensions apply to smaller watercourses and the The importance of surface openings (notches) is larger values to larger watercourses. An alternative usually overestimated as ascending fish will type of fish pass must be considered if the invariably first try to migrate upstream by swimming recommended pool lengths and discharges cannot and only exceptionally will try to surmount an be achieved. obstacle by leaping over it. The turbulence arising The bottom of the pools must always have a rough from the detached jets coming out of surface surface in order to reduce the flow velocity in the openings adversely affect the flow conditions in the vicinity of the bottom and make it easier for the pools. Moreover, with varying headwater levels, benthic fauna and small fish to ascend. A rough submerged cross-walls cause problems in the surface can be produced by embedding stones optimisation of discharges. Nevertheless, if surface closely together into the concrete before it sets. orifices are provided, their lower edge should still be submerged by the water level of the downstream pool in order to avoid plunging flows 5.1.2.4 Cross-wall structures and thus allow fish to swim over the obstacle. 5.1.2.4.1 Conventional pool pass Recommended dimensions for orifices and Conventional pool passes are characterised by notches are given in Table 5.1. vertical cross-walls that stand at right angles to the In general, submergence of cross-walls should be pool axis (cf. Figures 5.1 and 5.5) and that may avoided wherever possible so that water flows be solid (concrete or masonry) or wood. Wooden only through the orifices (or surface notches). cross-walls facilitate later modification but they Submerged cross-walls at the water outlet (fish have to be replaced after a few years. pass entrance#) have a particularly negative effect The cross-walls have submerged openings that are as thus adequate guide currents rarely form. arranged in alternating formation at the bottom of the cross-wall (dimensions as in Table 5.1) through # remark by the editor 72 Table 5.1 Recommended dimensions for pool passes Pool dimensions1) Dimensions of Dimensions of Discharge4) Max. Fish species in m submerged orifices the notches3) through difference to be water in m in m the in water considered length width depth width height width height fish pass level6) 2) 3 ⌬ lb bhbS hS ba ha m /s h in m Sturgeon5) 5 – 6 2.5 – 3 1.5 – 2 1.5 1 - - 2.5 0.20 Salmon, Sea trout, Huchen 2.5 – 3 1.6 – 2 0.8 – 1.0 0.4 – 0.5 0.3 – 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 – 0.5 0.20 Grayling, Chub, Bream, others 1.4 – 2 1.0 – 1.5 0.6 – 0.8 0.25 – 0.35 0.25 – 0.35 0.25 0.25 0.08 – 0.2 0.20 upper trout zone > 1.0 > 0.8 > 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.05 – 0.1 0.20 Remarks 1) The larger pool dimensions correspond to larger submerged orifices. 2) hs – clear orifice height above bottom substrate. 3) If a pass with both top notches and submerged orifices is planned, the larger pool dimensions should be applied. 4) The discharge rates were determined for ⌬h = 0.2 m by using the formulae shown in section 5.1.3. The lower value relates to the smaller dimensions of submerged orifices in pools without top notches; the higher discharge is obtained for the larger submerged orifices plus top notches (␺ = 0.65). 5) Pool dimensions for the sturgeon are taken from SNiP (1987), since there is no other data available with respect to this fish species.