Presentation Abstract
Washington State has an active fish passage barrier correction program, with millions of dollars spent annually on fish passage barrier remediation. Tidal water crossing structures, including culverts, bridges, tidegates and control structures pose a unique problem for assessment and design for fish passage and estuarine habitat connectivity. Current fish passage criteria was developed primarily to allow adult salmon access to upstream spawning habitat and is based on adult fish swimming capabilities during the flow range expected during the period of migration. The hydrology of freshwater systems includes flooding periods that are infrequent and unpredictable. Tidal hydrology, on the other hand, is very predictable, frequent and persistent. Except during periods of peak flooding, the magnitude of the bi-directional flow created by tidal hydrology at intertidal crossing structures often dominates the freshwater contribution. Although tidal events may naturally prohibit migration at some periods of the tide, obstructions can further reduce migration periods, particularly for juvenile salmon, due to increased velocities from undersized culverts or water crossing structures. Little is known about to what extent fish behavioral ecology is modified or how to assess the duration and extent of negative effects to fish migration during the tidal cycles. In an effort to begin the process of developing barrier assessment and fish passage design guidelines, Washington State has partnered with NOAA to perform a literature review of documents relevant to fish behavior and use of intertidal areas and the impacts of intertidal obstructions This presentation will provide an overview of the current procedures being utilized at the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as issues relating to the assessment of intertidal culverts for fish passage. Data collected at numerous intertidal obstruction sites throughout Washington State and potential impacts to fish passage and habitat will be presented.
Session Title
Species and Habitats of Emerging Concern
Keywords
Fish passage, Intertidal, Estuary, Washington
Conference Track
SSE11: Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE11-533
Start Date
6-4-2018 10:30 AM
End Date
6-4-2018 10:45 AM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Fishways--Washington (State); Fishes--Habitat--Washington (State); Fishes--Migration--Washington (State); Fish habitat improvement--Washington (State)
Geographic Coverage
Washington (State)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Fish passage at intertidal obstructions: approaches in Washington State
Washington State has an active fish passage barrier correction program, with millions of dollars spent annually on fish passage barrier remediation. Tidal water crossing structures, including culverts, bridges, tidegates and control structures pose a unique problem for assessment and design for fish passage and estuarine habitat connectivity. Current fish passage criteria was developed primarily to allow adult salmon access to upstream spawning habitat and is based on adult fish swimming capabilities during the flow range expected during the period of migration. The hydrology of freshwater systems includes flooding periods that are infrequent and unpredictable. Tidal hydrology, on the other hand, is very predictable, frequent and persistent. Except during periods of peak flooding, the magnitude of the bi-directional flow created by tidal hydrology at intertidal crossing structures often dominates the freshwater contribution. Although tidal events may naturally prohibit migration at some periods of the tide, obstructions can further reduce migration periods, particularly for juvenile salmon, due to increased velocities from undersized culverts or water crossing structures. Little is known about to what extent fish behavioral ecology is modified or how to assess the duration and extent of negative effects to fish migration during the tidal cycles. In an effort to begin the process of developing barrier assessment and fish passage design guidelines, Washington State has partnered with NOAA to perform a literature review of documents relevant to fish behavior and use of intertidal areas and the impacts of intertidal obstructions This presentation will provide an overview of the current procedures being utilized at the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as issues relating to the assessment of intertidal culverts for fish passage. Data collected at numerous intertidal obstruction sites throughout Washington State and potential impacts to fish passage and habitat will be presented.
