Analyzing turbine bypass systems at hydro facilities

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Hydro Review; (United States)

OSTI ID:5462885

Ferguson, J W ^[1]

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1. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland, OR (United States)

In the 1960s, biologists for several federal and state resource agencies investigated turbine mortality at US Army Corps of Engineers' hydroelectric projects along the Columbia River. Their findings suggested that turbine bypass systems would provide improved passage conditions for juvenile salmon. In response to these findings, the Corps installed bypass systems at many of its facilities. However, evaluations of salmon after the bypasses were installed indicated that these systems are not completely benign. The bypass system, guidance devices, and tailrace predation can cause variable levels of stress, injury, and mortality. When compared to a favorable turbine environment of deeply submerged runners and low head, certain bypass systems may even reduce survival in some cases. For example, preliminary results of a survival study conducted by biologists at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) from 1987 through 1990 at Bonneville Dam indicate bypassed juvenile chinook salmon have significantly lower survival rates than those passing through turbines. Consequently, comprehensive analyses of bypass components are necessary to ensure bypass passage improves survival, relative to turbine passage.

• OSTI ID: 5462885
• Journal Information: Hydro Review; (United States), Vol. 11:3; ISSN 0884-0385
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
FISHES
MORTALITY
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
FISH PASSAGE FACILITIES
COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN
PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS
SALMON
US CORPS OF ENGINEERS
ANADROMOUS FISHES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POWER PLANTS
US DOD
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WATERSHEDS
130600* - Hydro Energy- Environmental Aspects