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American eel state of buoyancy and barotrauma susceptibility associated with hydroturbine passage

Journal Article · · Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1051/kmae/2019012· OSTI ID:1524149
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  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Earth Systems Science Division
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American eel are likely to encounter and pass through hydropower turbines, particularly during the downstream spawning migration, where exposure to stressors can potentially lead to injuries and mortality. Previous research has recovered dead eels downstream of hydropower facilities and, for some fish, injuries were easily attributed to blade strike; however, others showed no external signs of injury suggesting that other stressors, such as rapid decompression may be a potential source of mortality. For this research, yellow– and silver-phase American eel were held and allowed to acclimate to 172 kPa (absolute pressure) in hyper/hypobaric hydro-chambers for about 1 d. After acclimation, the state of buoyancy was determined prior to exposure to a rapid decompression simulating pressures encountered during hydroturbine passage. Fish were then examined for signs of barotrauma. Eel did not attain a state of neutral buoyancy but rather maintained negative buoyancy suggesting that eels, and possibly other benthic species, likely maintain a state of negative buoyancy to facilitate occupancy on or near the substrate. Additionally, eel were found to be resilient to rapid decompression, displaying no instantaneous mortality and minimal injuries, suggesting that barotrauma is not likely a major concern for American eel passing downstream through hydroturbines.
Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Water Power Technologies Office (EE-4WP)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1524149
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA--138255
Journal Information:
Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, Journal Name: Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems Journal Issue: 420 Vol. 420; ISSN 1961-9502
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (2)

Survival estimates across five life stages of redfin (Perca fluviatilis) exposed to simulated pumped-storage hydropower stressors journal January 2022
Passage survival of European and American eels at Francis and propeller turbines journal September 2019

Figures / Tables (5)

Fig. 1(p. 3)figure Fig. 1
Fig. 2(p. 4)figure Fig. 2
Table 1(p. 4)table Table 1
Fig. 3(p. 5)figure Fig. 3
Table 2(p. 6)table Table 2

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Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
downstream fish passage
hydropower
hyperbaric
hypobaric
rapid decompression
swim bladder