From 2008 to 2018, acoustic telemetry studies were conducted to evaluate dam passage survival of spring migrant Chinook salmon and steelhead smolts at seven of the eight federally operated dams on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers. Data from over 87 000 dam passage events were evaluated using regression modeling to identify the effect of spill operations, environmental conditions, and fish characteristics on powerhouse passage probability. In general, powerhouse passage was positively correlated with discharge, negatively correlated with forebay temperature and fish size, and higher for fish that passed the dam at night and for those that approached from the powerhouse side of the river, suggesting powerhouse passage is largely a function of smolt activity level and swimming ability. As such, spilling large volumes of water to reduce powerhouse passage is likely to be most effective during times of reduced activity and swimming ability (e.g., at night, high flows, and cold temperatures). This information can be used to develop dam- and time-specific spill operations that optimize smolt passage, power generation, and other competing demands, such as adult passage.
Harnish, Ryan A., et al. "Factors affecting powerhouse passage of spring migrant smolts at federally operated hydroelectric dams of the Snake and Columbia rivers." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, vol. 80, no. 12, Dec. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2022-0217
Harnish, Ryan A., Ham, Kenneth D., Skalski, John R., Townsend, Richard L., & Buchanan, Rebecca A. (2023). Factors affecting powerhouse passage of spring migrant smolts at federally operated hydroelectric dams of the Snake and Columbia rivers. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 80(12). https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2022-0217
Harnish, Ryan A., Ham, Kenneth D., Skalski, John R., et al., "Factors affecting powerhouse passage of spring migrant smolts at federally operated hydroelectric dams of the Snake and Columbia rivers," Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 80, no. 12 (2023), https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2022-0217
@article{osti_2204426,
author = {Harnish, Ryan A. and Ham, Kenneth D. and Skalski, John R. and Townsend, Richard L. and Buchanan, Rebecca A.},
title = {Factors affecting powerhouse passage of spring migrant smolts at federally operated hydroelectric dams of the Snake and Columbia rivers},
annote = {From 2008 to 2018, acoustic telemetry studies were conducted to evaluate dam passage survival of spring migrant Chinook salmon and steelhead smolts at seven of the eight federally operated dams on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers. Data from over 87 000 dam passage events were evaluated using regression modeling to identify the effect of spill operations, environmental conditions, and fish characteristics on powerhouse passage probability. In general, powerhouse passage was positively correlated with discharge, negatively correlated with forebay temperature and fish size, and higher for fish that passed the dam at night and for those that approached from the powerhouse side of the river, suggesting powerhouse passage is largely a function of smolt activity level and swimming ability. As such, spilling large volumes of water to reduce powerhouse passage is likely to be most effective during times of reduced activity and swimming ability (e.g., at night, high flows, and cold temperatures). This information can be used to develop dam- and time-specific spill operations that optimize smolt passage, power generation, and other competing demands, such as adult passage.},
doi = {10.1139/cjfas-2022-0217},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/2204426},
journal = {Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences},
issn = {ISSN 0706-652X},
number = {12},
volume = {80},
place = {Canada},
publisher = {Canadian Science Publishing},
year = {2023},
month = {12}}
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
2204426
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2337699
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA--176055
Journal Information:
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Journal Name: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 80; ISSN 0706-652X