Ecohydraulics

Ecohydraulics: Fish passage and fluvial connectivity

Hydraulic structures like dams, weirs, and culverts often interfere with the natural movement of fish and aquatic organisms. Fragmentation of fluvial systems caused by such anthropogenic structures can have devastating impacts on the survival prospects of fish species and the health of the fluvial ecosystem. Accounting for connectivity during the design of a new structure or adapting an existing structure to reestablish fish passage requires a clear understanding of both hydraulics and the physiological limitations of the target fish species – an intersection of expertise for which Avizo is uniquely positioned to provide. We offer practical, regulatory-compliant services to address fluvial habitat connectivity issues, from the initial design phase to post-construction performance evaluations.

Our services include:

• Solutions to fish migration issues at dams, weirs, and road or rail culverts
• Fish passage designs that comply with provincial and federal norms
• Design of technical fishways, nature-like bypasses, and fish ladders
• Strategies for managing invasive species (e.g. sea lamprey)
• Numerical modeling of fishways to verify attraction flows and entrance/exit conditions as well as turbulence levels, velocities and flow depths
• Post-installation studies to assess fish passage performance
• Thermal refuge design assessments for Atlantic Salmon and other migratory species

If you’re looking to improve aquatic connectivity or address fish passage challenges, please contact one of our experts to discuss how we can support your project.