Trying to choose the less bad route: Individual migratory behaviour of Atlantic salmon smolts (Salmo salar L.) approaching a bifurcation between a hydropower station and a navigation canal
Migratory fish; Downstream migration; Hydroelectricity; Hydraulics; River restoration; Large-sized river
Abstract :
[en] Contrary to small- and medium-sized rivers, little attention has been paid to the downstream migration of Atlantic salmon smolts in large-sized rivers and the size-related impact of hydropower stations. From 2014 to 2016, we investigated the downstream migration of n=72 acoustic-tagged smolts in the Meuse river at a bifurcation zone between a hydropower station equipped with three Kaplan turbines and a navigation canal. A hydrodynamic model that solves the depth-integrated shallow water equations on a Cartesian grid using a finite volume technique was used to infer the influence of water discharge and flow velocity on the smolts’ behaviour upstream of the hydroelectric complex. Of the migrating smolts, 41.5 % performed back and forth movements before approaching the complex for the first time, sometimes over long distances and at a slow pace, leading to significant delays (3‒298 h). Beyond about 250 m3 s-1, the water flow direction changes towards the hydropower station with a gradual acceleration. A median water discharge of 161 m3 s-1 and associated median flow velocity of 0.14 m s-1 tended to favour a more direct and downstream movement towards the hydropower station. On the other hand, the navigation canal was mainly approached at low water discharge (median 132 m3 s-1), due to a higher flow velocity (median 0.11 m s-1) at the entrance. Of the released smolts, only 38.6 % passed through the complex, of which 36.4 % migrated by the navigation canal and 63.6 % by the hydropower station, with a median research time of 04:44. Among all the released individuals, the escapement rate at the end of the study site was 2.9 % by the canal and 8.3 % by the Meuse river. This site, which offers two non-optimal, unattractive and unsafe migration routes, turns out to be problematic for successful downstream smolt migration.
Research center :
FOCUS - Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch - ULiège AFFISH-RC - Applied and Fundamental FISH Research Center - ULiège
Disciplines :
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Author, co-author :
Renardy, Séverine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Gestion des ressources aquatiques et aquaculture
Benitez, Jean-Philippe ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Gestion des ressources aquatiques et aquaculture
Dierckx, Arnaud ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution
Bayens, Raf; Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek (INBO)
Coeck, Johan; Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek (INBO)
Pauwels, Ine; Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek (INBO)
Mouton, Ans; Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek (INBO)
Archambeau, Pierre ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > HECE (Hydraulics in Environnemental and Civil Engineering)
Dewals, Benjamin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > Hydraulics in Environmental and Civil Engineering
Pirotton, Michel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo > HECE (Hydraulics in Environnemental and Civil Engineering)
Erpicum, Sébastien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Scientifiques attachés au Doyen (Sc.appliquées)
Ovidio, Michaël ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Gestion des ressources aquatiques et aquaculture
Trying to choose the less bad route: Individual migratory behaviour of Atlantic salmon smolts (Salmo salar L.) approaching a bifurcation between a hydropower station and a navigation canal
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE] SPW Agriculture, Ressources naturelles et Environnement - Service Public de Wallonie. Agriculture, Ressources naturelles et Environnement [BE]
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