Hydrological and lock operation conditions associated with paddlefish and bigheaded carp dam passage on a large and small scale in the Upper Mississippi River (Pools 14–18)

Abstract

Movement and dispersal of migratory fish species is an important life-history characteristics that can be impeded by navigation dams. Although habitat fragmentation may be detrimental to native fish species, it might act as an effective and economical barrier for controlling the spread of invasive species in riverine systems. Various technologies have been proposed as potential fish deterrents at locks and dams to reduce bigheaded carp (i.e., silver carp and bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys spp.)) range expansion in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR). Lock and Dam (LD) 15 is infrequently at open-river condition (spillway gates completely open; hydraulic head across the dam <0.4 m) and has been identified as a potential location for fish deterrent implementation. We used acoustic telemetry to evaluate paddlefish passage at UMR dams and to evaluate seasonal and diel movement of paddlefish and bigheaded carp relative to environmental conditions and lock operations at LD 15. We observed successful paddlefish passage at all dams, with the highest number of passages occurring at LDs 17 and 16. Paddlefish residency events in the downstream lock approach of LD 15 occurred more frequently and for longer durations than residency events of bigheaded carp. We documented upstream passages completed by two individual paddlefish through the lock chamber at LD 15, and a single bighead carp completed upstream passage through the lock chamber during two separate years of this study. We identified four bigheaded carp and 19 paddlefish that made upstream passages through the spillway gates at LD 15 during this study. The majority of the upstream passages through the spillway gates for both species occurred during open river conditions. When hydraulic head was approximately 1-m or greater, we observed these taxa opt for upstream passage through the lock chamber more often than the dam gates. In years with infrequent open-river condition, a deterrent placed in the downstream lock approach may assist in meeting the management goal of reducing upstream passage of bigheaded carps but could also potentially affect paddlefish residency and passage. Continued study to understand the effects of deterrents on native fish could be beneficial for implementing an integrated bigheaded carp control strategy. Understanding fish behavior at UMR dams is a critical information need for river managers as they evaluate potential tools or technologies to control upstream expansion of bigheaded carp in the UMR.

Upstream experience and experimental translocation of invasive bigheaded carps results in increased upstream passage success at a navigation lock in a large river

“…Of the 29 lock and dam structures on the upper Mississippi River, LD 19 has the highest hydraulic head. The difference in water levels can be as much as 12 m between Pool 20 (downstream from the dam) and Pool 19 (upstream from the dam), with a minimum of 4.7 m difference during 2017-2019 (Turney et al, 2022). Water from the lock chamber discharges into two locations at this lock and dam (i.e., discharge laterals located in the downstream lock approach plus discharge ports on the river side of the river wall).…”

“…The hydraulic head at this dam from 2017 to 2019 averaged 9.2 m (range = 4.7 m-11.4 m; Turney et al, 2022). Consequently, the lock chamber is the only location through which fish can pass upstream and is a bottleneck to the upstream passage of invasive and native fish species.…”

“…Many of the locks and dams in the UMR have at least some periods of the year in which open river conditions exist (i.e., defined as the time when the adjustable spillway gates of the dam are raised out of the water, passing unobstructed water through the gates [Wilcox et al, 2004]). Mississippi River Lock and Dam 19 (hereafter, LD 19) is a hydroelectric dam where open river conditions have never occurred (Turney et al, 2022; Vallazza et al, 2021). The hydraulic head at this dam from 2017 to 2019 averaged 9.2 m (range = 4.7 m–11.4 m; Turney et al, 2022).…”

“…Mississippi River Lock and Dam 19 (hereafter, LD 19) is a hydroelectric dam where open river conditions have never occurred (Turney et al, 2022; Vallazza et al, 2021). The hydraulic head at this dam from 2017 to 2019 averaged 9.2 m (range = 4.7 m–11.4 m; Turney et al, 2022). Consequently, the lock chamber is the only location through which fish can pass upstream and is a bottleneck to the upstream passage of invasive and native fish species.…”

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Evaluating Native and Invasive Fish Connectivity and Spatial Ecology in Canada’s Historic Rideau Canal Waterway

“…To our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate longitudinal native and invasive fish connectivity in 486 a UNESCO-designated waterway using acoustic telemetry. Similar research that directly monitored 487 movements of invasive and native fishes, using tracking techniques like telemetry, was conducted in 488 large, commercially-important waterways like the Mississippi River (e.g., Tripp et al 2014;Finger et al 489 2020;Fritts et al 2021;Turney et al 2022) (Watson 2006; also see Turcotte et al 2022). As such, LDs may actually 494 be permitting more fish connectivity than historical barriers.…”