Optimization of Concurrent Deployments of the Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System and Other Hydroacoustic Equipment at John Day Dam

Abstract

SummaryThis report documents the results of an acoustic optimization study conducted by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District (USACE) at John Day Dam during January and February 2008. The goal of the study was to optimize performance of the Juvenile Salmon Acoustic Telemetry System (JSATS) by determining deployment and data acquisition methods that minimized electrical and acoustic interference from various other hydroacoustic sampling devices. Optimization of JSATS performance, if successful, would allow concurrent sampling by active and passive acoustic methods during formal evaluations of the prototype surface flow outlets at the dam during spring and summer outmigration seasons for juvenile salmonids. The objectives for the optimization study at John Day Dam were to:1. Design and test prototypes and provide a total list of pipes and trolleys needed to deploy JSATS hydrophones on the forebay face of the powerhouse and spillway for the formal 2008 evaluation.2. With JSATS tags arrayed in the forebay and detected on the dam-face hydrophones, assess the effect on the JSATS data from turbine unit and spillway flows and operations of a dual frequency identification sonar (DIDSON), an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), and a fixed-aspect, Precision Acoustic Systems (PAS) hydroacoustic system.3. Determine the relationship between fixed-aspect hydroacoustic transmit level and mean percentage of JSATS tag transmissions decoded.The general approach was to use hydrophones to listen for transmissions from JSATS tags deployed in vertical arrays in a series perpendicular to the face of the dam. PNNL used two acoustic telemetry systems for the testing; the JSATS dam face cable array and a system manufactured by Teknologic LLC. In addition, we assessed two versions of the JSATS signal detector and decoder software, as well as two different types of hydrophone baffling. The optimization study consisted of a suite of off/on tests. The primary response variable was mean percentage of decoded JSATS tag transmissions. PNNL found that there was no appreciable adverse effect on mean percentage decoded for JSATS transmitters from turbine operations; spillway operations; DIDSON/ADCP acoustic energy; and Precision Acoustic Systems (PAS) hydroacoustic systems at a transmit level of -12 dB, although there was a significant impact at all higher transmit levels (-11 to -6 dB).The main conclusion from this optimization study is that valid JSATS telemetry data can be collected simultaneously with a DIDSON/ADCP and a PAS hydroacoustic system at transmit level -12 dB. Multiple evaluation tools should be considered to increase the robustness and thoroughness of future fish passage evaluations at John Day and other dams.v

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