The behavioural response of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) to experimental hydropeaking on a Newfoundland (Canada) river

Abstract

Deregulation of the electric power market globally will lead to increased requirement for electricity on demand resulting in more emphasis on 'hydropeaking' generation. A research study was conducted on the regulated West Salmon River, Newfoundland, Canada, to examine habitat selection and movement of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in response to flow changes related to 'experimental' peaking flow power generation. Fish were surgically implanted with microscale radio transmitters, released into an experimental study, and discharge was experimentally manipulated simulating two scenarios: (i) water storage during the day and generation at night, with a 2 hour transition; and (ii) night-time storage with generation during the day. Experiments were repeated in the summer and fall. Fish were tracked throughout the diurnal cycle of each manipulation and precisely positioned in two-dimensional space. Atlantic salmon exhibited two distinct patterns to movement: fish that showed high site fidelity and those that moved considerably during trials. Both salmon and trout were more active during fall hydropeaking experiments. Fish generally did not move long distances and moved more in a longitudinal fashion than laterally. Salmon moved greater distances, on average, than trout under all experimental conditions and during both seasons but these differences were not statistically significant. Brook trout moved more in relation to dynamic events (up-and down-ramping) than at steady state flows. Trout also moved more at night during these dynamic changes and under low flow conditions. These results will assist producers of hydroelectricity to reduce the impacts of hydropeaking operations on fish and fish habitat.

The effects of flow reduction rates on fish stranding in British Columbia, Canada

“…This trend is borne out by our results for pool stranding (Figure 2d) though it is important to note that ramping rate was never included in the top model for either interstitial or pool stranding and had a relative importance less than 0.27 for all situations (Table IV). It has been suggested by Olson (1990) that a ramping rate of less than 2.5 cm h À1 would prevent stranding more universally, but as increasing information about species differences in behavioural responses emerges (Scruton et al, 2003;Flodmark et al, 2006) and as more is learned about the site specific characteristics that influence ramping (e.g. Bradford, 1997), it seems likely that experimentally determined ramping rates will be only locally applicable (Flodmark, 2004).…”

“…Halleraker et al, 2003;Scruton et al, 2003). The goal of much of the research in this field has been to define the operational guidelines for hydro-electric facilities to minimize the risk of stranding (Bradford, 1997).…”

Simulation of river water temperatures during various hydro-peaking regimes

“…Hydropeaking is a variant of hydropower production, characterised by introducing rapid and frequent changes in discharge through a hydropower plant. The term 'hydro-peaking' is, however, broad and vaguely defined in the literature, and other terms are also found describing the same phenomenon, such as intermittent hydropower generation (Moog 1993), hydropower peaking (Valentin et al 1995), rapid flow decreases (Bradford 1997), sudden flow variations (Liebig et al 1999), fluctuating flow (Vehanen et al 2000), rapid changes in flow (Saltveit et al 2001), pulse power generation (Scruton et al 2003) and peaking flows (Berland et al 2004). Hydro-peaking has been used to describe both the operational pattern of hydropower plants (e.g.…”

Migratory behaviour of spawning rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Tongariro River, New Zealand, after habitat alteration

“…Radio-telemetry is used extensively throughout the world to describe the movements and behaviour of migratory species in rivers (Scruton et al 2003, but see Lucas & Baras 2001 for a review). This type of research is often applied in the management of fisheries and is normally conducted only once owing to the high cost involved.…”