Fish Passage at Road Crossings in Montana Watersheds

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Fish Passage at Road Crossings in Montana
Watersheds

• Lisa Andes
• Undergraduate Research Assistant
• Northern Arizona University
• Joel Cahoon
• Project Mentor
• Associate Professor
• Montana State University

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Presentation Overview

• Why fish passage is important
• Fish passage barriers
• Overall project goal
• My project goal
• Research conclusions
• Plans for the future

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Why is Fish Passage Important?

• 35,000 roadway crossings involving culverts in
  Montana
• Supports a valuable ecosystem
• Diverse fisheries
• Allows fish to complete migratory milestones
• Critical to the fishing industry
• Efficient culvert design

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Three Main Fish Passage Barriers
All Photos http//www.coe.montana.edu/ce/faculty
/jcahoon/research.html
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Cutthroat Trout Burst Speed

• Velocity range from 6 to 14 ft/s
• Dependent on trout age and size
• Only for short durations approx. 2 minutes

http//www.ekes.org/kimberley/reachb.html
Photo Matt Blank
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Plan View Contour Map
http//www.caf.wvu.edu/forage/streamflow/estimat.
htm
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Cross Sectional Contour Map
http//www.caf.wvu.edu/forage/stream flow/estimat
.htm
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Overall Project Goal

• Develop 3D models with a minimum number of
  observations
• 1D models have been shown to be conservative
• Good boundary conditions are required

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My Project Goal

• Determine if the USGS method of estimating
  discharge creates an accurate velocity model.

http//water.usgs.gov/
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Field Work Details

• Mulherin Creek
• Cutthroat Trout Migration
• 2 Culverts

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USGS Discharge Modeling

• Goal Determine average discharge

• 5 of the total discharge within each polygon
• Velocity measurements at 20 and 80 of the total
  water depth

http//www.jbsenergy.com/Instruments/Products/Aqua
Calc_5000/aquacalc_5000.html
http//www.caf.wvu.edu/forage/streamflow/estimat.
htm
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Baffled Culvert

• Length
• 36 feet
• Width
• 12 feet
• 5 Baffles

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Baffled Culvert Inlet Cross Section
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Using the USGS Method
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Mean Relative Error
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Non-Baffled Culvert

• Length 36 feet
• Width
• 12 Feet

http//www.coe.montana.edu/ce/joelc/MDTFishPassage
/Pics/166-6662_IMG.JPG
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Culvert Cross Section
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Using the USGS Method
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Mean Relative Error
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Circular Culvert

• Washington Department of Transportation
• Corrugated interior
• Diameter 2 feet

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Using the USGS Method
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Mean Relative Error
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Trend
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Conclusion

• To obtain a velocity profile, a minimum of the
  USGS requirements of 5 discharge is necessary.

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Plans for the Future

• Encourage more modeling of USGS 20 depth and 80
  to determine adequacy.
• Phase II What passage efficiency is adequate?
• A follow up study on warm water species in Easter
  Montana sponsored by the MDT

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Special Thanks

• Matt Blank
• Field Work Expert
• Brett Towler
• Technical Consultant
• WTI REU Program

• Joel Cahoon
• Project Mentor

http//advancement.sdsu.edu/alumni/cheer.jpg
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Questions