Question (maybe for Daryl)

Hooligan · 08-27-2008, 04:53 PM

why wouldn't it be feasible to put an outflow protection device on WT, similar to something that would be found on other reservoirs, let's use Kinkaid as an example.
Is it the overall cost issue, worry over whether it would be effective in release of water, or something other?

Hooligan · 08-29-2008, 07:12 PM

Make that suggestion to one of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers folks and see the fit they pitch.

Those outlet structures were constructed when no one gave a thought to something like keeping fish from escaping. Those reservoirs were built for flood control and the U.S. ACOE is interested in free flow of water when water levels are high, when that dam is doing its job controlling floods. I am afraid there is almost no way to retro-fit any kind of screen system that would prevent fish escape and allow the free flow of water.

I have seen outlet structures that were built to prevent fish escape. It can be done. Unfortunately where I saw that done the dam had to be breached and the outlet structure entirely re-built. There were dam safety issues in that case and that is why that project got off the ground--in the process they were able to incorporate a screen system that would prevent fish escape without hindering water movement. If we could go back 50 years before many of these structures were built, then maybe something like that could be done, but we have not seen any ideas that would work with the current designs.

I am not familiar with what they have done at Kinkaid. I have seen some other cases where fish escape and barriers have been built to keep them in the immediate tail-water area where they are later captured and transported back above.

Daryl Bauer
Lakes and Reservoirs Program Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov

P.S. Feel free to share this message with others.

Makes pleanty of sense, as I told Daryl, I know a couple guys in Indiana/Illinois that have been involved in the retrofit process of escape structures. I'll do a little more research on the topic, and see if I can possibly forward something on to brian and MI53, on the off chance something might be able to be proposed.
J

08-27-2008, 04:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hooligan Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 118 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Question (maybe for Daryl) why wouldn't it be feasible to put an outflow protection device on WT, similar to something that would be found on other reservoirs, let's use Kinkaid as an example. Is it the overall cost issue, worry over whether it would be effective in release of water, or something other?

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08-29-2008, 07:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Hooligan Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 118 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Make that suggestion to one of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers folks and see the fit they pitch. Those outlet structures were constructed when no one gave a thought to something like keeping fish from escaping. Those reservoirs were built for flood control and the U.S. ACOE is interested in free flow of water when water levels are high, when that dam is doing its job controlling floods. I am afraid there is almost no way to retro-fit any kind of screen system that would prevent fish escape and allow the free flow of water. I have seen outlet structures that were built to prevent fish escape. It can be done. Unfortunately where I saw that done the dam had to be breached and the outlet structure entirely re-built. There were dam safety issues in that case and that is why that project got off the ground--in the process they were able to incorporate a screen system that would prevent fish escape without hindering water movement. If we could go back 50 years before many of these structures were built, then maybe something like that could be done, but we have not seen any ideas that would work with the current designs. I am not familiar with what they have done at Kinkaid. I have seen some other cases where fish escape and barriers have been built to keep them in the immediate tail-water area where they are later captured and transported back above. Daryl Bauer Lakes and Reservoirs Program Manager Nebraska Game & Parks Commission daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov P.S. Feel free to share this message with others. Makes pleanty of sense, as I told Daryl, I know a couple guys in Indiana/Illinois that have been involved in the retrofit process of escape structures. I'll do a little more research on the topic, and see if I can possibly forward something on to brian and MI53, on the off chance something might be able to be proposed. J