Evaluation of Distribution and Fish Passage in Relation to Road Culverts in Two Eastern Montana Prairie Streams

Evaluation of Distribution and Fish Passage in Relation to Road Culverts in Two Eastern Montana Prairie Streams PDF Author: Leo Richard Rosenthal
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culverts
Languages : en
Pages : 156

Book Description
Additionally, few differences were observed in relative abundance and species richness above and below culvert crossings. FishXing modeling also revealed that study culverts were capable of passing some species for a portion of the study period. A survey of culverts throughout much of eastern Montana showed that the conditions observed in study culverts were typical of many low gradient, prairie streams. Most culverts in the survey had small outlet drops, low gradients, contained natural substrate, and low water velocities similar to those of natural reaches. Our results suggest that in these conditions, culverts may allow for adequate passage of most prairie species. However, more research is needed to determine what thresholds in these variables negatively influence passage of prairie fishes.

Warm Water Species Fish Passage in Eastern Montana Culverts

Warm Water Species Fish Passage in Eastern Montana Culverts PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culverts
Languages : en
Pages : 74

Book Description
Transportation system planners, designers and managers recognize that fish passage through culverts is a concern. However, there is much contention concerning the impact that a given culvert can have on a fishery. This is particularly true for warm water prairie fisheries. In this project, a combination of three assessment techniques were used to examine fish passage at five culvert crossings in eastern Montana. The techniques used were longitudinal distribution surveys, direct observation of fish passage in field experiments, and modeling using the FishXing program. Results show a diverse fishery with as many as 21 species in a given reach. Distributional surveys showed no difference in fish species richness and almost no difference in fish abundance between the upstream and downstream sides of culverts. Direct observation of the four most abundant species found that when all species were combined, fish passed through culverts at an equal or greater rate than through reference reaches and only one individual species, longnose dace, did not. The FishXing model tended to be conservative, even when calibrated to local hydraulics at each culvert. The strongest estimator of fish passage was to overlay the FishXing results and the field observations onto a hydrograph of the stream system to predict passage windows, or time periods where passage is predicted to not be restricted.

Jarbidge Resource Management Plan

Jarbidge Resource Management Plan PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 890

Book Description


Fish Passage at Road Crossings in a Montana Watershed

Fish Passage at Road Crossings in a Montana Watershed PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culverts
Languages : en
Pages : 44

Book Description
A basin wide assessment of fish passage through culverts was performed in the upper Seeley Lake watershed in western Montana. The watershed has many small streams that support a variety of trout species, predominately cutthroat trout and brook trout, but with some bull trout and brown trout too. A total of 47 culverts were studied, and at these culverts the FishXing model and a screening tool that is a composite of several flowchart based models were used to predict fish passage success. At a subset of 21 culverts, fish were collected above and below the culvert to check for population differences with respect to species, size, and abundance. At another subset of 10 culverts, fish passage was directly assessed using fish traps. Results indicate that the FishXing model and the composite screen are conservative estimators of fish passage in culverts. The direct passage assessment indicated that more fish passage occurred during low flow than was expected, and the population (above/below) sampling results gave little evidence to indicate that many of the culverts were functioning as barriers to fish passage. However, there was evidence that fish passage was restricted at many of the culverts at low flow. High flow was not examined in detail at the field sites in this study.

Fish Passage Through Culverts in Montana

Fish Passage Through Culverts in Montana PDF Author: Todd N. Tillinger
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culverts
Languages : en
Pages : 42

Book Description
The objective of this report is to combine, in one document, previously reported information on factors influencing fish passage through culverts, especially as it pertains to conditions indicative of Montana. First, the need for considering fish passage is discussed, followed by an investigation of biological, hydrologic and hydraulic criteria influencing fish passage. An integration of biological and hydraulic criteria is presented, as is a review of previous studies conducted in Montana. Recommendations for future research are also presented. The major biological criteria influencing fish passage are species and size of fish, jumping ability, and seasonal feeding and spawning migrations as related to the hydrologic regime of the stream requiring a culvert crossing. In general, salmonid species and healthy adult fish are the strongest swimmers and spawning is the major reason fish migrate. The main culvert features preventing fish passage include: a perched outlet, too great a velocity, too shallow a depth, or too long a distance between resting pools. The major hydraulic criteria influencing fish passage are: flow rates during fish migration periods; and type, roughness, length and slope of the culvert. In general, the optimum design for peak flow conveyance, a smooth pipe flowing full, will not meet fish passage criteria at any discharge. Fish size appears to have little influence on ability to negotiate a culvert despite its effect on swimming performance. One theory is that smaller fish utilize regions of low velocity near the culvert wall. Multiple possibilities for future research to better characterize fish passage are listed. Examples include better characterization of velocity gradients within culverts and evaluation of fish swimming performance for poorly characterized Montana species.

Fish Passage in Montana Culverts

Fish Passage in Montana Culverts PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culverts
Languages : en
Pages : 68

Book Description
Culverts have been shown to disrupt fish mobility in high gradient mountain streams, and are of concern to transportation system planners, designers, and managers. However, there is still some uncertainty concerning the cumulative impact that culverts can have on a fishery. In this project, passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) were used, primarily on Yellowstone cutthroat trout, to examine fish passage in the roaded drainage of a high gradient stream system. This project focuses on fish passage in the upstream direction through successive culverts over all portions of the hydrograph, including the high flows that Yellowstone cutthroat encounter during spawning runs. Results are presented in probabilistic terms in addition to the traditional passage/no passage format. The results show that water velocity is a good indicator of the probability of fish passing a culvert. The probability of a fish passing a series of culverts is best predicted by combining the probability that fish will, in general, pass individual culverts.

Fish Passage at Road Crossings

Fish Passage at Road Crossings PDF Author: Lynette Anderson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culverts
Languages : en
Pages : 16

Book Description


Inventory and Assessment of Fish Passage Conditions in Culverts Within the Municipality of Anchorage

Inventory and Assessment of Fish Passage Conditions in Culverts Within the Municipality of Anchorage PDF Author: Steven W. Albert
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culverts
Languages : en
Pages : 69

Book Description
Providing for adequate fish passage at road crossings using culverts is an important component of both the management of fisheries and state roadways. This study was initiated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to determine the status of fish passage conditions through culverts located within the Municipality of Anchorage. An evaluation of 241 stream crossing sites with 295 culverts along state highways and secondary roads was conducted between June 22 and July 21, 2004. Specific evaluation criteria were applied to each site to assess fish passage status. The three primary criteria included culvert slope, a measurement describing the degree of channel constriction at the culvert, and culvert outfall height. Crossings were then classified as RED (conditions assumed inadequate for fish passage), GRAY (additional data collection and analysis needed), or GREEN (assumed adequate for fish passage).

An Assessment of Fish Passage Conditions at Stream Crossings Associated with the State Road System on the Seward Peninsula

An Assessment of Fish Passage Conditions at Stream Crossings Associated with the State Road System on the Seward Peninsula PDF Author: David B. Ryland
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culverts
Languages : en
Pages : 54

Book Description
Where roads intersect streams, crossing structures can become barriers to fish passage significantly affecting fish populations by delaying, impeding, or blocking normal movements. Unrestricted movement through stream systems is necessary for anadromous and resident fish species of all age classes and life stages to maintain access to spawning, rearing, and over-wintering habitats, which are essential to maintaining viable populations. Results of stream crossing inventories in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska suggest that a majority of culverts in fish-bearing waters obstruct normal fish movements to varying degrees. The loss of freshwater habitat is often considered a central factor in the decline of wild fish stocks throughout the range of Pacific salmon. This study was undertaken to assess fish passage at stream crossings along state-maintained roads on the Seward Peninsula in northwestern Alaska. Approximately 74 percent of the stream crossings surveyed were categorized as barriers to juvenile fish; an additional 19 percent were categorized as potential barriers. At the majority of the crossings surveyed, culverts were found to constrict the stream channel and be too steep for juvenile fish passage. Steep gradient was the most common factor that contributed to any crossing being categorized as a barrier.

Fish Migration and Fish Passage

Fish Migration and Fish Passage PDF Author: Willis A. Evans
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Culverts
Languages : en
Pages : 182

Book Description