Electric fish barrier research

Electric fish barrier research

There are over 105,000 irrigation structures on rivers and streams across Colorado, most in fish bearing waters. Fish loss in irrigation canals is known to be a large problem in the western U.S. but the impact on fish populations in Colorado is unknown. The South Canal is an irrigation ditch near Montrose, Colorado that diverts an average of 857 cubic feet per second from March to November from the Gunnison River for agriculture. The construction of a hydropower plant was expected to increase mortality of fish in the canal so an electric fish barrier was installed at the diversion structure in 2012.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Sport fish

Fishing

South canal

Fact sheet

2 pages

2012

Fact Sheet

application/pdf

English

Colorado Parks and Wildlife