https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/5bdc715b30f4e9618d1264a3634676ab.jpg 0f1e0c87b28c60ef14d7cbf5b7098166 https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/43f89a1b2ebb1294dc11364f8aafb865.jpg bee9372025530d6b6b884c4645cdf13a https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/25502b6b5df14ac018f31c1f4cbcaaac.jpg a5834c6618538eb9883fbbcd8438857e https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/37a3d4c0a0a27aa85e45156186a89cf6.jpg 645ed6af375e6ab021a52d0e4a1faef8 https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/9528ee76b748d3b9812391ae72184181.pdf 28b7830f38d58eed59e4e8c0c4b05a6c PDF Text Text C O L O R A D O P A R K S & W I L D L I F E Fish Passage at River Structures RESEARCH AND DESIGN GUIDELINES Introduction Instream structures, such as culverts, water diversions and dams, can negatively affect fish by fragmenting populations, reducing migratory ranges, and limiting access to habitat for spawning, feeding and refugia. Many rivers in Colorado contain man-made structures that create partial (obstacles) or complete barriers depending on the fish species and life stage. Habitat fragmentation associated with instream barriers is a serious threat to Colorado’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and sport fisheries. Therefore, it is important that fisheries managers (A) identify and evaluate the influence of instream structures on fish populations. Fish Passage Research Objectives The primary goal of fish passage research is to restore connectivity in fragmented river systems by: (1) evaluating the effectiveness of existing fishways; (2) evaluating the barrierpotential of common river structures; and (3) establishing fish swim performance criteria for native and sport fishes. Current Fish Passage Research Projects Active fish passage research projects include: (1) evaluation of native fish passage at existing fishways located on Front Range transition zone streams; (2) evaluation of fish passage at instream whitewater park structures; (3) laboratory studies to develop fish swim and jump performance criteria for Colorado fishes where data is lacking; and (4) development of new techniques and technologies for investigating fish movement and passage in rivers. (B) Fishway Design Fishways, or “fish ladders”, are engineered structures designed to facilitate passage around an obstacle or barrier. Fishways attempt to incorporate species- and life stagespecific swimming and jumping abilities into designs. Common elements of successful fishways include: (1) low velocity pathways that do not exceed burst speeds or endurance capabilities for target species (Figure A); (2) water depths that do not limit swimming performance (Figure B); (3) vertical drops that do not exceed the jumping ability for target species - note that many species native to Colorado do not exhibit jumping behaviors (Figure C); (4) sufficient attraction flow, or the flow that emanates from a fishway entrance, to ensure that fish can locate the fishway; and (5) maintenance of the above design elements over the expected range of streamflows. (C) COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE • 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 • (303) 297-1192 • cpw.state.co.us �Fishway Examples Some examples of successful fishways include engineered rock ramps (Figure D), constructed riffles (Figure E), and vertical slot fishways (Figure F). Each type of fishway has advantages and disadvantages related to which fish species and life stages are present and the conditions of the project site. Engineered Rock Ramp Constructed Riffle Vertical Slot Diversion Crest Piney Creek, Wyoming Fossil Creek Reservoir Inlet Diversion, Cache la Poudre River (D) Rock Weirs CCC Ditch, San Miguel River (E) (F) Aquatic Habitat Types From the high-gradient, boulder-dominated, step-pool channels of snowmelt fed mountain streams to the lowgradient, well-vegetated, pool-riffle rivers of the eastern plains to the majestic, vertically-confined canyons on the arid Colorado Plateau, aquatic habitats in Colorado are as diverse as the geographic regions where they are found. Native Colorado fishes have unique morphological characteristics that are adapted to the natural conditions found in each aquatic habitat type. These adaptations affect the swimming abilities of fish, influencing how they move through and use diverse habitats. Fisheries managers must take the diversity of fish species into consideration when evaluating river structures and designing fishways. Fish Swimming Performance by Family Family Name Percidae (Perches) SGCN (#) Fundulidae (Topminnows) Cottidae (Sculpin) Ictaluridae (Catfish) Cyprinidae (Minnows) Catostomidae (Suckers) Centrarchidae (Sunfish) All illustrations of fish © Joseph R. Tomelleri 3 Prolonged Speed (ft/s) 0.4 - 1.2 Burst Speed (ft/s) NA - 2.4 Jump Height (ft) 0* Habitat Types EP 1 0 1 13 5 1 1.3 - 1.6 1.4 - 1.7 1.3 - 2.0 1.3 - 2.4 1.3 - 2.5 1.1 - 2.9 2.6 - 3.4 3.3 - 3.9 2.0 - NA 2.4 - 4.4 2.2 - 3.2 2.6 - NA 0.1 - 0.2 0* NA - 0.2 0* - 0.5 NA - 0.8 0.4 - NA EP CP, MS EP, TZ CP, EP, MS, RG, TZ CP, EP, MS, RG, TZ EP Salmonidae (Trout) 3 2.3 - 4.0 4.5 - 7.5 1.0 - 7.0 MS, RG, TZ SGCN = Species of Greatest Conservation Need, # of species/subspecies; * = fish species does not exhibit jumping behavior; NA = data were not available; CP = Colorado Plateau, EP = Eastern Plains, MS = Mountain Streams, RG = Rio Grande; TZ = Transition Zone The values reported above are summarized from multiple species within each family and are intended to support passage for juvenile life stages. Swim speeds and jumping abilities within species are size dependent. Species-specific performance criteria should be used whenever possible. The selection of target species for individual projects should be based on the management objectives for the site in question. Consultation with the local Area Aquatic Biologist at CPW is strongly encouraged during the early planning stages for any fish passage project in Colorado. The information in this fact sheet is based on the best available data and knowledge, but is subject to revision as more information becomes available. COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE • 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 • (303) 297-1192 • cpw.state.co.us � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Aquatics Research Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Fish Passage and Barrier Studies Description An account of the resource Led By <a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/533">Matt Kondratieff</a>  and <a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/534">Eric Richer</a>  Study Area Statewide Project Status Ongoing Research Objectives <ul> <li>To evaluate the effects of instream barriers on the upstream and downstream migration of Colorado fishes</li> <li>To evaluate the effectiveness of natural and engineered barriers for the protection of native cutthroat trout populations</li> <li>To develop fish swimming and leaping performance criteria for Colorado fishes</li> <li>To develop fish passage and barrier design criteria</li> <li>To assist with fish passage and barrier design for new or existing structures</li> </ul> Project Description Vertical obstacles in streams and rivers, such as waterfalls, culverts and water-diversion structures, can impact fish by fragmenting populations and reducing migratory ranges. However, these barriers can also protect fish populations from predators, reduce competition for food and limit the possibility for hybridization and disease. Therefore, it is important that fisheries managers identify and evaluate the impact of in-stream structures on fish populations. CPW has initiated several research studies to evaluate the effects of in-stream structures on Colorado fisheries. These projects can be divided into two distinct categories: (1) fish passage projects and (2) fish barrier projects. The primary goal of fish passage projects is to restore connectivity to fragmented river systems. Culverts, dams and water-diversion structures are commonly found on most rivers in Colorado and often reduce migratory ranges. Trout and other fish species migrate upstream to spawn and downstream to spend the winter. River systems that are fragmented can impair migration and adversely impact fish populations. Fish passage research is focused on evaluating the effectiveness of existing fishways and developing species-specific design criteria to improve connectivity in Colorado rivers. In response to the 2013 flood along the Colorado Front Range, CPW helped organize a Fish Passage Workshop and Webinar to disseminate design options and criteria to improve passage at water-diversion structures.  Fish barrier projects are primarily focused on protecting <a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/571">native cutthroat trout</a> from downstream threats. Natural or engineered barriers are used to isolate cutthroat trout in headwater streams, which protects them from <a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/481">whirling disease</a>, hybridization with rainbow trout and competition with brook trout and other non-native fish species. The goal of fish barrier research is to develop design and monitoring guidelines that will improve the selection of natural barriers and effectiveness of engineered barriers. Fish barrier research for cutthroat trout conservation is focused on monitoring existing barriers and applying design criteria to maximize effectiveness of new barrier projects. Associated Publications Ficke, A.D. and C.A. Myrick. 2007. <a href="https://cpw.catalog.aspencat.info/Files/1137/ViewPDF">Fish barriers and small plains fishes: fishway design recommendations and the impact of existing instream structures</a>. Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado: 109 pp. Kondratieff, M.C. and C.A. Myrick. 2006. <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1577/T04-210.1#aHR0cDovL3d3dy50YW5kZm9ubGluZS5jb20vZG9pL3BkZi8xMC4xNTc3L1QwNC0yMTAuMT9uZWVkQWNjZXNzPXRydWVAQEAw">How high can a brook trout jump? A laboratory evaluation of brook trout jumping performance</a>. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 135: 361-370. Kondratieff, M.C., and C.A. Myrick. 2005. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1577/T03-174.1">Two adjustable waterfalls for evaluating fish jumping performance</a>. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 134:503-508. Brandt, M.M., P. Holloway, C.A. Myrick, and M.C. Kondratieff. 2005. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1577/T03-175.1">Effects of waterfall dimensions and light intensity on age-0 brook trout jumping performance</a>. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 134:496-502. Myrick, C.A., and M.C. Kondratieff. 2004. <a href="https://npshistory.com/publications/romo/nrtr-2005-337.pdf">An evaluation of a potential barrier to the upstream movement of brook trout in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado</a>. National Park Service Technical Report NPS/NRWRD/NRTR-2005/337. Fact Sheet: <a href="https://npshistory.com/publications/romo/nrtr-2005-337.pdf">Fish Passage at River Structures: Research and Guidelines</a> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource <a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/533">Kondratieff, Matthew C.</a> <a href="https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/items/show/534">Richer, Eric E.</a> Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/">No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only</a>