ESR14 - Innovative criteria for enhancing technical solutions for fish passage at hydropower plants

Host Institution: POLITO - Politecnico di Torino

The project will focus on collective behaviour of small-sized migratory fish in different hydrodynamic environments. Experimental results will strive to identify metrics and threshold values to be used as a reference for improving the performance of fish passage solutions at hydropower dams for gregarious fish species. In addition, the current scientific knowledge will be reviewed to identify proper hydrodynamics and turbulence metrics/threshold values related to successful fish passage along fishways and to select adequate CFD tools for designing efficient devices using the identified metrics as a reference. Through the cooperation with ESR04, the potential use of biomarkers to assess fish stress due to turbulence will be investigated as a possible additional metric for the above purpose. Specific field-based experiments will be designed and carried out in close cooperation with ESR08, using a portable flume that allows for creating controlled hydrodynamic conditions while running experiments in close vicinity of the river.

Secondment period (to be confirmed): Expected duration: 6 months; Hosting institutions: UNIPD (Università degli Studi di Padova - Padova, Italy), NOAB (Norconsult AB - Goteborg, Sweden)