Fish deterrents are an essential addition to water diversion systems that conserve fish populations whilst protecting water management infrastructure.
This paper discusses fish screen designs required to avoid the high fish mortality rates resulting from entrainment in irrigation pipes, water diversions systems and hydropower intakes.
Fish protection is an important element of managing water intakes. Fish protection often defined as fish exclusion, includes, not only limiting entrainment of fish at intakes, but also protecting fish from injury or mortality resulting from operation of the intake.
Currently, in Australia and New Zealand there are real concerns about the effectiveness of many traditional fish exclusion technologies already in use.
Over a number of years, AWMA undertook an extensive international review of Fish Exclusion Screen technologies. This paper shares their findings by presenting the operational performance details and features of the innovative technologies available in the market and discussing their suited applications.
Australian manufactured fish exclusion screen technologies adhere with the USEPA 316(b) compliant design requirements and the NIWA Fish screening: good practice guidelines for Canterbury.
There are currently two screen designs that are in accordance with industry best practice, manufactured in Australia and available under full quality and industry compliance; Cylinder Screens and Engineered Polymer Travelling Screens.
The cylinder screen is used for submerged intakes and designed to protect fish from being entrained in a diversion as well as preventing them from being impinged on the screen surface.
The Travelling Screens is a chainless screen design using a unique engineered polymer material. This screen delivers advantages others can't offer; lower ownership costs, operational efficiency and reliable performance.
This paper reviews the theory of traditional screens and provides insight into the innovative methodologies now available, to ensure the importance of fish health and water wealth are both paramount.