FishPath: computer application for design of vertical slot fishways

Abstract

Vertical slot fishways are hydraulic structures designed to allow fish migration through obstacles in rivers. The appropriate design of these devices depends on an interplay between hydraulic and biological variables, since the hydrodynamic properties of the fishway must meet the requirements of the fish species for which it is intended. This paper presents a computer application to analyze the efficiency of a fishway model according to biological criteria. The proposed model applies restrictions relative to the swimming capacity of fish, their depth requirements and their needs regarding turbulent energy dissipation. It allows the objective comparison of designs and the determination of which is to be more efficient. It is expected that the application can provide guidance to the technicians involved in fishway design regarding the systematic application of hydrobiological criteria, which also incorporate the latest research findings in this field.

Keywords

• Escalas de peces
• Capacidad de natación de los peces
• Diseño hidráulico