Ensuring fish can safely migrate past high-head dams is a critical challenge for hydropower projects and river management worldwide. These barriers, while essential for human needs, often disrupt natural fish migration routes, making it difficult for species to reach spawning grounds. Addressing this issue requires innovative, species-considered solutions that align with modern environmental and conservation goals.
At Whooshh Innovations, we’ve designed advanced systems that offer a new approach to high-head dam fish passage.
High-head dams present a unique challenge to migrating fish, particularly to species like salmon and trout that need to travel upstream to spawn. Traditional methods of fish passage, such as fish ladders and lifts, have been in use for decades but often fall short when it comes to efficiency, especially at high-head dams. These conventional methods are not always adaptable to different fish species or sizes and changing river conditions and can result in lower passage rates. Moreover, maintaining a self-sustaining fish population is difficult when fish face predators or other barriers along their migration paths.
At Whooshh Innovations, we’ve taken these challenges head-on. Our team has developed advanced technologies that make fish passage more efficient and less stressful for the fish, reducing the need for manual handling while ensuring safe migration over significant heights.
One of the standout Whooshh technologies is the PassagePortal™ Model L, a cutting-edge fish passage system designed specifically for high-head dams. This system goes beyond traditional fish ladders by using differential air pressure and misted tubes to safely transport fish over heights exceeding 700 feet and distances up to 1,700 feet. By integrating our solution into hydropower projects, river management teams can better facilitate fish migration while meeting environmental goals.
The PassagePortal™ Model L offers a selective, individual and species-specific solution, ensuring fish are passed safely and monitored effectively. This system also reduces the impact of external threats, such as predators, by operating 24/7 reducing passage delays. In addition, the negative migration effect of climate change warm water in fish ladders is avoided as the PassagePortal™ facilitates fish passage via transport through flexible tubes applying differential air pressure and misted, cooled air.
A key aspect of successful fish passage is collecting detailed data on the species migrating through the system. The PassagePortal™ system comes equipped with advanced sensors and cameras that collect vital information on each fish, such as size, species, and passage time. For high-head dam fish passage projects, this capability provides real-time insights into the movement and condition of fish populations, allowing researchers and fisheries managers to make data-driven decisions for conservation efforts.
The system uses our innovative FishlRecognition™ technology, which allows automated, handsfree, capture and containment-free fish monitoring. It can identify and sort fish without manual handling, minimizing stress and injury. This capability is especially beneficial for fish populations at risk of decline, as it provides the needed data while reducing the time and impact of traditional monitoring, helping to preserve the health of each individual fish passing through the system.
By providing a more effective, safer, and energy-efficient fish passage system, Whooshh Innovations is setting a new standard for hydropower projects and river management. Our solution aligns with long-term conservation goals while ensuring fish populations remain healthy and sustainable.
At Whooshh Innovations, we believe that high-head dams no longer need to be barriers to fish migration. With our PassagePortal™ system, we’re opening up new possibilities for safely passing fish over even the highest dams while maintaining ecological balance.
If you’re looking to enhance fish passage at high-head dams while supporting environmental sustainability, Whooshh Innovations is here to help you achieve that goal.
