WDFW Fish Passage Summary:Barrier Assessment and Prioritization

WDFW Fish Passage

Overview

50/50 Class and FieldThis training will cover: Site Information Barrier Criteria Culvert Assessment Protocols Level A Level B

Dams Fishways

WDFW’s Fish Passage Inventory, Assessment, and Prioritization Manual

Introduction (Ch. 1) Site Identification (Ch. 2) Culvert Crossings (Ch. 3) Non-Culvert Crossings (Ch. 4) Dams (Ch. 5) Misc. Obstructions (Ch. 6) Natural Barriers (Ch. 7) Fishways (Ch. 8) Surface Water Diversions (Ch. 9) Habitat Assessment (Ch. 10) Habitat Data Entry (Ch. 11) Prioritization (Ch. 12)

https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02061

Broad Overview

Site Information - Feature Inventory Feature (Culvert, Dam, Fishway, etc.) - Data

Collection & Assessment Photos

Site Information

Location Info Lat/Long, Creek Name, Ownership, etc.

Site Comments Potential Fish Use

Fish Use POTENTIAL*: Yes, No, or Unknown

Fish Use Criteria (hierarchy):

Biological – salmonids (trout or salmon) observed during site visit

Mapped – fish-bearing on SalmonScape, DNR water type maps, PHS, etc.

Physical – next slide Other – explain in comments; Ex.

recent study documented fish use in this stream

*”Potential” includes spawning, rearing, and refuge habitat

POTENTIAL Fish Use – Physical CriteriaScour Line Width

>0.6 meters (2’) in Western WA >0.9 meters (3’) in Eastern WA

Gradient < 20%

Scour Line WidthThe horizontal distance between scour marks onboth banks - includes everything within the activechannel where stream flow would be expectedduring regular seasonal high flows.

Scour LineWidth

Bankfull Width

Scour Line WidthEmergent

vegetation, slope changeMoss, line of

debris

Scour marks are produced as a result of water action thatoccurs with enough frequency to leave a distinct mark upon thesoil or vegetation.

Look for indicators such as a line left by debris, pollen, silt, ormarks made by erosion or destruction of terrestrial vegetation.

Scour Line Width

Measuring Scour Line Width• Measure perpendicular to flow outside of the area

where normal stream function is influenced by aninstream feature.

• Take several SLW measurements within representativechannel segments to calculate an average.

Culvert Influence

Measure scour line width outside of culvert influence.

Culvert Influence:• Below high velocity scour or plunge pools at

downstream end• Above impounded sediment at upstream end

Non Fish-Bearing

NFB Records:

• Record physical measurements, if present.

• Provide a description of the channel, or describe the absence of channel.

Fish Passage Barrier Conditions

Shallow Water DepthHigh Velocity

Excessive Water Surface Drop

Based on salmonid swimming abilities

Velocity and Water Surface Drop criteria for 6” trout

Depth for adult Chinook

WDFW Basis of Barrier Criteria

High Fish Passage Flows[Qfphigh]- 10% Exceedance Velocity

Low Fish Passage Flows[Qfplow]- 95% Exceedance Depth

10% Nope

5% Nope

Fish

Pas

sage

Flo

ws

Fish passage should be provided at all flows between Qfplow and Qfphigh

Adult Fish Passage Requirements

Velocity limits should not be exceeded at any flow ≤ Qfphigh

Velocity criterion varies with the length of the culvert: < 30 m (100‘) long, max velocity is 1.2 mps (4.0 fps) 30 m – 60 m (100-200‘) long, max velocity is 0.9 mps (3.0 fps) > 60 m (200‘) long, max velocity is 0.6 mps (2.0 fps)

Adult Fish Passage RequirementsWater depth at any location within a culvert without a natural bed must be ≥ 0.30 m (1’) at any flow ≥ Qfplow

Adult Fish Passage RequirementsWater surface drops at the inlet, outlet, or interior of the culvert may not exceed 0.24 m (0.8')*

*between high and low fish passage flow

What is “Passability”?

0% - feature is a total barrier to some adult salmonids during a period within the range of fish passage flows. 33% - feature is a severe partial barrier to some adult

salmonids during a period within the range of fish passage flows. 67% - feature is a less severe partial barrier to some

adult salmonids during a period within the range of fish passage flows. 100% - no adult salmonids should be impeded when

attempting to pass through the feature during a period within the range of fish passage flows.

Culvert Assessment Overview

Barrier Status Unknown

Barrier

Not a Barrier

Not a Barrier or Unknown

Barrier

Prioritize Barrier for Correction

Culvert Encountered

Record Location Information

Conduct Level A Barrier Assessment

Conduct Level B Barrier Assessment

Conduct Habitat Assessment

Level A

To identify the most obviousbarriers and non-barriers.

Measures the culvert and nearby channel.

Culvert Number• Sequencer - Identifies culverts at multiple culvert stream

crossings. • Format X.Y, where X = specific culvert number and Y = total

number of culverts at crossing.• Number from left bank to right bank (looking

downstream)

Single culvertSequencer = 1.1

Double culvertSequencers = 1.2 & 2.2

Triple culvertSequencers = 1.3, 2.3, & 3.3

Multiple and Overflow Culverts

Comments: “0.61 m RND CST overflow pipe on RB”

Must also be within Bankfull

Culvert Number 1.2

Culvert Number 2.2

Overflow culvertDetermine at UPSTREAM end

Note: Do not include "highwater overflow" culverts in the sequencer and do not evaluate for fish passage; describe in comments section.

downstream

upstream

Materials - Concrete

Pre-Cast Concrete (PCC)

Cast-in-Place Concrete (CPC)

• Look for sign of forms

Steel (CST)• Rusts• Magnetic

Aluminum (CAL)

Materials – Corrugated Metal

Steel (SST)

Plastic (PVC)• Any plastics

Materials – Smooth

Steel (SPS)

Aluminum (SPA)

Materials – Structural Plate

Materials – Others

Timber (TMB)

Masonry (MRY)

Span and Rise Jargon

Invert

Soffit

Crown

Direction of Flow

Skewed Culvert

Span

Span and Rise – Cont.

Rise

Span

Rise

Span

Water depth is measured about 6” in from the culvert outlet at invert

Water Depth in Culvert

Culvert Shapes

Round (RND)

Squash(SQSH)

ARCH ARCH

BOX

Culvert Shapes

Ellipse(ELL)

The drop is measured from water surface to water surface.

Water Surface Drop

Infall dropInterior slope break

Outfall drop

Log or debris jam

Measure all water surface drops present,whenever safely possible. Record max drop online 10 and 11; describe others in Comments.

Rip-rap or debris at outlet: Measure water surface drop from culvert outlet to the launching pool.

Location: None, US, DS, or Both

Aprons

Length (without aprons)

Length (with aprons)

Length

Downstream InvertElevation (DSIE)

Upstream InvertElevation (USIE)

Culvert Slope

% Slope = Rise / ‘Run’ * 100aka

% Slope = [(USIE - DSIE) / Length] * 100

Road Fill Depth(to nearest whole meter)

Bed material ≥ 20% of culvert rise at outlet invert and present throughout entire length.

Countersunk: Yes/No

Assume embedment depth at outlet ≥ 20% of culvert rise. Is the culvert countersunk?

Yes

Yes

No

No

Backwatered: Yes/No

Backwatered - A culvert is considered backwatered if either of the following conditions apply: average velocity through the entire length of the culvert is

visibly slower than the average velocity in the adjacent channel, or

very little or no visible flow throughout entire culvert length

Is the culvert backwatered?

Outlet Inlet

Observe at both ends of culvert

Gate

Tide gates, floodgates, etc. – Yes/No, but…What is the intention?

• Impounding Water = Dam• Preventing Upstream Flow = Culvert

Gate

• Preventing Upstream Flow = Culvert= BARRIER*

*Still Collect Level A Data

Rack

• Trash Racks• Fences• Etc.

Streambed

Measure horizontal and vertical gaps• If Chinook Present: <0.30 m = Barrier• Chinook Not Present: <0.24 m = Barrier

Rack

Any man-made structure that facilitates the passage of fish through, over, or around a barrier.

Fishway

Bankfull Width

Scour Line WidthEmergent

vegetation, slope changeMoss, line of

debris

Indicators: topographic breaks along banks; change to uplandvegetation; stage where water just begins to overflow intoactive floodplain.

Bankfull Width

BANKFULL

Scour Line Width

Bankfull Width vs. Scour Line Width

Bankfull width can be measured upstream or downstream ofthe culvert, outside of the area of culvert influence. If feasible,take multiple measurements and record the average.

• Measure horizontally andperpendicular to flowfrom a point on the bankwhere water begins tooverflow into the activefloodplain.

• To a point at the same elevation on the opposite bank.

• Bankfull typically has a recurrence interval between 1 and 2 years.

Bankfull Width Indicators

Change in slopeor soil type.Change in Vegetation

Stains or Lichens

• Overtops bank into floodplain.

• Deposition of materials.• Measure from lower terrace.

Not so good place to measure BFW😟😟

Plunge PoolLength

Max Depth Downstream Control

Width

Good Photo

• In Landscape Context• Unobscured• 4:3 Ratio

Not Good

😟😟

No

Barrier Analysis – Level A

Collect Level A data

Is there a water surface drop ≥ 0.24m?

Is the culvert at least 20% countersunk?

Yes

Barrier

No

Is the culvert backwatered?Yes

Proceed to Level B

Proceed to Level B

Is the slope ≥ 1%Yes

BarrierNo

Yes

Is the culvert span ≥ 75% of BFW

Yes

Passable

No

No

Assigning passability to Level A barriers

When more than one parameter applies, use the more restrictive passability value.

Multiple-Culvert Crossings

• Collect Level A data for all culverts.• Barrier status and passability based on

the most passable culvert in the series.

Level A training video -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_78X9nn3hWE&feature=youtu.be

Rod

Heig

ht (R

H)

Datum (aka Benchmark). Usually the inlet invert. Arbitrarily set to 100 m.

Instrument Height (IH)

Back Shot

RH

Fore Shot

Elevation (ELEV)

Lvl B Prologue: Basic Surveying – Rotating Laser Level

Stadia Rod (RH)

StandardX

Metric

Setting a Datum

Select a reference point to assign an elevation of 100.00 meters – usually inlet invert

Find a good spot for your survey equipment and calculate instrument height relative to reference point

Calculating Instrument Height (IH)

Basic Surveying

Datum – Reference point from which all of the other elevations are calculated (100 m elevation).

Rod Height (RH) – The difference in elevation from the instrument height to the point you are trying to measure (back shots or fore shots).

Instrument Height (IH) – The height of the instrument. Calculated by taking a back shot from the instrument to a known elevation (usually the datum). IH = Datum Elevation + RH

Elevation (ELEV) – The calculated elevations based on a fore shot from the instrument height. ELEV = IH – RH

Vertical Distance (VD+/-) – For laser range finders

Level B

A more advanced hydraulic analysis used to calculate Velocity at High Fish Passage Design Flow (Qfphigh) Depth at Low Fish Passage Design Flow (Qfplow)

The Level B Analysis uses longitudinal and cross sectional profiles of the stream channel

Longitudinal Profile of Stream

Elevations are measured at the: • US end of culvert (invert and bed)• DS end of culvert (invert and bed)• DS control cross section• DS water surface 15m below control

Culvert Elevations

Collect this data for each culvert inmultiple culvert crossings.

100.002.00102.00102.00102.00102.00

1.00 101.003.00 99.002.50 99.50X

Backshot: IH = ELEV + RHForeshot: ELEV = IH - RH

Corrugation

Depth x Width (inches)• Most will be 0.5 x 2.66, 1 x 3, and 2 x 6 • If different specify using the same format

Width - Peak to Peak

Depth - Peakto Valley

Downstream Control X-Section

Collect this data once for the whole crossing.

Downstream Control = the point in the channel cross-section that controls the elevation of your outlet pool downstream of the culvertor controls the depth and velocity of water in the culvert.

Downstream Control

Downstream Control X-Section

Stretch cross-section from top of left bank to the top of right bank

measuring tape = STATION

0.00 1.05 1.35 2.40 3.50 3.90 4.65

DS control cross section profile elevations

Substrate F FF C B FC

Water Depth 0 00.01 0.05 0 0.080.1

RHIH

TopLB

ToeLB

ToeRB

TopRB

Bed1

Bed2

Bed3

RH

RH RH

RH RH

RH

Downstream Control X-Section

Foreshot: ELEV = IH - RH

102.00102.00102.00102.00102.00102.00102.00

3.00 99.001.33 4.50 97.50 0.00

FC

1.50 4.75 97.25 0.15 C1.98 4.25 97.75 0.00 B2.35 4.80 97.20 0.21 C2.81 5.00 97.00 0.39 F3.15 2.50 99.50 F

Downstream Control X-Section

102.00102.00102.00102.00102.00102.00102.00

3.00 99.001.33 4.50 97.50 0.00

FC

1.50 4.75 97.25 0.15 C1.98 4.25 97.75 0.00 B2.35 4.80 97.20 0.21 C2.81 5.00 97.00 0.39 F3.15 2.50 99.50 F

Water Surface Elevation (WSE) = ELEV + DEPCalculate Average WSE using only stations with DEP > 0

X97.40

X97.4197.39

97.40

WSE measurements should be within 0.05 m

Water Surface Elevation -Downstream of Control

15 m (Typically)102.00 6.00 X 96.00

Downstream WSE < X-Section Avg WSE

Precipitation (App. H) - Regional Mean Annual or 2-Year/24-Hour

Basin Area (mi2) ArcGIS USGS StreamStats Program Other mapping software

This information is needed to calculate the range of flows that will occur at the culvert site.

Other information needed for Level B analysis

Office Work

Hydraulic Analysis SoftwareFree: USFS’s Fish X-ing FHWA’s HY-8 USACE’s HEC-RAS

Not Free: CulvertMaster XPCulvert

Assigning passability to Level B barriers

When more than one parameter applies, use the more restrictive passability value.

Multiple-Culvert Crossings

• Assess every culvert in the crossing.• Barrier status and passability based on

the most passable culvert in the series.

When can you not do a Level B? Tidally influenced – protocol in development Internal grade break Confluence – culvert discharges immediately into another system Tributaries entering between outlet and control

Downstream control is inaccessible

Other Fish Passage Features

• Non-Culvert Crossings

• Dams• Miscellaneous• Fishways

• Fords• Puncheons• Abandoned/Washout• Bridges (motorized)• Footbridges

Non-Culvert Crossings

If span is > BFW, it is a bridge Use Non-Culvert Crossing Form (and Site ID form) Measure Span Record BFW Take Photos

Arch Culvert vs Bridge

“Bridgelvert”

DamsA manmade instream structure that results in an abrupt change in water surface..

..with the of impounding water

intent

WAC definition: built across a watercourse to control the flow or level of water

See back of form for the meaning of abbreviations

Dam Type Concrete [CN] Earth Fill [EF] Masonry [MS] Metal [MT] Rock Fill [RF] Timber [TB] Other [OT]

Material Type

• Irrigation• Navigation• Stock or Farm Pond• Fish Propagation• Hydroelectric• Wildlife Habitat• Water Supply• Flood Control• Water Quality• Tailings• Recreation

Primary Purpose

*Impounds storm water for sediment removal

i.e., Outlet Control Structure•Spillway•Standpipe•Flashboard Riser•Culvert

Outlet Type

*

Culverts vs. Dams

Inlet to underground storm water

NOT A DAM

Span• Full• Partial

Timing• Year-round or

SeasonalLength• Of entire

structure impounding water

Dams

Height • Of structure

Water Surface Difference• Measure if water is

flowing over crest of dam

Plunge Pool Depth• Maximum pool depth

below dam – to nearest 0.01 meters

Dams

Dam PassabilityDetermined by WS Drop – the difference in the water

surface elevation above and below the dam

Reminder – Gates on Culverts

Tide gates, floodgates, etc. – Yes/No, but…What is the intention?

• Impounding Water = Dam• Preventing Upstream Flow = Culvert

Assessing Gates – Culverts, etc.

• If fully or partially open, use Level A analysis (if possible).

• If barrier using Level A, dam is a barrier.

• If not a barrier, or not attached to culvert, barrier status is unknown.

If closed = barrier & passability % unknown

Stop Logs/ Flashboard Risers

If boards are in place and water surface drop > 0.24 m, then dam is a barrier

If boards not in place:• If attached to a culvert,

perform Level A. • Otherwise, barrier status

and passability of dam is unknown.

Temporary / Natural Dams

• Beaver and debris dams, landslides, etc.

• Not evaluated for fish passage.

Associated with a natural or man-made feature.

Fishway

Must be attached to another feature.

• Entire site evaluated together.

Data collection depends on fishway type

WSDrop used to determine barrier status for almost all fishways

Important notes about fishwaysFishways must be attached to another instream feature• Entire site is evaluated together Water Surface drop only criterion applied by field crews for most fishways (except streambed controls)

Do not report a streambed control as a fishway unless it functions to pass fish above, through, or around a barrier• Report it as a miscellaneous obstruction if it creates

a barrier condition [WS Drop ≥ 0.24m]

Entire site is evaluated together

Important notes about fishways

• Fishways require complex hydraulic analysis.

• Evaluation guidance in the Manual is intended to assist inventory crews with identifying common fishway types and obvious fishway design or maintenance issues that may cause fish passage delay or barrier conditions

Baffled Culverts (BC) or Baffled Flumes (BF)

Number of BafflesBaffle Type

• Concrete• Rock• Metal• Plastic• Wood• Other

WSDrop

Baffle Data Collection

“Standard” Fishways

Pool Chute

Weir Pool

Vertical Slot Steep Pass

Number of Pools• Count all pools associated with fishway, incl. pool

below the most downstream weir/control

Entrance Pool Depth

Weir Pool, Pool Chute, Vertical Slot, and Steep Pass Only

Fishway Data Collection

Maximum Water Surface Drop• Measure every water surface drop associated

with the fishway and record the maximum water surface elevation difference

Number of WeirsWeir Type

• Concrete• Rock• Metal• Plastic• Wood • Other

Streambed Control

Installed to influence flow, gradient, sediment, bed elevation, and/or improve passage.

Non Fishway Streambed Controls

Not associated with a another fish passage structure

Report as ‘Miscellaneous Barrier’ if WS Drop ≥ 0.24 m

• Grade Control Location None, Upstream, Downstream, Both

• Control Type Concrete, Gabion, Log, Plank, Saccrete, Rock

• # of Controls• Max WSDrop

Streambed Control Data Collection

Natural Barrier Stream Feature Types

Gradientsteep slope, chute, or cascading drop (cascade) > 20% for 160+ meters

Waterfallnear vertical drop > 3.7 meters vertical height

Subsurface flowpermanent or persistent interruption of surface flow

Chutes or Cascadesrequiring burst swimming, vertical and horizontal leaps

How do fish get upstream?

Fish attempt to migrate upstream of natural barriers by:

• Leaping• Burst Swimming• Sustained Swimming

Salmonid species have different swimming and leaping abilities

Jumping ability is affected by both horizontal and vertical distances

Subsurface Flow

No defined stream channel or evidence of overland flow at any time of the year

Look for scour andVegetation changes

Do not assign a Site ID

A sustained gradient over 20% for a distance greater than or equal to 160 meters

Upper limit for most adult salmonids

Gradient Barrier

Sustained gradient > 20% for ≥ 160 meters

Gradient Barrier

≥ 3.7 m near vertical drop with no steps = barrier

Waterfall

Step pool should have a depth > length of adult species present

Measure All Vertical Drops

step pool

Landing conditions

Launching Conditions

Mud Cr x Dry Cr, Walla Walla R

Compound Drops

Lower water surface drop = 3.4 m

gradient 18% for 12 meters without plunge pool

Upper water surface drop = 1.8 m

Cascade/ChuteRequires burst swimming and/or the fish to jump vertically and horizontally.

Are there steps? barrierNO

Plunge pools free ofobstructions and have adepth > the body length ofthe adult species present?

YES

barrier

YES

Adequate landing site, free of obstructions, without excessive

velocity or turbulence upstream of the step?

NO

barrier NO YES

Might be passable!

Where to measure?

Single 3.7 m drop originally measured by field crew

Series of smaller drops and lower gradient side-channel

• water velocity• depth of pool• fish’s orientation• fish’s ability to swim and

maneuver through intermediate steps

• distance to the nearest pool or velocity refuge

• obstructions (such as overhanging rock) upon landing

Success depends on both the LAUNCHING and LANDING conditions, influenced by:

Sometimes Pro Judgement is Warranted

• “Compound Barrier” = combo of more than one natural barrier feature exists, e.g., falls with steep gradient, bedrock cascade, or chute upstream

• Horizontal distances seem too great for fish to leap over vertical drop

• Waterfall > 3.7 m in vertical height, but there are steps or a side channel that could facilitate passage around the falls

Evaluate or visualize at various flowsSalmon and steelhead will wait for the optimum flow to navigate a barrier

May wait in plunge pool, or farther downstream, for extended periods and then move all at once during a 12-hour flood

At bankfull and high flows, fish may be able to:• swim around the edges• use smaller drops/steps• take advantage of deeper pools and landing areas

Note date, time, and flow conditions during assessment

Water levels, turbulence, drop heights, and pool depths will differ at various flows

Powers (2008)

Still unsure?

Document everything (safely):• Take very detailed notes and

photos; include it in FPDSI.• Measure Everything!• Estimate water height at

bankfull flows• Note the flow conditions• So are we!