Passage Facility Engineering
FSP fisheries engineers have experience in supporting protocol-level field surveys, identification, classification, data collection, assessments, design, and construction management of fish passage facilities. Our team brings regional, national, and Canadian expertise in upstream passage of migratory fishes. Our passage facility experience incorporates a variety of designs ranging from the enhancement of natural streams to the construction of technical fishways, keeping within site constraints and biological requirements.
Our projects are designed to accommodate fish biology and behavioral characteristics of the target species. Site hydrology and hydraulics are evaluated to provide passage over the range of anticipated high and low flow migratory conditions.
Technical Fish Passage
FSPs engineers are leaders in the design of pool and weir, vertical slot, submerged orifice, roughened channel, and Denil type technical fish passage systems, paying careful attention to attraction flow, channel velocities, and approach conditions. NOAA Fisheries guidelines are utilized as the foundation to the basis of design of our fish passage facilities. Additional agency guidelines (State, Federal, or Provincial) are also utilized during the development of the basis of design. This approach allows for an expedited review of plans during the design phase leading to agency buy-in and reduced permitting time.
With technical passage systems operation and maintenance of the facility is critical to effectiveness of the facility to pass fish. Early in the design process, operators are engaged to provide input on designs, providing valuable information that will transcend into operational value post construction.
Passage Systems Designed by FSPs Engineers:
- QIN: Salmon River Pool and Weir Fishway
- DFO: Big Bar Slide, Whoosh
- DCCD: Rock Creek Vertical Slot Fishway
- Wells Hatchery: Adult Ladder Pool and Weir
