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Downstream passage of silver European eel (Anguilla anguilla) at a pumping station with a gravity sluice

Baker, Nicola J.; Wright, Rosalind M.; Cowx, Ian G.; Murphy, Leona A.; Bolland, Jonathan D.

Authors

Nicola J. Baker

Rosalind M. Wright

Ian G. Cowx

Leona A. Murphy



Abstract

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla (L.)) is critically endangered after a multi-decadal decline. Anthropogenic disruption to downstream migration, including at water control structures such as pumping stations, is thought to be one of the contributing factors. Some pumping stations only operate during floods and river water drains through sluice gates under the influence of gravity (‘gravity sluice’ hereafter) at all other times. Gravity sluices are considered a safe downstream passage route for downstream migrating silver eels, but it is not known if eels approach or pass through them. This novel study aimed to understand the timing, passage routes and fine-scale behaviour of downstream migrating silver European eel (n = 7) immediately upstream of a pumping station with a gravity sluice using acoustic telemetry. During the study, three eels passed through pumps (42.9%) despite only operating for 8% of the time that the gravity sluice was open, two passed through the gravity sluice (28.6%) and the remaining two retreated upstream (28.6%). Long passage delays (up to 21 days) were observed and eels were detected retreating back upstream (up to 10 times) prior to passing downstream. It is recommended that operational changes are implemented to make the gravity sluice a more attractive downstream passage route for downstream migrating silver eels and thus reduce passage through hazardous pumps.

Citation

Baker, N. J., Wright, R. M., Cowx, I. G., Murphy, L. A., & Bolland, J. D. (2020). Downstream passage of silver European eel (Anguilla anguilla) at a pumping station with a gravity sluice. Ecological engineering, Article 106069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2020.106069

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 24, 2020
Online Publication Date Nov 6, 2020
Publication Date 2020-11
Deposit Date Nov 6, 2020
Publicly Available Date Nov 7, 2021
Journal Ecological Engineering
Print ISSN 0925-8574
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Article Number 106069
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2020.106069
Keywords Catadromous; Anguilla; Migration; Downstream passage; Bypass channel; Entrainment
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3654914
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925857420303578

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