title: Indirect effects of impoundment on migrating fish: temperature gradients in fish ladders slow dam passage by adult Chinook salmon and steelhead.
abstract: Thermal layering in reservoirs upstream from hydroelectric dams can create temperature gradients in fishways used by upstream migrating adults. In the Snake River, Washington, federally-protected adult salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.) often encounter relatively cool water in dam tailraces and lower ladder sections and warmer water in the upstream portions of ladders. Using radiotelemetry, we examined relationships between fish passage behavior and the temperature difference between the top and bottom of ladders (∆T) at four dams over four years. Some spring Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) experienced ∆T ≥ 0.5 °C. Many summer and fall Chinook salmon and summer steelhead (O. mykiss) experienced ∆T ≥ 1.0 °C, and some individuals encountered ΔT > 4.0°C. As ΔT increased, migrants were consistently more likely to move down fish ladders and exit into dam tailraces, resulting in upstream passage delays that ranged from hours to days. Fish body temperatures equilibrated to ladder temperatures and often exceeded 20°C, indicating potential negative physiological and fitness effects. Collectively, the results suggest that gradients in fishway water temperatures present a migration obstacle to many anadromous migrants. Unfavorable temperature gradients may be common at reservoir-fed fish passage facilities, especially those with seasonal thermal layering or stratification. Understanding and managing thermal heterogeneity at such sites may be important for ensuring efficient upstream passage and minimizing stress for migratory, temperature-sensitive species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Caudill
authors.affiliation: Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Keefer
authors.affiliation: Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America.
authors.forename: Tami S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Clabough
authors.affiliation: Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America.
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Naughton
authors.affiliation: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Fish Ecology Division, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Idaho Fisheries Resource Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ahsahka, Idaho, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Peery
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water