Laboratory Study to Reduce the Transport of Asian Carp by Barges
Abstract
Potential migration of Asian carp through the Illinois River, Des Plaines River, and Chicago Area Waterway System is a risk facing the Great Lakes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has installed electric barriers within the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) near Romeoville, IL, to deter fish from using the canal as a pathway to enter the Great Lakes. Commercial tows operating within the CSSC produce residual currents that can entrain and potentially transport fish across the barrier. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center was tasked by the USACE Chicago District to investigate mitigation measures to remove entrained fish from the recesses between barges and to reduce effects of return currents in transporting fish across the barriers. A 1:16.7 scale physical model with remote-controlled tow and barges was used to evaluate mitigation strategies. For southbound tows, mitigation measures include maintaining a minimum discharge in the canal to overcome the return current or reducing vessel speeds across the barriers. For northbound tows, mitigation measures include vessel maneuvers and upward facing jets to dislodge or remove fish during passage. These jets were effective at flushing fish for lower vessel speeds (2.5 miles per hour).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1059255
Entities
People
- Christine Moore
- Christopher Callegan
- Duncan B. Bryant
- Jarrell Smith
- Lauren Coe
- Richard Styles
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center