Development of fishway assessment model based on the fishway structure, hydrology and biological characteristics in lotic ecosystem

Abstract

The main goal of this study is to develop a multi-metric fishway assessment model (Mm-FA) and evaluate the efficiency of fishway. The Mm-FA model has three major fishway components with nine metrics: structural characteristics, hydraulic/ hydrologic features, and biological attributes. The model was developed for diagnosing and assessing fishway efficiency and tested to Juksan Weir at the Yeongsan River Watershed. Structural characteristics of fishway included slope of the fishway (M1), ratios of fishway width to stream width (M2), and the proportion of orifice clogging and orifice size (M3). Hydraulic/hydrologic characteristics included depth of fishway entrance head (M4), depth of exit tail (M5), and current velocity of inner fishway (M6). Biological characteristics included fish species ratio of inner fishway to upper-lower weir (M7), fish length distribution (M8), and the proportion of migratory fish species to the total number of species (M9). Over­all, the assessment of fishway efficiency showed the total score of the Mm-FA model was 25 in the Juksan Weir, indicating “good condition” by the criteria of the five-level classification system. The Mm-FA model may be used as a key tool for the assessment of fishway efficiency, especially on the 16 weirs constructed for the “Four Rivers Restoration Project” after a partial calibration of Mm-FA model.