ENGIN2002 Engineering Project: Fish Ladder Design Report

This report details the design of a pool and weir fish ladder for the Torrumbarry weir on the Murray River, aimed at facilitating fish migration. The design considers fish characteristics and hydrological data collected during a site visit. The fish ladder consists of three pools, each 7.5m long and 11.25m wide, with a 3.75m-wide central orifice, and a 25.13m long spillway crest. The report includes design calculations, a model of the design, and a project timeline, concluding that the design is adequate for fish movement at varying flow rates and velocities. The design parameters, pool dimensions, and materials were carefully chosen to ensure fish-friendliness and efficient passage around the weir.

Running head: FISH LADDER DESIGN REPORT
DESIGN REPORT FOR THE FISH LADDER
Team: Group No. 10
No. Name ID % of
contribution to
the report
Signature
1 Praveen Kumar Anemoni 30344096 25
2 Vijay Kumar Yadav 30342371 25
3 Sai Chaitanya Gandle 30341486 25
4 Venkata Sai Prashanth 30342835 25

FISH LADDER DESIGN REPORT 2
Table of Contents
1. Summary............................................................................................................................................2
2. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................2
3. Design parameters.............................................................................................................................2
3.1. Fish characteristics.......................................................................................................................3
3.2. Hydrological data........................................................................................................................3
4. Design calculations............................................................................................................................5
5. Design model......................................................................................................................................6
6. Project timeline..................................................................................................................................7
7. Conclusion..........................................................................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................................9

FISH LADDER DESIGN REPORT 3
1. Summary
The main task in this project is to design a fish ladder for the Torrumbarry weir along Murray
River. A site visit was conducted and information gathered used to help in the design. Pool and
weir fish ladder has been selected for the weir. The fish ladder has been designed by considering
several factors including fish characteristics and hydrological data. The fish ladder has three
pools each measuring 7.5m long and 11.25m wide with a 3.75m-wide centre orifice. The fish
ladder has a 25.13m long and 6m high spillway crest with a 13.9m long chute sloping at 23°.
This design is adequate to facilitate fish movement over the Torrumbarry weir at different flow
velocities and rates.
2. Introduction
This report provides details of the design of the fish ladder that is planned to be installed
at Torrumbarry weir along Murray River. This weir was first constructed in 1924 but it was
extensively damaged in 1992 resulting to redesigning and reconstruction. Just like other weirs,
Torrumbarry weir hinders natural fish migration in Murray River thus the fish ladder in this
project is expected to help the fish move and migrate in the river (both upstream and
downstream) more easily. Murray River flows approximately 2,530 km and it is one of the major
rivers in Australia.
3. Design parameters
Fish ladders play a very key role in enhancing fish migration that contributes to fish
production and diversity. These structures are designed to provide an alternative routes over
weirs that obstruct free movement of fish in the river (Baumgartner, Zampatti, Jones, Stuart, &
Mallen-Cooper, 2014); (Duguay & Lacey, 2015). Fish migrates from one place to another along

FISH LADDER DESIGN REPORT 4
the river to: search for food, breed, move to and from spawning areas, run away from predators
and search for better environmental conditions (Edmonds, 2008).
Considering the important role that fish ladders play, there are several factors that must be
taken into account when designing them. Some of the parameters that were considered in the
design of fish ladder in this project include the following:
3.1. Fish characteristics
It is important to determine the characteristics of fish targeted before designing a fish ladder.
The specific characteristics considered in the design of fish ladder in this project are: species of
fish targeted, swimming abilities of the fish species, overall behavior of the fish, size of the fish
species (minimum and maximum size), age of the targeted fish, run size and the fish species’
biological requirements such as spawning and rearing habitats. These parameters affect the
ability of the fish to leap through the fish ladder effectively (Baigun, Nestler, Minotti, & Oldani,
2012). The main fish species in Murray River are: Murray cod, perch, catfish, European carp,
Redfin, Callop, Macquarie and Bream (Murray River, (n.d.)).
3.2. Hydrological data
The design of fish ladder is also influenced by the characteristics of the river including: river
flows’ range, river velocities, river water surfaces, seasonal river flow rates, flow depth, etc.
(Maeder, 2015). These factors affect the operability of the fish ladder. The fish ladder should be
designed to operate efficiently under a broad range of hydrological conditions because these
conditions usually vary from time to time.
The type of fish ladder model selected for this project is pool and weir. Pool and weir fish
ladders are the oldest type of fish ladders. These fishways provide plunging flow to the fish and

FISH LADDER DESIGN REPORT 5
resting areas thus helping the fish with hydraulic assistance to move upstream. Pool and weir fish
ladders have the ability to operate under two different types of hydraulic flow systems. First,
these fish ladders can operate under the normal hydraulic flow system where the flow is plunging
flow. Second, the fish ladders can also operate under the sporadic hydraulic flow system where
the velocity of the plunging flow is higher. At this point, the plunging flow at the water surface
gets converted to streaming flow. During streaming flow, the surface jet of the water passes over
the fish ladder weir crests overpassing the pool surfaces. This means that the fish will not rest in
the pool but will have a continuous flow or movement over the weir crests. It is difficult to
manage streaming flows and that it shy it is recommended that the height of the spillway crest is
big enough to accommodate the water depth even during heavy rainfall. It is also important to
note that when the flow is transiting from plunging flow to streaming flow, the hydraulic
instability created is likely to delay or affect the swimming of some fish species. This is because
streaming flow is not able to provide the required hydraulic boost for the fish to jump and
negotiate the fish ladder successfully.
In this design, the arrangement of the pools is in a stepped pattern and the pools with an
overflow weir between the pools. The specific parameters that must be considered when
designing a pool and weir fish ladder include: receiving volume of the pool, head differential
from one pool to another, the pools’ water depth and slope of the fish ladder.
The team conducted a site visit to Torrumbarry weir in Echuca to collect some vital data to
facilitate the design process of the fish ladder. One of the data collected was rock and soil data at
the Torrumbarry weir site. This information was helpful in determining the most suitable type of
material for the fish ladder’s foundation.

FISH LADDER DESIGN REPORT 6
The fish ladder in this project was designed with a target of being fish-friendly, effective and
efficient in enabling fish passage around the weir. The key parameters that the design team
focused on determining are: flow depth, pool length and jump height. It is also important to
consider the ease of constructing or installing the designed fish ladder at the site.
4. Design calculations
The width of the spillway crest of the pool weir fish ladder = 25.13 m. The height of the
spillway crest of the pool weir fish ladder = 6 m. This height of 6 m is the maximum height of
the spillway crest is usually active only during flooding.
The slope of the spillway chute is approximately 23 ° and its length is 13.9 m. The
spillway chute ends at a flat apron of 1.1 m long.
The flat apron at the end of the spillway apron ends at 1.9 m deep and a dissipation or
stilling pool of 15 m. The details of these parameters have been shown in the drawing of the pool
and weir fish ladder.
Different water velocities of flow along the spillway chute were measured and the values
obtained showed that velocities were below the projected flow supercritical meaning that the
operability of the fish ladder would not be affected by the velocities of the water.
The water levels on the spillway were also measured and found to be below the
maximum height of the spillway chute. This means that the height of the fish ladder was
adequate to accommodate the typical water depth flowing at the weir.
The total width of the overflow weir is 11.25 m and the length of the upper pool, middle
pool and lower poo is 7.50 m each. Each of the pools has a 3.75 m wide passageway/orifice
located at the centre of the pool. Thus based on the arrangement of the orifices and the overall

FISH LADDER DESIGN REPORT 7
pattern of the fish ladder, it is of the category centre pool and weir fish ladder. This is simply
because the orifices are located at the centre of the weir.
Depth of upper pool = 3.35 m, depth of middle pool = 2.81 m and depth of lower pool = 1.88 m
The summary of some of the design parameters of the pool and weir fish ladder in this project
are as provided in Table 1 below
Table 1: Summary of design parameters of the pool and weir fish ladder
Parameter Upper pool Middle pool Lower pool Total
Width, W 11.25 m 11.25 m 11.25 m
Length, L 7.50 m 7.50 m 7.50 m 22.50 m
Depth, D 3.38 m 2.81 m 1.88 m
Pool drop 0.37 m 0.57 m 0.93 m
Orifice width 3.75 m 3.75 m 3.75 m
5. Design model
The view of the spillway, section of the pool and weir fish ladder and the plan of the pool and
weir fish ladder are as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 below
Figure 1: View of the spillway

FISH LADDER DESIGN REPORT 8
Figure 2: Section of the pool and weir fish ladder
Figure 3: Plan view of the pool and weir fish ladder
6. Project timeline
The overall timeline of the project is as shown in Table 2 below
Table 2: Project timeline
Task
Wk1
Wk2
Wk3
Wk4
Wk5
Wk6
Wk7
Wk8
Prepare project proposal
Submit project proposal
Plan for site visit
Data collection (site visit)
Data analysis
Discuss findings with lecturer
Design fish ladder
Consult the lecturer about the
design

FISH LADDER DESIGN REPORT 9
Prepare final report
Submit final report
Presentation
From the project timeline in Table 2 above, the project will be completed in approximately eight
weeks.
7. Conclusion
The type of fish ladder selected for the Torrumbarry weir along Murray River in this project
is pool and weir. This is the oldest type of fish ladder and hence there is adequate information to
help the team design it effectively and efficiently. The spillway crest of the fish ladder has a
length of 25.13m, height of 6m, a 13.9m-long chute at a slope of 23° ending at a flat apron of
1.1m long. The fish ladder has three pools – upper pool, middle pool and lower pool. Each of
these three pools is 7.5 m long, 11.25 m wide and with a 3.75m-wide orifice. The depth and pool
drop of the pools vary. This design of the pool and weir fish ladder is adequate to facilitate fish
movement over the Torrumbarry weir at different flow rates and velocities.

FISH LADDER DESIGN REPORT
10
References
Baigun, C., Nestler, J., Minotti, P., & Oldani, N. (2012). Fish passage system in an irrigation dam
(Pilcomayo River basin): When engineering designs do not match ecohydraulic criteria.
Neotropical Ichthyology, 10(4), 741-750.
Baumgartner, L., Zampatti, B., Jones, M., Stuart, I., & Mallen-Cooper, M. (2014). Fish Passage in the
Murray-Darling Basin, Australia: Not Just an Upstream Battle. Ecological Management &
Restoration, 15(10), 1-15.
Duguay, J., & Lacey, R. (2015). Numerical Study of an Innovative Fish Ladder Design for Perched Culverts.
Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 1-35.
Edmonds, M. (2008, November 24). What Are Fish Ladders? Retrieved from How Stuffs Work:
https://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/fishing/fish-conservation/fish-
populations/fish-ladder.htm
Maeder, C. (2015, February 11). Design of Fish Passages & Ladders with HEC-RAS. Retrieved from Civil
GEO: https://www.civilgeo.com/design-fish-passages-ladders-hec-ras/
Murray River. ((n.d.)). Fishing in the Murray River offers a variety of fish species. Retrieved from Murray
River: http://www.murrayriver.com.au/fishing/