College of Science and Engineering Fish Passage Planning and Design Key Topics and Publications

Key Topics and Publications

Natural resource managers, environmental scientists, design engineers and other practitioners are increasingly required to address aquatic fauna connectivity issues and provide for fish passage at small waterway structures (for example: culverts, causeways, grade control).

These design practitioners and managers often face the challenge of how best to incorporate fish passage provisions with other multipurpose design requirements for the structures (for example: transport, drainage function, amenity and environmental values). Important questions posed in road and waterway projects often include:

how to integrate fish passage planning and design within other project activities
which mitigation measures are appropriate to meet fish passage requirements
and how these measures are performing over time

Agency personnel, consultants, contractors and others are not likely to have the expertise required to undertake all aspects of this work. Their expertise will lie in particular areas or resource or infrastructure management / planning / design / construction, and they should seek specialist input on the relevant aspects of fish passage planning and design.

Practitioners and managers will often develop a working knowledge of many aspects of aquatic fauna connectivity and fish passage planning and design for waterway structures. Understanding of the following key topics will assist in these endeavours:

Publications

JCU School of Engineering and Physical Sciences developed fish passage planning and design protocols for practitioners and managers provides leading-edge guidance to government agencies and industry and participates with the community in development and demonstration of fishway facilities.

Publications in this specialist field of fish passage planning and design and aquatic fauna connectivity at small waterway structures include: Culvert Fishway Planning and Design Guidelines

Author: Ross Kapitzke April 2010 - ver 2.0
Cited As: Kapitzke, I.R. 2010, Culvert Fishway Planning and Design Guidelines, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia, available at: http://www.jcu.edu.au/fishpassagedesign/

The Culvert Fishway Planning and Design Guidelines are intended to introduce designers to fish migration barrier problems at waterway structures; assist in the identification of mitigation options; present a framework for planning, design and implementation of fish passage facilities; and provide a basis for achieving multipurpose outcomes in relation to fish passage, drainage, utility and environmental values.

James Cook University's College of Science and Engineering develops fish passage planning and design protocols for practitioners and managers, provides leading-edge guidance to government agencies and industry, and participates with the community in development and demonstration of fishway facilities: