Identifying three-dimensional swimming corridors for fish to match their swimming characteristics under different hydropower plant operations: Optimization of entrance location for fish-passing facilities

Fish that require migration are often diverse in the dam-built river, and some of them are benthic. For fish to pass efficiently across the dams, it is necessary to identify the swimming corridors and possible cluster areas of the target fish. However, previous studies have only predicted the two-dimensional swimming corridors of a single species. In this study, the relationships between the swimming behaviours of different species of fish and the three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic field were determined, and a model of the 3D swimming corridors corresponding to the fish swimming characteristics was constructed. The model was verified by a fish acoustic telemetry experiment. By simulating the river 3D hydrodynamic field in different scenarios, the possible swimming corridors and clustering areas of the target fish were further evaluated. We showed that the swimming corridors of the target fish were different among different scenarios, and the swimming corridors were mainly concentrated on both sides of the mainstream. With increased flow due to power station operation, the proportion of potential swimming corridors of target fish throughout the basin gradually decreased, and the proportion of velocity barrier zones of target fish gradually increased. By analyzing the possible swimming corridors of the target fish, the slow-flowing areas near the suddenly narrowed swimming corridors were considered to be the areas of target fish clustering. The cluster areas of the target fish weres also the optimal choice of the fish passing facility entrances, so as to ensure the best fish-crossing effect. The reliable and quantitative 3D fish swimming corridors model proposed in this study can provide a scientific basis for the layout of fish-crossing facilities and facilitate the scientific operation and management of the reservoir in the fish spawning season.