Electric Fish Dispersal Barriers

15+YEARS PREVENTED ASIAN CARP MIGRATION INTO LAKE MICHIGAN

PRESERVES HEALTHY GREAT LAKES FISHERY

Asian carp, specifically bighead and silver carp, are nuisance, non-native invaders of the Mississippi River system and potential invaders of the Great Lakes. Both species are expanding their geographic range and population sizes and threatening native fish populations, commercial fishing and human safety. Effective barrier systems are critical for preventing Asian carp migration into the Great Lakes and for preserving a healthy Great Lakes fishery valued at more than $7 billion per year. The Corps constructed and operates pulsating Direct Current electric barriers in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC), the only direct connection between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins. These barriers create in-water electric fields that deter the spread of invasive fish species between these two major watersheds. The barriers allow passage of commercial navigation vessels while preventing fish from moving upstream toward the Great Lakes. There are two electric barriers currently operating in the canal, with another permanent barrier under construction. A fourth barrier is in the pre-construction, engineering and design phase at Brandon Road Lock and Dam.

PROBLEM: Invasive species such as Asian carp can greatly disrupt U.S. ecosystems and waterborne commerce from the Mississippi basin to the Great Lakes. Optimizing electrical dispersal barrier operations to prevent passage of these invasive species requires detailed information on the pulse amplitude, frequency and duration needed to maintain an effective electrical field. Understanding Asian carp physiological tolerance and burst swim speeds when exposed to electric fields is also important for design, placement and operation of effective barrier systems. Minimizing electrical output to achieve power conservation and reduce operating costs and safety issues is also a major consideration.

SOLUTION: ERDC research uses swim tunnels and flumes to challenge live Asian carp with various combinations of electric pulse amplitude, frequency and duration under varying environmental and water quality conditions. Additional laboratory and field studies on Asian carp swim performance, leaping ability, fecundity and population dynamics improved knowledge of these invasive fish species and are useful for developing barrier design criteria and placement.

IMPACT: ERDC research provided critical information for establishing effective operational protocols for electric barrier systems. These parameters ensure barrier effectiveness and performance while conserving energy, reducing life cycle operation and maintenance costs, improving safety, and maintaining navigation and environmental missions. The electric dispersal barriers have prevented Asian carp passage into the Great Lakes for more than 15 years, preserving and protecting valuable aquatic resources to benefit the Nation.

“ERDC’s research has been essential to the success of the CSSC barriers. The barriers must be operated with the correct in-water electric field to stop fish movement, and we base all of our operational electric output on ERDC’s research results.” Chuck Shea, Project Manager, CSSC Dispersal Barriers, Chicago District