Fish passage and ice processes in relation to turbulent flow in open-channels

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My research is focused on two rapidly developing fields within the discipline of fluvial hydraulics: 1) ecohydraulics and 2) river ice. ******Fishes are among the most important natural resource in the world; in 2013 fish accounted for about 17% of the global population's intake of animal protein. Fish stocks are depleting at an alarming rate worldwide and while overexploitation is the leading cause in ocean environments, in freshwater, flow regulation and habitat fragmentation due to dams and culverts are major contributors. Optimal solutions from new methods/designs that are grounded in sound scientific evidence demonstrating fish passage success are needed. Floods are the most costly natural disasters in Canada, and most of them occur during spring runoff when melting snow and ice are present. Improved ability to understand ice processes in rivers with the ultimate goal of preventing or mitigating the impacts of ice jams and associated high water levels would both improve public safety and reduce the annual cost of the flooding events. Issues such as whether river ice affects bed material transport, modifies channel morphology, and reduces or amplifies bank erosion, remain largely unaddressed. ******In this context, my research program aims to: 1) optimize the design of fish passage structures based on fish swimming mechanics and turbulent flow structure; and 2) quantify ice related sediment transport and plan-form morphological change and anchor ice growth on water intakes. In the next five years, the first axis of my research will quantify fish passage success through fish baffled culverts (e.g., weir, slotted weir, spoiler baffles) and fishways (e.g., pool-weir, slotted weir). Using combined state-of-the art measurement techniques (e.g., stereo particle image velocimetry, passive integrated transponder tracking, high-speed video, computational fluid dynamics), my research will identify turbulent flow structure along the trajectories used by fish as they make their assent through baffles and fishways leading to breakthroughs in their design. The second axis of my research program will investigate the links between river ice and morphological change. Sediment transport due to ice and non-ice processes will be quantified throughout the year leading to a comprehensive sediment budget. Innovative experiments on prototype water intake designs which deter anchor ice growth will also be undertaken. The results of my research will directly address the problem of fish habitat fragmentation, lead to better predictions of ice induced morphological change and improve designs of water intakes, thus promoting environmental stewardship and economic growth for Canada.