Fishway Types

A number of fishway types are used to overcome the various hydraulic barriers to upstream fish migration at road culverts and other waterway structures. Fish migration barriers within the culvert barrel / inlet / outlet, on aprons and in channels and other hydraulic zones at these structures may include the following:

  • high velocities
  • shallow water depth
  • lack of resting place
  • excess turbulence
  • water surface drop

Fishway types used at these sites include the Block Ramp fishway for weirs, grade control and drops, and the Offset Baffle fishway for box culverts, aprons and channels.

More information on evaluation of fish migration barriers at waterway structures, choice of fishway types for particular sites, and design of fishway facilities is available in Culvert fishway planning and design guidelines (Kapitzke 2010).