Behavior and Passage Performance of Northern Pike, Walleyes, and White Suckers in an Experimental Raceway

Abstract

AbstractThe willingness and ability of wild adult northern pike Esox lucius, walleyes Sander vitreus, and white suckers Catostomus commersonii to ascend a 25‐ or 50‐m experimental raceway against various water velocities (35–120 cm/s at 8 cm from the bottom) was measured. The probability that a fish of any given species would enter the raceway from its holding tank was significantly correlated with fork length, water temperature, and tank volume but was not correlated with water velocity. On average, 62.6% of northern pike, 45.0% of walleyes, and 44.2% of white suckers entered volitionally. For those fish that entered, the probability that at least one complete ascent would occur during the exposure period was not dependent on fish length, water temperature, raceway length, duration of the exposure period, time in captivity, or water velocity. On average, 74.4% of northern pike, 76.4% of walleyes, and 77.3% of white suckers that entered the raceway made at least one complete ascent. For northern pike and walleyes, the proportion of successful ascents at the highest water velocity tested (120 cm/s) was significantly lower than the proportions observed at the lower velocities. No significant differences were found among ascent proportions for white suckers. Fish in general may be more inclined to enter a culvert if the pool downstream of the entrance is relatively small. Culverts less than 50 m long should allow these species to pass as long as water velocities near the bottom do not exceed 100 cm/s. Fish passage models based on published data from forced performance trials predicted lower maximum allowable water speeds, which adds to a growing body of work that indicates the unsuitability of these tests for use in setting velocity criteria in culverts and fishways.