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FISH PASSAGE, INCORPORATED 

 SMOLT TRANSPORT SYSTEM CONCEPT 



Thanks for the opportunity to present a review of the 

 Boylan Pressure Pipeline Smolt Transport system to Morrison 

 Knudsen. This presentation has been made to the NW Power Council 

 and accepted. The concept has been advanced to the current stage 

 where it is expected to be examined for feasibility as a Council 

 measure listed under transportation III, 3, A, 9 of the Doc 1991 

 Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife program. 



Briefly, the concept is to move Smolts continuously through 

 reservoir slack water within a thin-wall plastic pipe submerged 

 and tethered underwater. At each dam the Smolts would be 

 transported through the dam structure in existing Smolt bypass 

 facilities and reintroduced into another pipeline reach 

 immediately downstream. Pumps would move water and fish at 

 about 1.5 to 3 M.P.H. Fish would not make contact with pump or 

 pipeline parts. Total transit time from lower granite to below 

 Bonneville Dam could be between 4 and 8 days depending on 

 velocity and resting requirements. 



Pipeline diameter would be 24" or larger if Smolt density 

 considerations warrant. 



The biological concern over moving the Smolts this long way 

 will require testing and proof of feasibility. We propose a 

 sequence of lab and field tests to this end. Engineering and 

 better cost information would be obtained prior to a decision to 

 build a full-scale operational pipeline reach. 



We have discussed this concept infonnally with a number of 

 individuals experienced in the general area of fish transport 

 and no non-resolvable issue has been identified that would 

 eliminate feasibility. The Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife 

 authority has expressed pessimism but no basic impediment to a 

 pressure pipeline as an alternative Smolt transport means. We 

 have not identified a significant length pressure pipe fish 

 transport system that is functioning as a reference for 

 information. 



