How Fish Survive Hydro Turbines

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"Dammed if you do Dammed if you don't" -the fish

Thanks for coming to PNNL and sharing our hydropower and fish passage science with the world!

I am so thrilled to have found this video. Several years ago I worked on a project relating to the Ardnacrusha power station on the River Shannon in Ireland. Turns out that the fish pass was only built 60 years after the hydroelectric station began its work - with the result that most of the salmon and eels that used to travel far upstream to reproduce had fallen victim to the impossibility of getting over the hurdle. With the remedial work a hatchery was installed that eventually helped restock rivers in Ireland and abroad, e.g. the Rhine. That hatchery attracted me like a magnet and I followed the complete cycle - and fell in love with the hatchlings. Knowing that the whole business can be managed so much better now and the negative impact on the fishes reduced considerably gives me great joy.

As Fish biologist who works closely with hydropower dams, I've enjoyed learning some of the principals of engineering and hydraulics from your videos. Its great to see some videos come full circle back to what us biologists can teach the engineers so we can all work together to come up with better solutions.

We seriously need an extended cut, "second channel" video about your tour through the dam. I can not emphasize this enough.

Thanks for coming to PNNL! It is great that you came here.

I believe that videos like this increase the quality and intelligence of humanity. Thank you for your services.

"Best dam tour guide..." 😂 Well played Grady!

“Best dam tour guide I’ve ever met”. Well done

As the FERC inspector of fish passage facilities at non federal dams here in the northeast US (retired), it was gratifying to watch the Corps efforts in trying to balance energy generation and natural resources at their power facilities. We do not have the size and scale of those facilities here so the fish passage designs are much smaller but no less important and much more varied. If you're a hydro guy you know its the only real renewable power resource. It's too bad the Klamath River projects could not be retrofitted similarly and instead just removed.

Thanks for coming and working with my husband and his team, it was great meeting you guys! This turned out great. 🎉

Not gonna lie, these videos where you go to locations and talk about the science and engineering behind everything are my favorite.

I once wrote a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers in grade school about how juvenile salmon got down. I was doing a science project about some people wanting to have the Snake River dams removed. I was so excited to get a letter back from an engineer answering my question.

I've seen a lot of dam videos, but may be one of the best dam videos I've seen in a while. Lots good dam information while showing plenty of happy dam people. Great dam video.

As an Oregonian it's great to have one of your videos showing off how our dams work.

This is the 22 minute answer to my how fish survive turbine question Ive been waiting for my whole life.

3:20 man i don't think i'd be able to hold myself from touching those spinning shafts lmao

The constant discussion of fish in a serious scientific context is amusing, but I think the animation in the background at 15:50 is my favorite. Also fish filters and fish pumps

As a Hermiston local working in electric infrastructure, this is SUPER cool to watch! Thanks for coming out here!