ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Designing for Flow: How Baffle Geometry Shapes Wood Accumulation in Fishways
1
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław, Poland
Submission date: 2025-02-15
Final revision date: 2025-06-28
Acceptance date: 2025-07-06
Online publication date: 2025-07-21
Publication date: 2025-07-21
Corresponding author
Jan Błotnicki
Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq., 50-363, Wrocław, Poland
Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Sq., 50-363, Wrocław, Poland
Civil and Environmental Engineering Reports 2025;35(3):221-254
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The transport and accumulation of woody debris in watercourses play a significant role in shaping river morphology and supporting ecosystem functioning. However, these processes can also pose a threat to hydraulic infrastructure. Accumulation is particularly problematic in fish passes, where it reduces hydraulic capacity and impedes the migration of aquatic organisms. This study experimentally investigated how the shape of fish pass baffles influences debris retention and how log length affects blockage susceptibility. Two configurations were tested: one with rectangular baffles and another with rounded ones. The results showed that log length had a statistically significant effect on the accumulation rate (Effective Accumulation, EA), with larger logs more likely to be retained in both configurations. The highest EA was observed for large logs in the rectangular variant (EA = 0.51), followed by the rounded variant (EA = 0.33). Small logs exhibited minimal accumulation (EA ≈ 0.04–0.05), and no significant differences between shapes were found in this class. Although the total EA was higher for the rectangular configuration (EA = 0.24) than for the rounded one (EA = 0.16), this difference was not statistically significant, highlighting the need for more detailed spatial and size-based analyses. The jamming effect was also observed, where newly introduced logs accumulated on previously retained ones, reinforcing the blockage over time. These findings suggest that both baffle geometry and log size are critical factors influencing debris retention in fish passes and should be carefully considered in their design to balance ecological and hydraulic functions.
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