Smith-Root
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Palisades Creek Barrier

Constructed: 2009

Classification: Waterway

Smith-Root designed and constructed a permanent barrier to divert upstream-migrating fish into a bypass fish trap.

Idaho Fish and Game operates a continuing program to protect native cutthroat trout from non-native rainbow habitat and possible crossbreeding pressures. One part of this effort involves intercepting all upstream-migrating fish in particular streams so that the rainbow can be removed. A pilot installation of a temporary Smith-Root fabric barrier at a diversion weir on Palisades Creek, a tributary of the Snake River, proved successful in 2007. Smith-Root designed and constructed a permanent barrier at the same site. This involved removing the existing weir deck and rebuilding the deck and sidewall liners with Insulcrete™ containing slots for five steel U-shaped flat bar electrodes.

A big issue with this stream is the high bedload carried during spring run-off. This has led to several modifications to the electrodes to mitigate damage.

Services Provided

  • Coordination with Idaho Fish and Game
  • Civil and structural design of barriers
  • Electrical and electronic design of the pulsators and power supply systems
  • Construction of the barrier
  • Regular maintenance
  • Electrode modifications for improved resistance to bedload

Gallery

Click image to enlarge.

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Location: Irwin, Idaho

Site Characteristics

Pulsators Pulsator Qty Power Output Water Depth Waterway Width Water Velocity Conductivity
1.5kVA POW 3 4.5 kW max. 6 feet 43 feet 8 ft./s 200 µs/cm max.

Specifications subject to change without notice.