Fish passes are essential elements for maintaining continuity for migrating fish. Without them, fish would be unable to undertake migration to satisfy their basic life needs. These devices must meet a range of requirements related to the size of individual fish pass elements and the hydrodynamic parameters of the flowing water. Despite efforts, it is not always possible to meet these requirements. There are many causes of errors in the design and construction of fish passes, and each case should be assessed individually. The most severe consequence of these errors is the obstruction of fish migrating upstream. In this study, an analysis of the permeability of a semi-natural fish pass was conducted for fish. This assessment was carried out using two methods. In the first approach, the required geometric dimensions of the fish pass elements were determined based on the dimensions of individuals living in the river channel. In the second approach, the dimensions were extracted from publications dedicated to slot fish passes, as the studied object resembles such a design. The analysis revealed that the fish pass does not fulfil its intended role. All fish species living in the Nidzica River channel face difficulties in passing through the fish pass, including the brook trout, for which the object is specifically designed. The main errors stem from the design and construction, resulting in exceeded values, primarily in the hydrodynamic parameters, rendering the fish pass impassable. The study also aimed to develop corrective recommendations considering the latest scientific developments.
Riverbed dynamics and erosion processes remain an important research issue, particularly under increasing anthropogenic pressure on river systems. This study investigates long-term channel changes and bed-incision processes in selected Carpathian rivers—the Skawa, Raba, and Dunajec—with particular emphasis on bridge-affected reaches. The analysis combined hydrological and geomorphological data with one-dimensional MIKE 11 hydraulic modelling to assess local changes in flow parameters and indicators of erosion potential under Q1% flow conditions. In the analysed cross-sections, riverbed lowering ranged from 1.0 to more than 3.5 m over the observation period, confirming the occurrence of long-term channel degradation. The results indicate that this process was primarily related to historical gravel extraction and channel regulation, whereas bridges mainly modified local hydraulic conditions. In the vicinity of bridge structures, flow velocity increased to as much as 7.31 m/s, and local changes in water surface elevation reached 0.90 m, indicating increased susceptibility to local scour near piers and abutments. The modelling also showed marked local increases in bed shear stress. At the same time, the results do not support the conclusion that bridges are the primary cause of systemic erosion at the scale of entire river reaches. This research contributes to sustainable development because it provides the knowledge needed for better management of rivers and bridge infrastructure in a way that is environmentally, socially, and economically safe: it shows that long-term riverbed degradation results mainly from earlier anthropogenic transformations, such as aggregate extraction and river regulation, while bridges primarily alter local flow conditions and may increase the risk of erosion around piers and abutments.
11 October 2023 in Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Formatio Circumiectus
W artykule przedstawiono rezultaty i doświadczenia związane z wykorzystaniem technologii BIM w projektach melioracyjnych i hydrotechnicznych. Autorzy opierają się na swoim szerokim doświadczeniu zdobywanym podczas realizacji różnorodnych projektów w tej dziedzinie. Celem artykułu jest...