Native Fish Species Restoration with Remote Incubators

Native Fish SpeciesRestoration with Remote Incubators

Team Leader: Parker BurtonTeam Members: Cailin Penberthy, Ruth Reeber, Nora Sedgwick, and Ujjwal ShresthaClient: Dr. Ed Galindo of the Aquaculture Research Institute

Rethinking Fish Restoration

•Project Definition: Increase native fish survival with hatchery like success rates, while maintaining wild fish, using incubators.

•Problem Statement: Optimize the current incubator design for three areas of implementation and ensure that the designs can be easily and inexpensively reproduced.

Inlet

Outlet

Whitlock-Vibert BoxWei

r

Divider

Filter

Fulfilling our Client’s Needs

•Models for different situations•Easy to replicate and repeat•High mobility and low weight•Environmentally friendly•Transportable to multiple locations

Simulating the Flow

•Common denominator: divider configuration▫Divider length▫Number of channels▫Width of channels

•Modeled in SolidWorks▫Same base geometry▫Same flow rate at inlet

Designing the Flow Path

Selected Design

•Uniform flow through main section•Slower flow near exit

In-Stream Design

•Low profile•Non-intrusive design•Collapsible

Streamside Design

• Inconspicuous•Large capacity•Semi-permanent

Demonstration Model

•Representative of real models•Self-contained•Teaching model

Validating our Models• Initial flow testing•Formaldehyde testing•Destructive testing•Cargo space constraint•Live test: Paradise Challenge incubator

How did we do?

In-Stream Model

Streamside Model

Demonstration Model

Velocity 0.43 ft/s 0.28 ft/s 0.24 ft/s Dissolved Oxygen

11 ppm 11 ppm 8.81 ppm

Temperature 39.2 °F 48.2 °F 53.7 °FpH 7.0 7.2 7.3Chemical Leaching

None N/A N/A

Destructive Load 500 lb N/A N/A

Lasting Community Success

• Increases fish population for healthier stream habitat and biodiversity

• Involves high school students (easily reproduced)

•Enhances fish population for recreational purposes

Questions?