Quantifying the findability of fishways by computational fluid dynamics : a case study of Weir Grave in the River Meuse

Developing effective fishways requires knowledge of fish behaviour and hydraulic engineering in equal measures. Many hydraulic structures in the Netherlands are aging and due replacement, meaning that many new designs will be made in the coming decades. Ecologists and engineers must work together to determine the hydraulic conditions that will result in a successful weir and fishway design. Field observations are, understandably, the golden standard for ecological research on fish behaviour. For weirs, fishways and other hydraulic structures that have not been built yet, however, we need another way to research their effectiveness for fish migration. This report demonstrates the capabilities of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to fulfil this need by means of a case study of weir Grave in the river Meuse.