Carbon dioxide fish barrier project: engineering and economic assessment

Description

Bigheaded carps are invasive to the Great Lakes. Currently, the prevention of bigheaded carps movement into the Great Lakes is dependent on a single electric barrier. Other techniques and methods are being researched to help aid in deterring the movement of bigheaded carps into the Great Lakes. One method is the use of chemical barriers to create noxious water conditions to repel carps before they reach the electric barrier. One example of a chemical barrier is carbon dioxide gas (CO2). The addition of CO2 to water creates an environment that is not favorable for aquatic organisms, particularly fish. The increase in CO2 creates stress, protein degradation, and impaired oxygen transport in the carps. The carps can detect the increase of CO2 and the unfavorable environment, which causes them to avoid areas with higher than normal CO2 concentrations. This new cooperative agreement is an extension of Cooperative Agreement issued to the University of Wisconsin Platteville for the engineering development and design of a CO2 injection system as a non-physical barrier to control Asian carp. With the success of the injection system in pond trials, research is continuing on larger scale field trial with installation at Kaukauna Lock #2 on the Fox River near Kaukauna, WI. The results of the experimental investigations will further inform design of systems that efficiently inject CO2 into large bodies of water to achieve target concentrations.

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