Yellowstone River fish bypass channel physical and hydraulic monitoring, Montana

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, began monitoring the Yellowstone River fish bypass channel according to the specifications of the Lower Yellowstone Adaptive Management and Monitoring Plan. The fish bypass channel was constructed to provide upstream migrating fish with a route around a diversion dam. The objective of this study is to monitor the physical and hydraulic characteristics of the bypass channel, including flow split, minimum depth for the deepest continuous 30 cross sectional feet, and mean channel velocity. Data are collected through several sets of measurements within the bypass channel at varying times during the field season. Physical and hydraulic data collected during this study can be used to ensure the hydraulic design criteria of the bypass channel are being met.

This report presents the methods used to monitor the physical and hydraulic characteristics of the bypass channel. Examples of the types of data collected and summarized as part of this study are provided using three figures and one table. Data collected for this study are summarized and published in an accompanying U.S. Geological Survey data release. The monitoring data can be used by the cooperating agencies to help describe the preferred hydraulic conditions for Scaphirhynchus albus (Forbes and Richardson, 1905; pallid sturgeon) passage.