Wells Hydroelectric Project Fish Facilities

The development of the fish passage and fish spawning facilities for the Wells Hydroelectric Project is described. Because the spillway and powerhouse are combined into a single structure in the unique Hydrocombine concept conceived for the Wells Project, the conventional fish passage facilities could not be directly used at the Wells Project. A fish attraction system was developed by using submerged high velocity water jets at each end of the Hydrocombine to provide an attraction flow across the downstream face of the Hydrocombine. The jet locations and jet flow were developed from hydraulic model tests of the Hydrocombine structure. Two staircase type fish ladders are provided for passage of fish over the Hydrocombine, one ladder located at each end of the Hydrocombine. An extensive fish spawning facility was constructed immediately downstream from the west embankment of the dam. Located in the west fish ladder is a sorting facility for diverting selected fish to the spawning channel. A 150-acre artificial pond for rearing steelhead trout is constructed in the Wells Reservoir.