Pere Marquette River
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Pere Marquette River Pere Marquette River
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Pere Marquette River

Smith-Root constructed a weir and a bypass to separate lamprey from other upstream migrating species.
  • Location: Custer Township, Michigan
  • Commissioned: 1999
  • Type: Waterway

Project description

Smith-Root designed and constructed this weir, upstream barrier, and bypass for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The barrier diverts all species into the bypass channel constructed from FRP sheetpile. Two large pumps provide an attractant flow that allows all species except lamprey to continue up over the bypass and return to the river. The lamprey are collected in a trap and removed from the system.

Seven steel rail electrodes are located 36 inches apart on a wood deck above the weir face. The barrier is energized by six pulsators.

Services provided

  • Coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Structural design of barrier
  • Structural design of bypass and fish passage, including the pump system
  • Electrical and electronic design of the pulsators and power supply systems
  • Construction of weir, electrodes, and bypass
  • Supply of electronics
  • Regular maintenance

Site characteristics

  • Pulsators: 1.5kVA POW
  • Pulsator Qty: 6
  • Power Output: 9.0 kW max.
  • Water Depth: 3 feet
  • Waterway Width: 66 feet
  • Water Velocity: 4 ft./s
  • Conductivity: 280 µs/cm max.