Illinois Waterway: Testing, Invasive Carp Deterrence – Peoria Lock and Dam, Rm 157.7

Illinois Waterway – Testing, Invasive Carp Deterrence - Peoria Lock and Dam, Rm 157.7 

Notice number: 200975
Date: 08/16/2022 06:00 thru 10/07/2022 17:00

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District (District), and the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) are planning to test invasive carp deterrence technology at the Peoria Lock and Dam on the Illinois River, River Mile 157.7. Work is planned for 16 AUG 2022 through 18 AUG 2022 from 06:00-18:00 hrs. for installation, and from 29 AUG 2022 thru 07 OCT 2022, Mon-Tue and Thu-Fri (07:00-11:00 hrs. & 13:00-17:00 hrs.) for deterrence efficacy and navigation safety testing.  Navigation will be closed during installation and while testing is conducted. These timeframes are subject to change based upon river conditions.

**Towboat operators are requested NOT to tie up on the guidewalls during installation and testing.**

Testing includes fish removal efficacy testing and navigation safety testing, both of which would occur on each of 70 total runs over an approximate 40-day period. Test runs consist of driving a loaded six-barge tow, with juvenile invasive carp placed for entrainment in a box-rake junction, over a bubbler array in the downstream lock approach.  Runs with and without the bubbler running would occur to provide a control to measure the bubbler effect.  Quantitative safety variables of interest include speed, yaw, and lateral movement of the barge resulting from the continuous release of air from the air line. Carp removal testing includes counting remaining fish entrained in the box-rake junction and measuring flow velocities in the junction gap.  The study would be conducted mainly during daylight hours when the wicket gates are up (impounding water in the Peoria Pool). The purpose of the test is to evaluate fish removal efficacy and navigation safety when using bubbles to remove small invasive carp from the rake-box junction of a barge tow.

This action involves the temporary installation of an anchored air hose and bubbler array in the downstream lock approach channel (see map, Enclosure 1). The air hose will be attached to a series of anchors and the bubbler array will be anchored by weight of the frame to hold it in place (modeled using a safety factor of seven). It is approximately 210 feet long with a series of nozzles spaced 8 feet apart that will release air to create a column of bubbles along the length of the array. Air will be fed through a hose from a diesel-powered air compressor located on the Peoria Lock and Dam Project grounds. The hose would be routed from the surface around the end of the lower guidewall to avoid interference with navigation. Weights will hold the hose to the bottom between the guidewall and the bubbler array. The air hose and metal frames would be removed following completion of the study, on or before 07 OCT 2022.

Jon A. Klingman
Chief, Channel Maintenance Section Operations Division