Physical Hydraulic Modeling of Fish Passage Design for the Glendale Weir

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants (NHC) assisted Stantec Consulting Corporation with the hydraulic design of improvements to the Glendale Diversion Weir on the Truckee River in Reno, NV. Technical areas assessed by NHC included: geomorphic and sedimentation analysis of the proposed diversion, hydraulic design criteria, hydraulic requirements for providing recreational canoe and kayak passage at the diversions, potential flood control issues and impacts of the structures, and hydraulic modeling requirements, including physical modeling of hydraulic and sedimentation performance of the proposed facility. The new weir consists of an arc shaped crest recessed at the center and incorporates a chute providing for both passage of boats (rafts, kayaks, canoes, and inner tubes) and upstream and downstream migration of juvenile and adult Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi (Lahonton Cutthroat).

NHC completed 1:20 scale physical hydraulic model in our in house hydraulics laboratory to assist in optimizing the design for the proposed replacement weir and confirm performance with critical fish passage criteria. This presentation will present a summary of the physical modeling studies, demonstrate how the model was used to confirm the design’s ability to meet or exceed fish passage performance criteria, and indicate areas where the physical model optimized and improved the final design.