The environmental acceptability of many existing and proposed medium and high head dams hinges on the ability to provide safe and economic passage of both upstream and downstream migrating fish. In some cases, the only available space includes areas subject to flood born debris damage, erosion, or sedimentation. The system developed by WhooshhTM Innovations is successful in transporting fish of uniform size over dams. Trap and truck operations have been successful but are expensive to operate. Mechanical fish lifts have worked where site geometry allows for a straight vertical or inclined lift of a tank.
