2011 In-Water Testing of Aquatic Nuisance Species Dispersal Barriers IIA and IIB with Increased Voltage and Frequency Operating Parameters

US Army Engineer District - Chicago operates an electric field-based aquatic nuisance species dispersal barrier system in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC), Romeoville, IL. The barriers were constructed to prevent the movement of invasive species, such as Asian big-head carp (Hypophthalmich...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: McInerney, Michael K, Aubin, Brianna S, Trovillion, Jonathan C, Baxter, Carey L, Trovillion, Ethan T, Hock, Jr , Vincent F, Weir, David M
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ASIAN BIG HEAD CARP (HYPOPHTHALMICHTHYS NOBILIS)
BARRIERS
Biology
BOATS
Civil Engineering
CSSC(CHICAGO SANITARY AND SHIP CANAL)
DIVERS
Ecology
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FIELD STRENGTH TESTING
FISH BARRIERS
FISHES
GREAT LAKES
HAZARDS
INVASIVE SPECIES(FAUNA)
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
RISK ANALYSIS
SHOCK
SILVER CARP (HYPOPHTHALMICHTHYS MOLITRIX)
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Summary:US Army Engineer District - Chicago operates an electric field-based aquatic nuisance species dispersal barrier system in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC), Romeoville, IL. The barriers were constructed to prevent the movement of invasive species, such as Asian big-head carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins. The objective of this project was to perform a series of in-water tests on the barrier addressing field-strength mapping, sparking potential during barge fleeting and collision, voltage potentials between barges traversing the barriers, personnel in-water shock potential, stray-current corrosion potential, and optimal settings for the parasitic barrier system. Test results and analysis indicate there is no significant risk of personnel shock hazard in the fleeting area during barrier operations for any operating configuration. Also, while some operational scenarios were found to increase sparking risk if barges collide with each other or separate metal objects, analysis indicates that concerns about coal dust explosion hazard from sparking are not supported by the technical literature. A detailed set of data, analysis, conclusions, and recommendations is provided in the report text and four appendices. Project title: CSSC Dispersal Barrier II, ERDC-CERL Safety Studies . The original document contains color images.