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Executive Summary and Policy Directions he focus of this report is technologies for fish passage around hydropower generation facilities and protection against entrainment and turbine mortal- ity. Emphasis is given to Federal Energy Regula- tory Commission (FERC)-licensed hydropower projects where fish protection is a subject of con- troversy and congressional interest due to .the Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Electric Con- sumers Protection Act (ECPA). Thus institu- tional issues related to FERC-relicensing aze also discussed. (Major points of controversy are high- lighted in box 1-1.) Federal hydropower projects, especially in the Columbia River Basin, and irri- gation water diversions in the Pacific Northwest and California are included to the extent that they provide information on fish passage technologies (see table I-1). Many of the technologies dis- cussed aze applicable to other types of dams and water diversions. In fact, there are many more obstructions to fish passage that are not covered by FERC-licensing requirements, than are (approximately 76,000 dams versus 1,825 FERC-licensed facilities) (70). Fish passage is considered necessazy where a dam sepazates a target species from needed habi- tat. Fish are generally unable to pass upstream of 1 a hydropower dam unless some fish passage facility is present. Downstream passage facilities may not always be necessary if the fish can safely pass through turbines, spillways, or sluice- ways, though there is significant debate about the adequacy of these latter two passage methods.l Decisions about the need for fish protection measures at dams are often based on the per- ceived or measured impacts on one or more spe- cies at the site (242). Fish populations may be adversely affected by hydropower facilities and many other activities and facilities (e.g., multiple use, flood control, and water supply dams; land use practices like grazing and forestry; and facil- ities like coal-fired power plants that cause acid rain). Migrations and other important fish move- ments can be blocked or delayed. The quantity, quality, and accessibility of up- and downstream fish habitat, which can play an important role in population sustainability, can be affected. Fish that pass through power generating turbines can be injured or killed. Increased predation on migratory fishes has also been indirectly linked to hydropower dams (e.g., due to migration delays, fish being concentrated in one place, or increased habitat for predatory species). Habitat ~ Spillways are used to pass water over a dam. Sluiceways are used to pass debris, ice, logs, etc. I ~