6010

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 6010
• Author: Binns, A., et al.
• Title: The Planning, Operation, and Analysis of the Green River Fish Control Project.
• USFW Year: 1964.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

-8~
In the fall of 1961, it was decided to make comparative tests,
under field conditions, of the efficiency of several emulsifiable rotenone
products. One of the questions to be answered was the degree to which
fairly high water alkalinity might reduce rotenone's distance-length of
effectiveness. For this purpose, several test stations, with interspersed
cages of live carp, were set up on the Big Sandy River, one of the most
alkaline waters to be included in the major project. At that time the
stream had a pH of 8.1 to 8.2, total alkalinity of 170 to 240 ppm, and a
temperature range of 44 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The tests demonstrated
that the various chemicals showed no appreciable variations and relatively
little loss of efficiency due to alkaline conditions.
For additional information it was decided to repeat some of the
tests in the spring of 1962. This was done during the week of May 7, prior
to the runoff, with three rotenone treatment stations. To simulate the
main project's plan, the stations were set ten miles apart, placed in
operation at three-hour intervals, and maintained for six hours duration.
Observations made during both series of tests on fish-kill time requirements,
indicated that it would be advisable. to extend all rotenone introduction
periods from six to seven hours.
The Refined Rotenone Introduction System
From the numerous preliminary chemical treatment tests evolved
certain basic facts. For a rotenone concentration of 5 ppm, the float-
valve system of flow control and the 3~4 inch dispersal line were satisfactory
only when river flows were under 500 cfs. As it was felt that the Green
River treatment techniques should be capable of handling flow volumes up
to 1400 cfs, some refinements of the original dispersal system were necessary.
It was suggested that, with the large water volumes, the overall aspects of
rotenone introduction were so gross, that extreme exactitude of low measure-
ment was unwarranted.
A series of checks were made of rotenone flow rates from 55-gallon
barrels. It was indicated that the variation from initial flow to final
flow was insufficiently great to justify the complexities and expense of
the float-valve control. It was also determined that replacement- of the
3~4 inch hose with a one-inch system made it possible to obtain sufficient
rotenone dispersion for the maximum workable stream of 1400 cfs. While
there was a good probability that some of the upper river stations would
not have stream flows of a volume requiring the one-inch capacity equip-
ment, for the sake of uniformity and interchangeability, the one-inch system
was selected for a standard. Basically, the specifications for a typical
treatment station required two 55-gallon rotenone barrels to which was
coupled a one-inch capacity yoke. The yoke was composed of three valves,
a gate valve on each of the two barrel connections, and a gas valve on the
main stem (Figure 3)• .Because the gas valve was adjustable from full
open to full close in a quarter turn of its handle, it was ideally suited
for fairly exact control of rotenone flow rates. From the yoke, the rotenone
was transported across the stream channel by one-inch industrial hose.
The hose was purchased in 50-foot lengths with standard pipe couplings
attached. A sufficient number of hose sections were coupled together to
accommodate each specific stream situation, and two or three 3/4 inch