Short description
At the weir of Lake Baldeney in Essen, a completely new fish ladder system has been in operation since summer 2020 following extensive preliminary planning. The fish lift system consists of two vertically installed tubes in which the water level between the upper and lower water is balanced by filling and emptying. When the tube fills with water, the water-filled lift basket inside rises and transports the fish to the top. The tube is then emptied and the lift basket sinks again. To ensure that fish willing to migrate always find a “free” lift, the two tubes are operated alternately.
The chair of hydraulic engineering coordinated the accompanying scientific studies required for the planning on behalf of the Ruhrverband. In addition, the department carried out hydraulic engineering model tests on the design of the connection between the headwater and the lift system, simulated different operating scenarios and, in cooperation with biologists, evaluated the passability of the connection for upstream and downstream fish.
More information in German can be found here.
