Screening Technology for Agriculture, Hatcheries, and Hydro

Farmers Screen

FARMERS SCREEN

We design and build fish screens for irrigation and hydropower.

The Farmers Screen™ is an innovative, horizontal fish screen technology that allows farmers to divert water from rivers without harming fish or trapping debris. Invented by farmers in the Hood River basin, and sold by FCA, the Farmers Screen has been installed throughout the western United States. FCA works with farmers, engineers, and agencies to support the design and installation of the Farmers Screen.

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Features of the Farmers Screen
  • NMFS Approved
    Meets National Marine Fisheries Service criteria
  • Any flow rate
    Screens from 1 to 1000s of CFS
  • LOW head loss
    Minimal Elevation Needed to Operate
  • low O&M rate
    No power needed and minimal cleaning required
  • no moving parts
    Reduces maintenance needs
  • fish safe
    Verified by 8 independent studies
About the Farmers Screen

How the Farmers Screen works.

The Farmers Screen is a horizontal, passive fish screen design that uses hydraulics to manage debris and protect fish. It has no moving parts and does not require power to operate. The Farmers Screen is a patented technology licensed solely to FCA.

1Diversion Structure

A structure that directs flow from the river or stream into the diversion. This can be a dam, rock weir, or stem wall.

2Head Gate

An adjustable structure that controls the flow of water entering the diversion.

3Inlet Flume

The channel that carries water diverted from the river or stream into the screen structure.

4Screen Structure

Fish, debris and water pass above the horizontal screening material and return to the river.

5By-Pass Return

Water, fish, and debris are returned to the original source. This can be a step pool, roughened channel, or pipe.

6Conveyance

Screened water is conveyed to its intended users
(e.g., irrigators) via pipe or canal.

1Inlet Flume

Attached to the upstream end of the screen, the Inlet Flume creates optimal hydraulic conditions by allowing water entering the Farmers Screen™ to achieve a uniform, steady state flow.

2Horizontal Screen

A perforated, stainless steel flat plate lies parallel to the water surface. Low downward velocity pushes water through the horizontal screen material.

3Sweeping Velocity

Water sweeps over the screen surface at a velocity at least 20 times greater than the velocity of the water passing downward through the screen. This allows fish and debris to be swept over the horizontal screen material and returned to the stream while screened water can be collected and carried to irrigators via pressurized pipe.

4Taper Wall

Maintains constant velocities and uniform depth of water over the screen surface as water progresses through the structure. The taper wall decreases the cross sectional area of the flume as water is delivered through the screen.

5Weir Wall

A short, solid steel panel that runs parallel to the taper wall, the weir wall maintains a uniform depth of water over the screen and thus uniform flow through the screen.

1Inlet Flume

Attached to the upstream end of the screen, the Inlet Flume creates optimal hydraulic conditions by allowing water entering the Farmers Screen™ to achieve a uniform, steady state flow.

2Horizontal Screen

A perforated, stainless steel flat plate lies parallel to the water surface. Low downward velocity pushes water through the horizontal screen material.

3Sweeping Velocity

Water sweeps over the screen surface at a velocity at least 20 times greater than the velocity of the water passing downward through the screen. This allows fish and debris to be swept over the horizontal screen material and returned to the stream while screened water can be collected and carried to irrigators via pressurized pipe.

4Taper Wall

Maintains constant velocities and uniform depth of water over the screen surface as water progresses through the structure. The taper wall decreases the cross sectional area of the flume as water is delivered through the screen.

5Weir Wall

A short, solid steel panel that runs parallel to the taper wall, the weir wall maintains a uniform depth of water over the screen and thus uniform flow through the screen.

Large Fish Screens

Our largest Farmers Screen is now operational on Nevada’s Truckee River.

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PROJECTS

Farmers Screens across the West.

Take a tour of some of the 50 Farmers Screens we’ve installed across the west.

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222.3
River miles opened since the first screen install
$484,200
Dollars saved by farmers annually
Testimonial

“This screen has worked flawlessly….I’m very pleased with it. We’ve used a lot of fish hatchery screens over the last 35 years, and this one by far is the most productive and trouble free. Good job, FCA.”

Bob LeBlanc, Hatchery Manager, Crystal Lakes Fish Hatchery
Testimonial

“It was like night and day – actually quite a dramatic change with things being a lot less labor-intensive. During the first big rain storm after the install, I actually woke up a couple of times in the night because I thought our alarm system must have been broken.”

Hatchery Manager Duane Banks, quoted in the January/February 2010 issue of Hatchery International
Testimonial

“A perfect fit…FCA has done a wonderful job on this screen, and I can’t say enough good about the organization.”

Three Sisters Irrigation District manager Marc Thalacker, quoted in the June 2011 issue of Western Farmer Stockman magazine
Testimonial

“The Farmers Screen is a great product. FCA’s expertise and experience were invaluable to the design phase, and provided a high level of confidence moving forward with a product that was new to us.”

John Eklund, City of Grand Junction Project Engineer

FCA works with landowners, engineers, agencies, and nonprofits to install Farmers Screens throughout the United States.

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