A new design of a deep bypass system that uses airlift technology was tested for passage of downstream migrant American eels.

Eels readily located, entered, and passed through the bypass; initial avoidance rate were lower at higher entrance velocities.

Eels did not show strong avoidance of the riser section of the pipe which contained injected air.

No mortality or injury of bypassed eels was observed, and eels did not avoid repeated entrainment through the bypass.

Airlift technology appears to be a viable method for increasing passage effectiveness for American eels through a deep bypass system.