THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO ASSESS DIRECT SURVIVAL AND SUBLETHAL EFFECTS OF RESTORATION HYDROPOWER TURBINE (RHT) PASSAGE FOR LARGE AMERICAN EELS IN FIELD AND LABORATORY SETTINGS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THROUGH-TURBINE PASSAGE CAN FUNCTION AS A TOOL FOR DOWNSTREAM CONNECTIVITY FOR THESE HIGHLY IMPACTED MIGRATORY FISH, AND TO IMPROVE SURVIVAL MODELING METHODOLOGY FOR SAFE TURBINE DESIGN. THE INTENDED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE ADVANCING (1) THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO ENGINEER EEL-SAFE HYDROPOWER TURBINES AND (2) VIABILITY OF SAFE, TIMELY, AND EFFECTIVE PASSAGE OF EEL THROUGH COMMERCIALLY COMPETITIVE TURBINES, ALLOWING HYDROPOWER TURBINES TO CONTRIBUTE TO RESTORATION OF HEALTHY WATERSHEDS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT FINDINGS WILL BE SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS AND A FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.