Abstract Manager

Designing culverts and bridges for fish passage often involves navigating a complex intersection of ecological requirements, regulatory standards, and engineering challenges. This process can be time-consuming and costly, yet it is essential for maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems and supporting fish populations. This session will delve into innovative approaches to designing structures that align with evolving regulatory frameworks while balancing environmental, logistical, and budgetary constraints.

We will showcase a comprehensive methodology for understanding site conditions through field reviews and background research. This involves analyzing watercourse and watershed data to gain a holistic understanding of the ecological and hydrological context. A critical component of this process is identifying fish species present and their specific habitat requirements, which form the foundation of the design process. Additionally, the assessment of existing upstream and downstream barriers provides valuable insight into current challenges and informs potential solutions.

Navigating client and agency approval processes is another key aspect of successful fish passage design. The presentation will discuss the nuances of meeting regional preferences, such as those set by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), and addressing timelines and feedback from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). By understanding these regulatory landscapes, projects can move more efficiently from concept to completion.

Real-world case studies will illustrate innovative construction and post-construction strategies for effective fish passage. Examples include the use of natural and precast materials like boulders, steel, and concrete baffles, as well as culvert embedment techniques to replicate natural substrates. We have implemented innovative solutions such as perforated concrete box culverts that allow groundwater flow to maintain natural conditions. Open footing culverts, like the one used in the Blue Jay Creek project—a significant salmonid fishery—exemplify best practices in fish passage design. Additional features such as rocky ramps at culvert ends address perch conditions and further enhance connectivity.

The session will also address temporary measures during construction, such as damming watercourses while maintaining base flows, manual fish transfers, or installing bypass culverts to preserve migration routes and spawning habitat. These approaches ensure compliance with in-water work timelines while minimizing ecological disruption.

Through innovative design solutions and collaborative processes, we will demonstrates how engineering excellence can support sustainable fish passage across diverse projects, from coast to coast based on our experience within Ontario.