Replacing an outdated culvert and restoring a precious natural resource--helping fish and people pass safely
Fish, especially salmon, are a vital part of life in the Northwestern United States. When a degraded box culvert blocked the migration of Chinook and steelhead salmon, our team was eager to help. We worked with the City of Kirkland, Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the Suquamish and Muckleshoot Tribes to design a solution compliant with the federal culvert injunction—and met the updated specifications for fish passage.
Facing the challenges of an impassible culvert, an outdated upstream storm detention that lacked adequate flow control, and an eroding downstream channel, our team knew finding a feasible design would require collaboration and creative engineering. We met with WSDOT to incorporate designs that would meet both the requirements of the injunction and fish passage, while also moving through permitting quickly. The project interfaced with an adjacent roadway replacement, requiring timely evaluation of design alternatives. After a design was selected, we performed culvert structural design, hydraulic design, stream restoration and fish passage design, re-vegetation plan development, permitting, construction services, and community outreach.
The result? The culvert is now a fully functioning element of a healthy aquatic ecosystem, allowing fish and people to pass through safely.
At a Glance
- Offices
- Client
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- City of Kirkland
- Partners
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- WSDOT
- Suquamish and Muckleshoot Tribes
Scott Radford, Senior Landscape Architect
I strive to create practical, pleasing outdoor spaces that are enjoyable to outdoor enthusiasts and alluring to those who prefer the indoors.
Leslie Hurley, Engineer in Training
I enjoy working with teams of varied backgrounds to help clients with projects that benefit the environment
Tim Nightengale, Associate, Senior Biologist
I never get tired of the amazed—or bewildered—look on people’s faces when I show them exactly what’s living on the bottom of the stream.
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