This project included aquatic organism passage (AOP) design at eight culvert replacement sites near John Day, Oregon, on the Malheur National Forest. The final design for all sites included open-bottom structural plate arches on precast concrete footings. During the first phase of the project the DJ&A crew accompanied Forest Service personnel to the sites to evaluate site conditions, discuss the scope of work for the repair design task order, and project priorities.

The second phase of the project included topographic surveys, hydrologic and geomorphic analysis conducted by our geomorphologist, and the creation of a preliminary plan set. The final phase included two more design submittal and final design, which was used for bidding and construction. The bid package was organized into base and option schedules to maximize use of available construction funds.

Key Services

• Designed eight sites requiring site assessment, bank full analysis, topographic survey, species of concern analysis, structure design, horizontal & vertical road design, and PS&E submittal
• Topographic survey data collected to determine optimal culvert alignment and the longitudinal profile analysis
• Provided critical flow and depth analysis through HEC-RAS hydraulic modeling to ensure the project met aquatic passage design criteria
• Designed project to comply with State and ARBOII standards for flood transport, fish passage, and utilized the 2015 USDA Forest Service Stream Simulation Methodology

Value Added

This project had a condensed schedule due to an extreme fire season. As a result of the fire activity, numerous roads were closed to vehicular travel, requiring foot travel to two of the sites. The DJ&A team worked collaboratively with USFS staff on the Malheur National Forest to ensure field crew safety while still meeting the project’s tight timelines.