The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) engaged Kleinfelder on a restoration project that will restore degraded salt marsh, improve fish access to vital spawning habitat, and improve water quality for shellfish beds.

The Challenge

Many of the fish passage structures that have been built to ensure successful migration of anadromous fish, such as alewife and blueback herring, to important spawning/nursery habitat on coastal rivers and streams, have become ineffective due to changes in stream flow characteristics, deterioration of fish passage structures, or functional inadequacy.

Kleinfelder’s Solution

As prime consultant, Kleinfelder prepared the preliminary and final designs, the preparation of contract plans, and part-time construction inspection services for the replacement of five fish passage structures. Services encompassed civil engineering, structural engineering, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, geotechnical investigation and engineering, coordination with the local conservation commissions, preparation of the contract plans and technical specifications, and part-time construction inspection support for critical milestones.

Project Results

The fish passage designs include notched weir pool structures and fish passages incorporating Denali fish ladders. This was one of 12 concurrent task orders Kleinfelder completed for the NRCS, meeting aggressive budget and schedule constraints, while exceeding the small business utilization goal for all subcontracted work.

Project Details

Location:
Amherst, Massachusetts

Owner:
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)