Up until relatively recent history, culverts and bridges were designed primarily for hydraulic conveyance of specific flood events with little thought to how the new structure could affect aquatic species living in the stream. In many cases, culverts sized strictly based on hydraulic area, will narrow the channel excessively resulting in increased velocity through the structure. The increased velocity becomes a barrier when fish and other aquatic species can no longer swim upstream. In other cases, culverts were set too flat and over time, a height barrier is created when the culvert outlet erodes to its natural stream grade, resulting in a perched culvert.

Today, when aquatic organism passage is part of the scope of a project, the primary design philosophy is to make the channel inside a culvert or under a bridge simulate the characteristics and function of the adjacent natural channel so that it will present no more of an obstacle than the natural channel. This results in a structure that is generally wider than what was previously installed to accommodate a natural stream section through the structure.

Culverts that pose a barrier to aquatic species can be replaced with several newer culvert types that provide aquatic organism passage. AOP culverts fall into two categories, open bottom and closed bottom. Site location and characteristics dictate which type of structure is best suited to a particular crossing. Common variables include stream gradient, bankfull channel width, roadway crossing geometry and height of fill.

Open bottom configurations allow the stream channel to be re-contoured through the culvert to blend seamlessly with the adjacent channel and allow for natural sediment passage as the channel erodes naturally over time. Typically, open bottom configurations are achieved with either a corrugated steel structural plate arch or a three-sided concrete box, both of which are usually placed on precast concrete spread footing foundations.

Closed bottom structures cam be constructed for AOP replacements by filling the bottom of the culvert with streambed material to mimic the adjacent channel. Closed bottom structures are typically used on lower gradient streams not subject to high velocities, which could result in material loss through the structure.

If analysis reveals that culverts are not recommended replacement structures (due to hydraulics, debris, span limitations, etc) bridges are selected as the preferred replacement structure. Replacing a culvert with a bridge typically involves removing the existing culvert barrier, excavating the culvert fill material to restore a natural channel configuration, and spanning the newly widened channel with a bridge structure. Although generally costlier than AOP culverts, bridges do sometimes result in a more economical AOP crossing, especially on steep stream channels, potential deep fill culvert sites, or where other factors necessitate special accommodations to culvert type structures resulting in increased fabrication and construction costs.

AOP design and implementation is an important step in restoring aquatic habitat that has been damaged and neglected by man-made barriers. When replacing crossing structures over streams that support aquatic species, AOP structures should be considered in the initial scoping of such projects. The installation of AOP structures is a responsible step that goes a long way to preserving the phenomenal fisheries in the Northern Rockies that we can all enjoy.

Authored by Grayson Gillin, EIT