Cordova Fish Passage Improvements

DESCRIPTION

BCE spearheaded a critical environmental engineering project aimed at enhancing fish passage and ecological connectivity along Alaska’s Copper River Highway. This initiative focused on replacing three outdated culverts that had become significant barriers to native fish returning to their historic spawning habitats To restore stream function and improve aquatic mobility, we designed and implemented new Aluminum Box Culverts engineered to replicate natural stream flow—fully aligned with guidelines from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) and USFWS. The transformation involved replacing the original 36"x48"x40' Structural Plate Pipe Arch culverts with robust 16'10" span x 8'3" rise x 58.5' long units, requiring a 3–4-foot elevation of the highway to ensure proper hydraulic performance. A comprehensive design bid package was delivered, including detailed drawings, technical specifications, cost estimates, and provided construction support—helping advance resilient infrastructure while supporting vital fish populations and protecting Alaska’s natural heritage from future flooding.