Fish Passage

Eagle Creek Restoration Project, Richland, Oregon (2008 - 2009)

QCI provided surveying, engineering design, and construction management services on a project to replace two existing diversion structures on Eagle Creek with fish passable rock weirs.  Irrigation diversion rates at the two locations were 22 and 41 cubic feet per second, with river flows varying from a low of about 100 cubic feet per second to over 4,000 cubic feet per second.  One of the sites had a maximum elevation drop of nearly six feet across the existing structure, which was accommodated with a number of grade control weirs to maintain the water surface elevations necessary to provide adequate water deliveries over a wide range of flow rates.  This project also provided for approximately 1,400 linear feet of bank stabilization.  QCI personnel also coordinated with the local water users and adjacent landowners to obtain their input with respect to irrigation operations and project access for construction.

Clear Creek Restoration Project, Halfway, Oregon (2008 - Present)

QCI personnel are working with representatives of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Baker County Association of Conservation Districts to develop designs to replace four existing irrigation diversion structures on Clear Creek with rock weir structures to allow for improved fish passage.  The existing improvised diversion structures are a combination of steel, broken concrete, and gravel push-up dams.  Design flow ranges from 2.5 to 11 cubic feet per second.  Construction is anticipated for fall of 2010, depending upon funding.

Spread Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project, Teton National Park, Wyoming (2008 – Present)

QCI is working in conjunction with Trout Unlimited to provide for improved fish passage at an existing concrete diversion structure on Spread Creek.  The existing concrete diversion structure is approximately nine feet high and 120 feet long with a four to six foot head differential between the upstream and downstream sides.  The project proposal is to remove the existing structure and replace it with a series of rock weirs to maintain a maximum irrigation delivery rate of 60 cubic feet per second.  The project includes the construction of a new headgate structure, measurement devices, and 1,100 linear feet of pipeline.  A segment of the pipeline operates as an inverted siphon to facilitate an underground crossing of Spread Creek.

Burnett Diversion Fish Passage Project, Mackay, Idaho (2009 - 2010)

Working with Trout Unlimited, QCI has developed a plan to provide whitefish passage at an existing concrete irrigation diversion structure on the Big Lost River near Mackay, Idaho.  The existing structure created an approximately six-foot vertical barrier to upstream fish passage.  The project design utilizes a natural rock ramp/fishway incorporated into the existing diversion structure, allowing the structure to be retained.

Anadromous Screening Program, Idaho Department of Fish & Game, Upper Salmon Basin, Idaho (1995 – Present)

Working with Idaho Department of Fish & Game engineers, Quadrant Consulting employees have designed approximately 40 screening facilities meeting NOAA Fisheries criteria for threatened and endangered anadromous stocks in the Upper Salmon River Basin.  Designs have also included culverts, pipelines, roads, diversion structures, and an Obermeir Weir.  Typical designs include incorporating concrete structures into a site grading plan, design of a bypass structure, and inclusion of miscellaneous appurtenances into a facility designed to continue delivery of historical irrigation flows.

Lindsey Lateral Reconstruction, Boise, Idaho (2004 - Present)

QCI has worked with the board members and water users of the Lindsey Lateral Water Users Association (composed of approximately 390 landowners) to complete a feasibility assessment, conceptual design, and cost estimate to repair and upgrade an approximately 23,000 linear foot gravity lateral system in urban Boise, Idaho.  Both gravity and pressurized options are being reviewed.

Boise City Canal Reconstruction, Boise, Idaho (2004 - 2005)

QCI worked with Boise City Canal Company personnel to develop a project scope, obtain project funding, coordinate with public agencies (Boise City, the Ada County Highway District, and the Capital City Development Corporation), and complete civil design drawings to reconstruct or slip line over 900 linear feet of main line canal with a design capacity of approximately 50 cubic feet per second.  The slip line portion of this project was located beneath the Basque Block in downtown Boise.  The design of this section was conceived to allow the reconstruction of the canal without disturbing the existing street improvements or disrupt access to the adjacent businesses.

NRCS Oregon IDIQ, Portland, Oregon, (2005)

QCI provided surveying services and assisted with site irrigation planning, civil design, and preparation of construction documents for two irrigation projects located near Ontario and Vale, Oregon.  One project included a 25 horsepower pump station and over 5,000 linear feet of pressurized mainline allowing the conversion of approximately 55 acres of land from flood irrigation to sprinkler irrigation.  The other project included the rehabilitation of an existing storage pond, a 25 horsepower pump station, approximately 2,000 linear feet of pressurized mainline, and allowed for the conversion of approximately 30 acres of land from flood irrigation to sprinkler irrigation.

Little Morgan Creek Reconnection, May, Idaho (2003)

QCI served as a principal member of the design team on a multi-agency project involving numerous private landowner interests that was sponsored by the Custer Soil and Water Conservation District and funded by the Bonneville Power Administration to reconnect Little Morgan Creek to the Pahsimeroi River.  QCI staff completed the design for a 12,000 linear foot pipeline with over 400 vertical feet of elevation change, provided surveying services, and completed a comprehensive water rights review for the project.  QCI was also involved in public forums for the project, and along with other team members met with individual landowners on numerous occasions.

Two Ocean Creek Culvert Fish Passage, Teton National Park, Wyoming (2003)

QCI provided engineering design services on a project to obtain seasonal fish passage for native Snake River Cutthroat Trout through an existing 36-foot long concrete box culvert on Two Ocean Creek in Teton National Park.  The design incorporated rock weirs downstream of the culvert to effectively reduce water velocities through the culvert to increase the opportunity for fish passage.

Stream Restoration

Boise River Flood Control District #10, Joint IDWR Stream Channel Alteration and USACE 404 Permitting, Continuing Services

Beginning in the fall of 1998, Quadrant Consulting has worked closely with Boise River Flood Control District personnel to obtain Stream Channel Alteration and 404 Permits from the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the US Army Corps of Engineers, respectively, for projects along approximately a 30 mile stretch of the lower Boise River to implement erosion control and channel remediation projects. The intent of these projects has been to protect private property along the river from erosion damage during high flow conditions while protecting or improving wildlife habitat within the riparian areas. On this project, Quadrant employees, including Nick, Justin and Steve, have coordinated with and received input from representatives of the Idaho Department of Water Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Boise River Flood Control District #11, Joint IDWR Stream Channel Alteration and USACE 404 Permitting, Continuing Services

Beginning in the fall of 2006, Quadrant Consulting has worked closely with the Chairman of Boise River Flood Control District #11 to obtain Stream Channel Alteration and 404 Permits from the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the US Army Corps of Engineers, respectively, for projects along the lower Boise River to implement erosion control and channel remediation projects. The intent of these projects has been to protect private property along the river from erosion damage during high flow conditions while protecting or improving wildlife habitat within the riparian areas. On this project, Justin and Steve, have coordinated with and received input from representatives of the Idaho Department of Water Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Lands, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Squaw Creek Letter of Map Revision

Working with Resource Systems of Boise, ID, Steve worked on the field surveying and civil design for the Squaw Creek Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) in 2000-2001.  The project entailed modifying an earlier alluvial fan analysis, converting more current data into a FEMA-accepted riverine analysis, design of a major sediment basin in the Boise foothills and design of a channel entrenchment through the Harris Ranch project.

Maynard Gulch Conditional Letter of Map Revision

QCI conducted field surveying and civil design for the Maynard Gulch Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR).  The project entailed modifying an earlier alluvial fan analysis, converting more current data into a FEMA-accepted riverine analysis, design of a major sediment basin in the Boise foothills and design of a channel entrenchment through the Brighton project.

Shoreline Letter of Map Revision

Working with Resource Systems of Boise, ID, QCI worked on the Shoreline Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) in 2004-2005.  In this project, FEMA’s official Flood Insurance Study (FIS) maps were modified to correct the location of a floodway line recently modified under the 2003 FIS update.  The 2003 floodway delineation inadvertently affected five commercial properties that were previously outside of the regulatory floodway.  Under the LOMR the floodway line was relocated to more closely replicate conditions when the original sites were developed.

Harris Ranch Flood Insurance Study

Following preliminary Flood Insurance Study mapping of the Boise River in Ada County, QCI participated in providing FEMA with additional mapping and technical analysis for a reach of the Boise River.  The preliminary Flood Insurance Study was modified to incorporate the additional technical data, including improved cross section data and roughness coefficients.

United Water – Victory Rd. No Rise Analysis

United Water Idaho desired to construct certain improvements adjacent to the Fivemile Creek regulated floodway, in the vicinity of the Company headquarters.  QCI completed an extensive topographic survey of the site, performed a HEC-RAS analysis of the existing site and proposed improvements and designed a box culvert to convey the base flood.  A no-rise certificate was prepared based on the analysis, construction plans were prepared and the project was completed in 2000.

Eagle Island Flow Split Study, Boise River 2000, Ada County, Idaho.

Steve was the principal investigator involved in completing this study for Boise River 2000.  The project scope included investigating channel capacities for the North and South channels of the Boise River in the vicinity of the head of Eagle Island, estimating impacts caused by various high flows in the channels, and providing alternatives for splitting flows between the channels. The project concluded that sediment was accumulating at the head of the island, effectively disrupting the natural flow split in the channels.  Recommendations for future maintenance activities were provided.  Implementation of the study recommendations began in 1997.

On-Call Professional Services, Ada County Drainage District No. 3.

Steve Sweet serves as District Engineer and provides technical review and input on behalf of the Drainage District for proposed projects.  Specific services have included review of proposed NPDES operations and maintenance procedures, design review and construction observation on segments of tiled drainage ditch, preparing a comprehensive system map for the Board’s use, and occasional troubleshooting as needed on segments of the system.  The project is on-going.

Boise and Payette Rivers Diversion Upgrade Inventory, Boise River 2000, Lower Boise and Payette Rivers, Idaho.

QCI completed a comprehensive inventory of irrigation diversions on the Boise River below Lucky Peak Dam and the Payette River below Black Canyon Dam, for Boise River 2000.  The project involved contacting each individual diversion operator, field locating the diversions, describing each site’s location, interviewing the respective operator(s), preparing a short description detailing the type of diversion, operational features and costs, locating the structures through resource grade, differentially corrected GPS methods, recording digital and video images of each site and preparation of a summary document.