flower creek diversion dam fish passage feasibility

​Location

​Libby, Montana

Working with another engineering firm, QCI’s Project Manager, Nick Kraus, coordinated with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to provide a feasibility assessment and alternatives analysis to facilitate bull trout passage at the municipal water intake diversion for the City of Libby.  The existing diversion has a hydraulic head differential of approximately 18 vertical feet from the upstream pool to the Flower Creek channel downstream of the diversion embankment.  The project in-stream fish passage design flow rate ranged from 4 cfs to 200 cfs.  Fish passage alternatives reviewed included a roughened natural channel, vertical slot, pool and weir, weir and orifice, pool and chute, and SteepPass fishway options.