Watson Fish Passage

The Poudre River Diversion fish passage consisted of a ~130′ long and 20′ wide fish-way to connect 3 miles of fragmentation on the River at Watson Lake. This project involved intricate dewatering activities as the lake needed to have a constant supply of 18 cfs in the winter. L4 installed a 24″ pipe to feed the lake and made a earthen coffer dam with drain locations to allow groundwater in the dewatered zone to flow away from the excavation, the water was then pumped from a specified location. L4 installed roughening elements on the fishway which consisted of cobble rock cut flat then attached onto the fishway with rebar and epoxy. This creates turbidity when the water is flowing, slowing down the current enhancing the oxygen supply in the water column to entice fish. This project also included multiple misc. metal fabricated items including a 14′ Cone Screen on top of a precast concrete screen base to prevent fish from entering the lake / fishery intake, a trash rack, handrails, walkways, debris booms and other items. Concrete was completed by MLL Inc.