Kleinschmidt combined hydraulic modeling, fisheries engineering, dam safety analysis, value engineering, and regulatory coordination to evaluate alternatives to the original fishway concept. The team demonstrated that a substantially smaller, inland nature-like fishway could meet biological and regulatory objectives while improving constructability. The redesigned fishway is approximately 60% narrower than the original concept and limits impacts to the existing dam to approximately 90 feet for supplemental attraction water. Kleinschmidt also provided technical support during FERC dispute resolution and worked closely with resource agencies to build consensus around the revised design. During construction of the 12-weir fishway and supporting infrastructure, the team continued as owner’s engineer, identifying field-based solutions such as replacing a planned earth-fill cofferdam with a turbidity curtain during unusually low river conditions.

Kleinschmidt helped reduce the construction cost of the fishway significantly, while maintaining regulatory and biological objectives. The redesigned solution improved constructability, reduced in-river impacts, and supported continued generation at the 20-MW hydropower facility. During construction, the team implemented an innovative turbidity curtain solution that eliminated the need for more than 5,000 cubic yards of temporary cofferdam material, avoided nearly 16,000 square feet of additional in-river impacts, and expedited the project schedule. The project delivered a more affordable, lower-risk fish passage solution while supporting YHPC’s long-term environmental and operational goals.