Technical Design Guidelines

In the early 1980s, there were no instruction manuals for the emerging river restoration industry. Today we regularly contribute to technical design guidelines to elevate industry best practices with various audiences and public engagement strategies.

Fourmile Resilient Crossings Landowners Handbook

Following catastrophic flooding in 2013 in portion of Colorado’s Front Range that destroyed private roads and bridges, Inter-Fluve was contracted by a partnership of four watershed coalitions (Four mile Canyon, Coal Creek Canyon, The Saint Vrain and the Poudre River) to develop a resource for landowners that illustrates the crossing design and installation process. The project included review of county regulations pertinent to stream crossings, field assessments of 30 crossings, four outreach events, and development of a Resilient Crossing Handbook for Landowners.

Dry Creek Handbook for landowners

Our in-house team created a 22-page concept design notebook for the Sonoma County Watershed Agency (SCWA). It was designed to help communicate complex fish habitat restoration designs to landowners.

State of Washington Stream Habitat Restoration Guidelines

Inter-Fluve performed a lead role in the development of the Stream Habitat Restoration Guidelines (SHRG) – a State guide to planning, design and ecological considerations for stream habitat restoration. Inter-Fluve provided technical content, editing, and graphics for these guidelines, and collaborated with state and federal agencies in an iterative editorial process.

USFS Culvert Scour Assessment

To improve the natural and resilient function of culverts, we assisted the U.S. Forest Service with a 2007 assessment of 17 culverts in Oregon. As part of this project we evaluated the structure and geomorphic controls on channels with stream simulation culverts, and identified factors that most influence natural-channel functions. The results of the study are being used to further develop new culvert design guidelines, as well as improve aquatic health in rivers.

Washington Integrated Streambank Protection Guidelines (WAISPG)

Inter-Fluve assisted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Transportation, and Department of Ecology with the development of their Integrated Streambank Protection Guidelines. This statewide document is a tool for establishing acceptable approaches, methods, and techniques for stream and riverbank stabilization in light of the Endangered Species Act in the State of Washington.