Bear Creek Bridge Design

The Bear Creek Bridge Design project completed a bridge design to replace an existing bridge over Bear Creek, a tributary to Big Canyon Creek, a tributary to the Clearwater River. Project funds were used to complete the following: 1) hydraulic analysis, 2) channel stability assessment, 3) project survey, 4) environmental compliance documents for the installation phase, 5) engineering design package to use for construction, and 6) a written implementation plan which included pollution control and the dewatering plan for construction phase. A flood occurred in April 2019 which deposited a significant amount of gravel under and upstream of the bridge. Additional survey and design work was completed for a channel modification component of the design.

The project site is located in the Big Canyon Creek Watershed which is a priority watershed for restoration implementation in the Lower Clearwater Steelhead population, Clearwater River MPG, Snake River Steelhead DPS and has been identified as such in the NMFS 2017 ESA steelhead recovery plan. Components of the design were installed in 2019 through PCSRF project #017 18 CW. The bridge, channel rehabilitation, vegetative plantings, and one rock weir were installed per the design and restored access to 2.7 miles of upstream steelhead habitat.

Bear Creek is approximately 1.5 miles upstream from the confluence of Big Canyon Creek and the Clearwater River. This creek has perennial flow and is spring fed. Bedload is deposited on the upstream side of an existing bridge creating an annual passage barrier from March through June, which is coincidental to migration and spawning of wild steelhead. This is the only passage barrier identified in Bear Creek and once removed will open approximately 2.1 miles of good upstream spawning habitat.