Article Menu

—Archive

Upcoming Events

What's New:
Fish passage project wins ACEC Grand Award

MINNEAPOLIS, MN— The American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota recently awarded a Grand Award for its 2008 Engineering Excellence Awards competition to the Savoy Hydro Intake dam replacement and fish passage creation project at Spearfish Creek in South Dakota. The ACEC awards recognize outstanding achievements in engineering.

The project was a joint effort of South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks and Barr Engineering Company to replace a dam in the Black Hills’ Spearfish Creek with natural-looking rapids that allow trout passage to portions of the creek blocked since 1917. 

Barr and SDGFP developed a “rock-riffle” design consisting of a series of stepped pools. Incorporating large boulders and pools, the design allows trout to rest and develop enough speed to leap to the next upstream pool. Hydraulic modeling determined that the design would withstand floods while allowing upstream trout passage. 

Downstream from the rapids, Barr designed a bridge and two small rock-rapid sections to replace two aging culverts, improving visitor access and fish habitat. The new structure was constructed in 2006 and is now being used by visitors and trout.