"a Culvert Crossing of Prairie Creek, Alberta - from Perceptions to Solutions"

Culvert crossings have long been the preferred crossing structure for Alberta’s resource development sectors, presumably due to their low cost, relative ease of installation and ability to quickly convey water. However, improperly designed or constructed culvert crossings can result in negative effects on the adjacent aquatic environment, including the preclusion of uninhibited fish passage. In Alberta, culvert crossings that are barriers to fish migration are generally considered to have the most detrimental overall effect on fish habitat. This project involved the passive (i.e., desktop review of swim performances and hydraulic analysis) and active (i.e., passive integrated transponder tracking study) evaluation of the potential for fish passage at a large culvert crossing in central Alberta that was perceived to be a migration barrier for resident and fluvial sportfishes. Following the project’s evaluation phase, stakeholders including but not limited to Husky Energy, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Trout Unlimited Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership Program are collaborating to invest in a unique and cost-effective remediation strategy.