Long Live the Kings (LLTK) and Global Team Up on an Innovative Fish Passage Project with Hopes to Guide Salmon and Steelhead to Survival in Washington State.
Washington’s salmon and steelhead populations have been dwindling over the years due to a large floating bridge in the way of their natural migration path. We are honored to have been contracted by Long Live the Kings on behalf of the Hood Canal Bridge Assessment Team to support in the restoration of these populations.
The Fillet's Purpose
Stuck Between a Bridge and a Hard Place
Once the juvenile salmon and steelhead arrive at the bridge, they naturally follow alongside the bridge wall, looking for a spot to separate from it. However, due to the 90-degree corner, they become disoriented, causing them to turn around and start over, making them an easy target for predators like harbor seals.
Survival
According to NOAA, up to 50% of the juvenile steelhead don't survive their journey past the bridge.
The Proposed Solution
The diagram below, demonstrates where the juvenile fish are getting stuck (Photo 1) and how the large, yellow structure aka the "fillet" (Photo 2) may help the fish move past the sharp turn and continue on their way.
A One-of-a-Kind Project
Global's role in this project was to facilitate fabrication of the fillet (pictured above) to deploy at a bridge in Washington for "block testing". This study was being completed to see if there was a way to help these fish successfully move past the "deadliest migration" barrier in Washington.
This was a unique project from start to finish. The fillet was a one-of-a kind, custom fabrication that stands 18' tall and weighs 75,000 lb. Due to the scale of this structure, lifting and placing the fillet into the water for tow (pictured above) was complicated. The move from land to water was successful, and required strategic planning to ensure operations were as efficient and cost-effective as possible.
Once the tow was complete. Global's team demonstrated its expertise by successfully installing and monitoring the fillet at the bridge during the testing periods. The testing involved Global working on a cadence of installation and removal the fillet over a period of six weeks.
Riding the Tides
While on the job, the team had to work around the aggressive tides and implement safety measures, to ensure that the project progressed smoothly and without incident. The crew worked off the side of the floating bridge pontoon to install the fillet, even in inclement weather. Their expertise and professionalism allowed them to overcome adverse conditions and complete all installations and removals successfully. This demonstration of adaptability was key in ensuring a timely and efficient execution. Lastly, the crew was able to complete all work without any damage to the bridge, alleviating significant concern.
Overall, Global's ability to overcome these obstacles while safeguarding the integrity of the bridge is a testament to our team's commitment to excellence and expertise.
More on Safety
Safety was a top priority for the crew working on the floating bridge deck. They made sure there was enough room for vehicles to pass through smoothly and kept the deck clear of anything that could cause trips or accidents.
They maintained a clean work area by regularly removing debris and equipment. This simple, yet essential practice helped create a safe and organized environment, reducing the risk of incidents. The crew's commitment to safety on the floating bridge deck was commendable and contributed significantly to the project's successful completion.
A Message from LLTK
“As a salmon conservation non-profit, we are lucky to work with people passionate about our mission and their work. Global Diving & Salvage is no exception and led us through a critical component of the largest project in our organization’s history… and one of Washington’s largest fish passage barriers.” - Lucas Hall, LLTK Director of Projects
“The Hood Canal Bridge Assessment began in 2015 with a question – why are so many steelhead going missing near the Hood Canal Bridge? After several years of research by a team of scientists from Tribal, state, and federal agencies and NGOs we are thrilled to begin implementing solutions. We are grateful for the diligence and dedication that Global Diving & Salvage has shown towards this project and our goal of improving the survival of young steelhead as they migrate out to the ocean.” - Shaara Ainsley, LLTK Senior Project Manager
To learn more about Long Live the King's, visit their website at: https://lltk.org/