Before: upstream side of the washout
The winter of 2010-2011 brought record precipitation to northern California. Coastal cities were without power for days as trees fell on transmission lines and roads washed out preventing access.
Soper-Wheeler was impacted by the storms as well. One of our critical crossings in Sonoma County washed out when rushing water blasted through and undermined a culvert.
Instead of replacing it with another culvert, we opted to install a bridge that allows for fish passage and lower sediment loading of the stream. This crossing will serve us and the riparian habitat for years to come.
Click photos to enlarge.
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- Before: culvert has been washed out, leaving only the roadbed intact
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- Before: upstream side of the washout
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- Before: only a thin layer of earth left
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- Before: the downstream side
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- Before: the downstream side
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- After: bridge installed
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- After: crossing allows fish passage and is rock-lined to minimize sediment loading
