Haigler Creek Fish Barrier Project for Gila Trout Reintroduction

Haigler Creek Fish Barrier Project for Gila Trout Reintroduction

The Haigler Creek Fish Barrier Project site is located on private lands along Haigler Creek in Gila County, AZ.  There is an existing wooden crib structure that is estimated to be 80 to 100 years old at the project site. The existing structure spans the creek and still operates as an irrigation diversion.  The landowners and Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) are interested in constructing a new timber structure to act as a barrier to the upstream migration of non-native rainbow and brown trout while still functioning as an irrigation diversion. After installation of the barrier, AZGFD will renovate the upstream reach of Haigler Creek to remove non-native species and will then restock the reach with native Gila Trout.

The following is a summary of George F. Cathey’s technical contribution to the project (as an employee of Natural Channel Design, Inc.):

• Engineer of Record on the project. Combined research on historic timber dam construction techniques with finite element structural analysis, geomorphic, hydraulic, and hydrologic analysis, and trout jumping performance data to design a 14-foot tall and 50-foot wide timber fish barrier to protect a native Gila trout reintroduction area from the upstream migration of non-native trout.
• Topographic Survey – Completed a topographic design survey of the barrier footprint using RTK GPS equipment.
• Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling – Evaluated local and regional hydrology to develop peak flows and flood frequencies used in the barrier model. Calculated the barrier height based on an in-house hydraulic model that incorporated morphological stream parameters and trout jump height.
• Barrier Structural Analysis and Design – Designed a polymer coated timber barrier to prevent upstream migration of non-native trout at the 25-year flood, while withstanding structural loads (flood surcharge and submerged soil infill) exerted by the 100-year flood. The design was tested/verified using finite element analysis modeling software.
• Construction Package – Completed and sealed the construction package (specifications, drawings, and cost estimate) for the barrier.