Insufficient Water Depth

Absence of a low-flow channel can result in water depths too shallow to allow passage for fish or other organisms. In systems with highly variable flows, it is challenging to construct a structure capable of passing high flows but still maintaining a defined low-flow channel similar to the natural streambed. In these systems, often the most successful structures are those that provide bank-edges and a floodplain within the structure. When designing these types of crossings, pay particular attention to the size, location, and spacing of substrate within the structure to emulate the natural streambed as closely as possible.