Fish Passage Design for Roadway Crossings Guidance

The Fish Passage Design for Road Crossings Guidance is an engineering document intended to provide detailed instructions to assist Caltrans designers in generating projects that will achieve resource agency goals for fish passage within a state highway project context. It is neither intended as, nor does it establish, a legal standard for these functions. The content is subject to amendment as conditions and experience may warrant. Special situations may call for a variation from the described procedures.

Developed in conformance with the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service, Southwest Region (PDF) criteria, Fish Passage Design for Road Crossings provides worksheets, flow charts, design examples and other design aids to assist the designer in achieving permit achievable projects.

Other documents that should be used in the design and development of Caltrans fish passage projects include:

  • California Fish & Wildlife (CFW) Part XII: Fish Passage Design and Implementation
  • CFW Culvert Criteria for Fish Passage, and
  • NOAA Fisheries Service Guidelines for Salmonid Passage at Stream Crossings

Click Below to View the Fish Passage Design for Road Crossings Guidance

All Chapters - Complete Download Version (Updated 10/31/2014) (PDF)

Table of Contents

Fish Passage Design for Road Crossings Guidance (Chapters/Sections) Last Updated
Cover and Table of Contents (PDF) 5/31/2007
Chapter 1: Forward and Introduction (PDF) 5/31/2007
Chapter 2: Fish Passage Considerations for Road Crossing Design (PDF) 5/31/2007
Chapter 3: Fish Passage Design Elements (PDF) 5/31/2007
Chapter 4: National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) Active Channel Option or Low-Scope California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) Design Option (PDF) 8/30/2009
Chapter 5: Stream Simulation Design Option (PDF) 10/31/2014
Chapter 6: Hydraulic Design Option for New Culverts (PDF) 5/31/2007
Chapter 7: Culvert Retrofit Design (PDF) 5/31/2007
Chapter 8: Grade Control Design (PDF) 5/31/2007
Chapter 9: Fishways (PDF) 5/31/2007
Chapter 10: References (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix A: Glossary (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix B: CDFG Culvert Criteria For Fish Passage (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix C: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Guidelines for Salmonid Passage at Stream Crossings (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix D: Caltrans Fish Passage Design Forms (PDF) 10/31/2014
Appendix E: Fish Passage Flows (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix F: Hydraulics of Baffles (PDF) 10/31/2014
Appendix G: Baffle Sample Calculations and Structural Details (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix H: Design Example - Active Channel Design Option (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix I: Design Example - Hydraulic Design Option (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix J: Design Example - Hydraulic Baffle Design Option (Rehabilitate Culvert with Baffle) (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix K: Design Example - Hydraulic Structure with Rock Weir (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix L: Design Example - Stream Simulation Design (PDF) 10/31/2014
Appendix M (PDF): Design Example - Construction Considerations (PDF) 5/31/2007
Appendix N: Rock Weir Design (PDF) 10/31/2014
Appendix O: Rock Weir and Associated Materials, Non-Standard 5/31/2007