Highways located near rivers are vulnerable to flooding, sedimentation and washouts. This can lead to expensive repairs and damage to fish habitat. Learn how our CED program builds climate resilient, nature-based infrastructure projects to protect the highway, improve fishhabitat, and reduce repairs.
CED has reduced maintenance costs, reduced loss of commerce due road closures, removed or reused material that is harmful to aquatic habitat, and replaced it with rough woody structures to improve salmon habitat. The latest Chronic Environmental Deficiency Annual report (PDF 8.4MB) contains more information.
Anybody can nominate a site as a CED: Tribal representatives and members of the public. Send nominations to the CED coordinator, Jenni Dykstra, [email protected], 360-705-7488.
CED criteria
A location must meet two criteria to qualify for a CED Project.
- The site was repaired three times by WSDOT maintenance crews in the past 10 years.
- Maintaining aquatic fish habitats is a negative act.
Hoh River Site 1.
Hoh River Site 1 is an excellent example of the improvements made through CED. The river’s meander met US 101 at an angle, causing erosion that requires frequent maintenance. Emergency repairs using riprap led to the problem expanding. Repairs became repetitive and had a negative effect on fish habitat. CED Solutions installed engineered logjams that protected the road and created fish habitat in 2004.
The entire area was destroyed by a 1997 flood
southbound lane.
Emergency repairs using rip-rap.
To protect, engineered logjams have been installed
The road can be used to create fish habitat.
Site assessment
The CED coordinator collaborates with WSDOT region staff in screening nominations to determine if sites meet the program’s criteria. Technical personnel and others familiar with the site conduct an initial assessment. They verify eligibility to CED list and make initial suggestions. Sites that meet the criteria for the CED list are added by the CED coordinator.
Reach assessment guidance
WSDOT conducts a reach analysis for each site on the CED List. This assessment identifies the hydrologic failure mechanisms and proposes a solution. Each CED site is assessed using methods from the Integrated Streambank Protection Guidelines and the Hydraulic Engineer Circular Manuals 18-20, 23 and 23 as well as other sources.
