Culverts for a changing climate

JAY | Town of Jay highway superintendent Kevin Zaumetzer wasn't convinced at first. But being good soldiers, he and his crew helped the Ausable River Association (AsRA) and The Nature Conservancy as they began to replace the standard round and clog-prone culverts with a broad, but expensive model that mimics a natural streambed. "I had no idea what these things were about," he said. "All I saw was money going out the window." He had been told the culverts were beneficial because they would allow for the free passage of fish, prevent roads from flooding and, in the long run, be financially smart. But Zaumetzer said he likes to see things for himself. Then, when the water barriers on the first culvert in Jay were lifted and the brook began to freely flow under the road as nature intended, he watched in amazement as fish immediately began swimming upstream. "That convinced me on the environmental side," he said. But there was still the matter of cost. According to AsRA, "Upfront costs of a culvert replacement are significant, $150,000 or more, but the trade-off is little to no maintenance and reduced repair costs for the 70-year life span of the new structure." As if to punctuate this statement, a late-summer storm dumped four inches of rain on the area, closing roads across the town and causing $35,000 in washouts where standard culverts remained in use. But the roads served by new culverts were fine. "I'm thoroughly impressed," Zaumetzer said. Retrofitting culverts might seem an unsexy way to promote the ecology and mitigate the more intense storms that come with climate change, but it's surprising the difference a small change can make. "Working with our partners we've developed an effective model for replacing undersized culverts." says Kelley Tucker, Executive Director of AsRA. "By creating an intersection between a stream and a road that preserves the integrity of the stream, we reduce maintenance, keep property safe, and keep roads open in storms." The town, AsRA, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have so far retrofitted four traditional culverts with Climate Ready Culverts in the Ausable River Watershed, recently completing projects in AuSable Acres and at Otis Brook on Jay Mountain Road. The problem with standard round culverts is twofold. One, they block the route of fish and aquatic creatures, either because the downstream end hangs above the streambed, or because they become blocked by sticks and debris. Second, in times of heavy flow there's more water than the culvert can handle, so it flows over the road, washing out pavement and road ballast that's expensive to replace. The new, innovative culverts look much like a small Quonset hut, with no bottom and something like a keystone at the top that locks them into place. "Once they're in, they don't move," Zaumetzer said. Unlike standard culverts that need constant attention, Climate Ready Culverts can basically be installed and forgotten. And they provide a more natural environment. "A lot of current culverts have a perched end, making it nearly impossible for fish to get through, said Michelle Brown, a biologist for The Nature Conservancy. "We want them to be able to move upstream so they don't even know there's a road there." Brown said half of the culverts in Essex County are undersized, and, with limited grant funding, represent "quite a challenge" to replace. Yet to thrive, brook trout need to be able to swim to the colder waters upstream. And even some of the smallest streams can still support the fish if they have free access. Conversely, for the overall health of the stream, sediment, pebbles and organic debris need to be able to be carried by the current. During times of normal flow, the culverts will have a dry bench, or streambank, on either side that allows for the safe passage of mammals, reptiles and amphibians that would otherwise be at risk of being hit by a car. "They're not having to risk their lives by crossing a road," Brown said.

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Culverts for a changing climate

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