Adaptive Design and Construction Lessons from the Inskip Dam Removal on Battle Creek
Ethan Daviau
GFT
Owings Mills, MD
This presentation will highlight the Inskip Dam Removal Project on the South Fork of Battle Creek in Northern California, a complex effort involving stakeholders from hydropower, fish passage, federal and state agencies, and a fly-fishing resort. The primary goals of the project were to remove a high‑hazard dam after its failure in 2022 and restore upstream fish passage, with a focus on improving habitat connectivity for salmonids. This project is part of a greater effort in this region of California focused on removing all dams in the Battle Creek Watershed to restore salmonid passage and habitat throughout the watershed.
The presentation will emphasize the project design and how it evolved during construction as extensive bedrock formations were uncovered. These somewhat expected conditions required rapid redesign and underscored the importance of clear communication and close collaboration among the design team, on‑site project management, the construction manager, field crews, and stakeholders. Key project constraints including unknown bedrock extents, steep valley walls, adjacent landowner impacts, and a flashy hydrologic system will also be discussed.
The presentation will then walk through construction progression, with brief pauses to highlight moments where adaptive redesign was required. It will conclude by examining the project’s performance following a large rain event shortly after construction, reflecting on how the system responded and what was learned. The presentation will close with design considerations and lessons learned to support the successful planning and implementation of similar dam removal and stream restoration projects.
About Ethan Daviau
Ethan’s passion for fly fishing led him to pursue a career in environmental consulting with a particular interest in stream restoration design. Ethan has been an Environmental Scientist for Gannett Fleming in the Owings Mills, Maryland office since 2021, after graduating from Penn State University. Ethan has experience in stream and floodplain restoration design and monitoring, wetland delineation, stormwater facility site selection, BMP maintenance inspection, and construction inspection for streams, floodplains, and stormwater BMPs.