Infrastructure Solutions That Support Aquatic Life & Critical Dam Operations
Brennan helps build and improve fish passage and protection systems with fishways, bypass channels, intake protection, cofferdams, concrete work, and marine construction.
Built for the Balance Between Infrastructure & Ecology Fish Passage & Protection Services
Fish passage and protection work sits at the intersection of engineering, construction, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance. These projects must support aquatic movement and habitat goals while also respecting the realities of active dams, hydropower facilities, navigation systems, water-control structures, and critical infrastructure.
That balance requires more than a general contractor.
Brennan understands how to work in and around the water, above and below the surface, and within sensitive aquatic environments. We support fish passage and protection projects with marine construction, dam construction, commercial diving, cofferdams, concrete placement, steel fabrication and installation, underwater inspection, and site-specific access solutions.
Whether the goal is to improve upstream or downstream passage, reduce fish entrainment, protect intake structures, support regulatory requirements, or modernize aging water-control infrastructure, Brennan helps project teams move from design to construction with confidence.
Specialized Construction Support for Aquatic Connectivity & Protection Areas of Focus
Brennan provides construction, inspection, repair, and support services for fish passage and protection systems associated with dams, hydroelectric facilities, intakes, spillways, canals, and water-control structures.
Helping Aquatic Species Move Safely Around Barriers Fish Passage Construction
Dams and water-control structures can create barriers for fish and other aquatic species. Fish passage systems are designed to help restore movement through or around these structures while maintaining facility performance and public safety.
Brennan supports the construction and improvement of passage systems in challenging water-based environments where access, flow, elevations, concrete, steel, and hydraulic conditions must be carefully managed.
Key Capabilities
- Fish passage construction
- Fish ladders and fishways
- Fish barriers, bioacoustic fish fences, and underwater deterrent systems
- Nature-like bypass channels
- Technical passage structures
- Entrance and exit channel construction
- Concrete placement and repair
- Steel installation
- Water-control structure support
- Access and staging
- Construction in active dam environments
Reducing Impacts at Intakes, Dams, and Water-Control Structures Fish Protection Systems
Fish protection systems help reduce entrainment, impingement, injury, and mortality around intake structures, hydropower facilities, cooling water systems, and other water-control assets. Brennan supports the installation, repair, inspection, and maintenance of protection systems built around each site’s hydraulic, environmental, and operational needs.
Our crews work closely with owners, engineers, and equipment suppliers to safely complete fish protection work in areas where water flow, access, debris, and operating infrastructure can complicate the construction process.
Key Capabilities
- Fish protection system installation
- Intake protection improvements
- Fish screens
- Guidance systems
- Barriers and exclusion systems
- Bypass support
- Debris management support
- Structural steel installation
- Underwater inspection and preparation
- Coordination with equipment suppliers and engineers
Construction & Inspection Around Critical Flow Systems Intake & Screen Support
Intake structures and fish screens often require precise construction, inspection, cleaning, repair, and replacement support. Brennan brings commercial diving, marine construction, concrete, steel, and mechanical support together to help clients protect both aquatic life and facility reliability.
We can support work around active intakes, submerged structures, debris-prone areas, and difficult-access locations.
Key Capabilities
- Intake structure inspections
- Fish screen installation and repair
- Traveling water screen support
- Trash rack support
- Underwater cleaning and debris removal
- Diver-assisted inspection
- ROV and imaging support
- Structural repairs
- Concrete and steel modifications
- Documentation and reporting
Creating Safe Work Areas for Fish Passage & Protection Projects Cofferdams & Temporary Water Control
Many fish passage and protection projects require controlled work areas in active water environments. Brennan provides cofferdam, isolation, and dewatering support that allows crews to safely access structures, perform repairs, install systems, and complete construction with better control over site conditions.
Our experience in dam construction and marine construction allows us to plan water control around flow conditions, access limitations, environmental requirements, and construction sequencing.
Key Capabilities
- Cofferdam installation and removal
- Portadam®
- Temporary water control
- Dewatering support
- Isolation areas
- Sheet pile systems
- Work zone protection
- Marine access and staging
- Underwater preparation
- Support for concrete, steel, and mechanical work
- Site restoration after construction
Durable Construction for Demanding Water-Control Environments Concrete & Structural Work
Fish passage and protection systems often require concrete and structural improvements that must perform under hydraulic forces, freeze-thaw conditions, debris impacts, and continuous water exposure. Brennan provides concrete placement, repair, structural rehabilitation, and steel support for these demanding environments.
We understand the importance of accuracy, durability, access, sequencing, and quality control when building structures that interact directly with flowing water.
Key Capabilities
- Concrete placement
- Concrete repair
- Structural rehabilitation
- Formwork and reinforcing steel
- Precast installation
- Cast-in-place concrete
- Steel fabrication and installation support
- Gate and control structure support
- Surface preparation
- Quality-focused execution
Below-Water Support for Passage & Protection Systems Commercial Diving & Underwater Inspections
Successful fish passage and protection projects often depend on a clear understanding of underwater conditions. Brennan’s ADCI-certified commercial divers support these projects with underwater inspections, structure assessments, installation support, repair assistance, and documentation.
Our dive teams can inspect intakes, screens, bypass systems, submerged concrete, gates, trash racks, foundations, and other underwater components that affect system performance.
Key Capabilities
- Underwater inspections
- Dive construction support
- Intake and screen inspections
- Trash rack inspections
- Structural condition assessments
- Underwater repair support
- ROV inspections
- Acoustic imaging support
- Photo and video documentation
- Detailed inspection reporting
Fish Passage & Protection for Hydropower Assets Hydroelectric Dam Support
Hydroelectric facilities face unique fish passage and protection challenges. Project teams must balance generation needs, regulatory requirements, aquatic movement, intake protection, water levels, flow rates, and facility operations.
Brennan supports hydropower clients with construction and inspection services for fish passage systems, protection systems, intakes, trash racks, gates, bypasses, spillways, tailraces, and related infrastructure.
Key Capabilities
- Hydroelectric fish passage support
- Fish protection at intakes
- Fish screen and bypass construction
- Trash rack and intake improvements
- Spillway and tailrace support
- Gate and actuator coordination
- Underwater inspection
- Cofferdams and water control
- Concrete and steel work
- Outage and schedule-sensitive construction
Supporting Projects With Sensitive Environmental Goals Environmental & Regulatory Coordination
Fish passage and protection projects often involve environmental permits, agency coordination, biological goals, seasonal restrictions, water quality controls, and stakeholder expectations. Brennan supports these projects with construction planning and field execution that respects those requirements.
We understand how to work in sensitive aquatic environments while helping clients meet project goals safely and efficiently.
Key Capabilities
- Construction support for regulated environments
- Seasonal work window coordination
- Water quality protection
- Turbidity and erosion control support
- Sensitive habitat protection
- Access planning
- Site restoration
- Coordination with engineers, agencies, and stakeholders
- Environmental compliance support
- Documentation support
Improving Existing Systems for Long-Term Performance Rehabilitation & Modernization
Many fish passage and protection projects involve upgrading or repairing existing infrastructure. Brennan supports rehabilitation and modernization work that helps improve system performance, extend asset life, address aging components, and adapt infrastructure to changing regulatory or ecological goals.
Key Capabilities
- Fishway rehabilitation
- Fish screen replacement
- Intake upgrades
- Structural repairs
- Concrete and steel rehabilitation
- Mechanical component support
- Underwater assessments
- Debris and sediment removal support
- Access improvements
- Long-term maintenance support
One Partner for Water, Structures, Access, and Aquatic Protection Why Brennan for Fish Passage & Protection?
Fish passage and protection projects require a contractor that understands both the built environment and the aquatic environment. Brennan brings dam construction, marine construction, commercial diving, environmental restoration, cofferdams, concrete, steel, underwater inspection, and specialized access capabilities together under one experienced team.
That integrated approach helps owners and engineers reduce handoffs, solve field challenges, protect sensitive environments, and complete complex construction in and around active water-control structures.
What Sets Brennan Apart
- Award-winning safety performance in safety-critical environments
- Collaborative, honest delivery with owners, engineers, suppliers, contractors, regulators, and stakeholders
- Experience supporting hydropower, dams, intakes, screens, and water-control structures
- Underwater construction, commercial diving, cofferdam, concrete, steel, structural, and mechanical construction capabilities all under one team
- Integrated support from planning through construction, inspection, and restoration
Total Quality Management Across the Organization
- ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems)
- ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)
- ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management)
- ASME NQA-1 (2022), 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, and 10 CFR Part 21
Explore Related Project Experience and Technical Resources Fish Passage and Protection Resources
Explore Brennan resources related to fish passage, protection systems, aquatic habitat, hydropower infrastructure, underwater inspections, dam construction, and work in sensitive water-based environments.
These resources may include project videos, case studies, articles, before-and-after project photos, and project highlights that show how Brennan supports safe, responsible, and effective work around critical aquatic infrastructure.
Featured Resource Topics
- Fish passage project videos
- Fish protection system project highlights
- Hydroelectric dam project articles
- Habitat restoration articles
- Environmental restoration case studies
- Dam construction case studies
- Underwater inspection videos
- Before-and-after project photos
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