TRACK 2, DAY 1
Bridging the Gap: A Comparative Look at Fish Passage Guidelines Across Jurisdictions
Nikan Momenbeitollahi and Heather Amirault, Stantec Consulting
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Hall F
ABSTRACT
Historically, the concept of fish passage was often overlooked in the design of watercourse crossings. Today, it has become an essential regulatory requirement in designing and implementing watercourse crossings across many jurisdictions in North America.
In Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) enforces this mandate through the Fisheries Act, which legislates broad protections for fish and fish habitat. However, the Act does not prescribe specific design methods; instead, practitioners navigate numerous evolving guidelines, which have been developed over the last few decades by Canadian and U.S. sources.
While common principles exist across these guidelines, each one differs in technical recommendations, reflecting regional priorities and evolving best management practices. As a result, designers often face challenges in interpreting and applying these guidelines consistently.
This presentation will compare key fish passage guidelines from various jurisdictions and explore how they can influence design decisions for watercourse crossings. Where do guidelines align and where do they diverge? What lessons can be drawn from comparing approaches across jurisdictions? Are there opportunities for unified design methods?
We also invite the audience to reflect on and share experiences with implementing fish passage requirements, highlighting their successes, challenges, and opportunities for harmonization. By examining these perspectives, we aim to identify pathways towards consistent and effective solutions for fish-friendly infrastructure.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Nikan Momenbeitollahi, Stantec Consulting
Nikan Momenbeitollahi is a Water Resources EIT at Stantec Consulting Ltd, supporting project areas such as stream restoration, fluvial geomorphology, and hydraulic studies. Nikan’s educational and experiential background in water resources, environmental, and biological engineering allows her to support a wide variety of projects, within both private and public sectors.
Her recent projects include design support for a dam removal to support fish passage, a culvert design and sub-watershed study for a proposed development, a habitat improvement project through naturalization of a concrete channel, and an urban channel rehabilitation project to mitigate a fish barrier.
Nikan holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree from the University of Guelph, and is on track to receive her P.Eng. by May 2026.
Heather Amirault, Stantec Consulting
Heather Amirault is a Water Resources Engineer whose main project focuses are in the areas of stream restoration and geomorphic assessment. She has completed several courses in applied fluvial geomorphology and natural channel design. Stream project work includes natural channel designs, meander belt assessments, reference reach surveys, geomorphic assessments, erosion assessments, sediment transport analyses, fish habitat compensation projects, and channel relocations.
Heather works with clients and regulators to develop design solutions that are functional, constructible, cost effective to build, and provide ecological and habitat benefits. She is proficient at data collection, geomorphic assessment, and reporting results in clear and understandable language. She is very experienced in preparing a variety of permit applications as part of a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, planners, and engineers.