Bend Whitewater Park & Pedestrian Bridge

Voters in Bend approved Bond Measure 9-86 in November 2012, which funded a $12M dam modification, whitewater features, pedestrian bridge and habitat restoration project directly downstream of the Colorado Avenue Bridge crossing of the Deschutes River. The project was designed to provide a safe passage route for river users over a historic, lumber mill district sheet-pile dam, in addition to constructing a whitewater park with improved fish passage and wildlife habitat. The project includes three channels: 

• A bypass to allow safe passage for floaters.
• A natural channel to enhance fish habitat and riparian vegetation.
• An adjustable, four-drop whitewater channel for recreational and competition paddlers and surfers. The whitewater channel is the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest and will attract whitewater enthusiasts and spectators from around the region.

Wallace Group was part of the engineering design team tasked with planning, designing, permitting, and constructing a series of complex project elements while maintaining the integrity of the existing dam and Old Mill District river levels. Wallace Group’s range of services included:

• Comprehensive subsurface explorations and geotechnical analysis at both upland and riverbed locations to support design and construction of the pedestrian bridge.
• Creation of two artificial, mid-channel islands, and new park features within adjacent McKay Park.  
  

Wallace Group engineers performed detailed seepage analysis as part of a critical flow-control cut-off wall design within the island separating the whitewater/habitat channels. Construction began in late 2014 and Wallace Group provided comprehensive geotechnical monitoring, special inspection and materials testing services over a 10-month construction schedule. The in-water work was completed and the whitewater park opened to the public in September 2015. The pedestrian bridge, McKay Park restoration and Deschutes River Trail connections were completed in 2016.