Wilco took on a challenge on this project: start and finish this instream work within a short window in Oct-Nov before the dam releases higher water flows, and before winter conditions make progress a struggle.

Wilco planned and mobilised three excavation crews to tackle removing and adjusting cobble gravel bars deposited after flood seasons. The crews worked quickly and diligently using our Hydrema low-ground pressure trucks to access across the golf course and pathways to the river’s edge, and remove and relocate the gravels, and ensure that future high water events won’t result in major erosion impacts.

Wilco’s use of GPS control on all excavators and dozers meant we could work ‘blind’ below the water’s surface and grade to precision. Our team’s experience with instream work and managing fluctuating river flows made the planning and execution of this work come together seamlessly.