The state-of-the-knowledge white paper on this subject is scheduled for completion fall 2002. Issues addressed in the white paper include location, design and ecological considerations for new bridges, existing bridge maintenance, modifications and retrofits, column skew angle, scour, debris, beach access, fords, and non-fish passage culvert issues. Also considered are conflicts between highway clear zones and riparian habitat issues.

White Paper Content and Issues - Each white paper includes some or all of the following elements: overview of the guidelines program, overview of the subject white paper, assessment of the state of knowledge, summary of existing guidance, recommendations for future guidance documents, glossary of technical terms, bibliography, and an appendix containing other references and information sources. The issues being addressed in the white papers are diverse, in that they range from topics of design, construction, and operation of specific structures to the assessment of ecological impacts stemming from structures and activities affecting aquatic habitats. The coverage will vary among papers depending on research conducted on the subject matter and reported in the scientific and technical literature. Analysis of project specific monitoring, mitigation studies, and similar efforts are beyond the scope of this program. Each white paper and/or white paper topic was reviewed by multi-agency and multi-state panels of experts in informal peer review workshops in late 2000. Appropriate comments and recommendations generated in these workshops and from subsequent written comments are incorporated into the final white papers.

• White Paper Authors - The experts involved in the white paper project represent a variety of agency, private, government, commercial, and academic interests:
  Water Crossings Authors:
  Gregor Myhr, Bill Leonard, and Steve Thompson, Washington Department of Transportation, Olympia, Washington
  Kevin Lautz, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington