Open Season at Mortimer Campground

The opening of a much-anticipated new bridge in the Pisgah National Forest is just another example of how Alpha & Omega Group’s core values of teamwork and excellence help bring people and nature together — just in time for another summer season in the North Carolina mountains.

A&O worked with Trout Unlimited and the US Forest Service to provide construction administration for the project. Within days of removing the low water ford bridge, 15-inch rainbow trout were seen in the upper sections of the creek.

Beginning in 2010, A&O provided hydraulic and structural engineering design services to replace a low-water ford bridge over Thorps Creek at Mortimer Campground in the Pisgah National Forest. The ford crossing blocked fish passage when debris backed up behind the ford, and created a flood hazard during heavy rains.

The low water ford bridge, in place until 2019, flooded frequently and blocked passage of fish in Thorps Creek.

A&O managed the survey and geotechnical investigation, and designed and prepared plans and specifications for a new structure to clear the 100-year flood elevation. The 35-foot span cored slab bridge and approach roadway were designed according to AASHTO standards. Civil design included roadway, flood study, drainage, and erosion control to minimize sediment loading of Thorps Creek.

Unfortunately, the project was shelved until 2019, when the non-profit conservation organization, Trout Unlimited, prioritized its completion as part of the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This effort was aimed at improving wildlife habitat and making nature viewing safer for visitors. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Trout Unlimited provided critical fundraising support and oversight of the project, and using A&O’s original design plans, chose TAG Contracting to construct the bridge.

A&O worked with Trout Unlimited and the US Forest Service to provide construction administration for the project. Within days of removing the low water ford bridge, 15-inch rainbow trout were seen in the upper sections of the creek. The bridge and campground were opened to the public in April, 2021.

Civil design included roadway, flood study, drainage, and erosion control to minimize sediment loading of Thorps Creek.

“Completion of the bridge removed a severe barrier to aquatic organisms…reconnecting 1,800 feet of coldwater habitat,” said Andy Brown, Coldwater Conservation Manager at Trout Unlimited. “It also removed recurring flood and public safety hazards, reduced sediment from scouring bank erosion, provided more pool habitat and instream structure, and provided more shade to keep cold waters cold, as they are supposed to be.”

In addition to removing the barrier to fish and enhancing public safety, completion of the bridge removed blockages that backed up behind the ford, saving the U.S. Forest Service thousands of maintenance dollars annually.

“A&O is proud to have been involved in this project that was more than 10 years in the making,” said Forrest Robbins, construction administration manager for the project. “This project not only improves wildlife habitat and public safety, but hopefully, it kicks off a new season in North Carolina, for even more visitors heading out into the woods, desiring to relax and appreciate nature. Plus, in the long-run, it saves taxpayer money.”