FHR 1 Bank Protection

• Prevent Riverbank Erosion:
  Install engineered rock slope protection (RSP) and related features to stabilize vulnerable sections of the riverbank.
• Protect Critical Infrastructure:
  Safeguard levees, transportation corridors, and agricultural lands adjacent to the river from encroaching floodwaters and lateral erosion.
• Enhance Hydraulic Performance:
  Improve flow conditions and reduce turbulence that contributes to scour and bank instability.
• Restore and Preserve Riparian Habitat:
  Integrate vegetative restoration and habitat enhancement features where possible to meet environmental mitigation standards.
• Support Small Business Participation:
  Deliver the project under a HUBZone set-aside contract to promote economic opportunity and local business engagement.

• Bank Stabilization Works:
  Construction of hard armor protection (e.g., quarry stone, toe rock, fill) along identified eroding reaches of the riverbank at site FHR 1.0L.
• Site Preparation and Grading:
  Clearing and grubbing, excavation, and preparation of bank slope to design grade specifications.
• Material Placement:
  Placement of riprap and engineered fill per USACE technical requirements to resist hydraulic forces and scour.
• Environmental Compliance:
  Implementation of erosion control measures, sediment barriers, and other BMPs to prevent water quality degradation during construction.
• Access and Safety Improvements:
  Construction of temporary access roads, staging areas, and safety barricades for work crews and equipment mobilization.

• Contract Award:
  Contract W9123819C0025 awarded to James Fisher P under solicitation W9123819R0047​.
• Start of Work:
  Initiated in 2019, following permitting and environmental compliance clearances.
• Construction Activities:
  Phased construction involving bank shaping, material placement, and habitat restoration components.
• Completion and Closeout:
  Final inspections and demobilization conducted per USACE quality assurance protocols.

• Environmental Safeguards:
  Strict adherence to Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and California Fish & Wildlife codes during in-stream work.
• Stormwater and Runoff Management:
  Installation of silt fences, check dams, and sediment control devices in accordance with SWPPP requirements.
• Habitat Integration:
  Use of native vegetation and bioengineering techniques along select reaches to enhance ecological value.
• Federal Procurement Compliance:
  Executed under a fixed-price HUBZone contract with full and open competition after exclusion of large firms​.

The FHR 1.0L Bank Protection Project has strengthened critical flood infrastructure in the Willows region, protecting communities, agriculture, and ecological assets from the devastating effects of riverbank erosion. Beyond its physical improvements, the project supports federal goals of economic inclusion by engaging HUBZone-certified contractors and ensuring compliance with environmental stewardship policies.