Rivhab Engineering Design and Earthworks

10/01/2026

Opening up fish habitat!

The RIVHAB Earthworks construction crew is currently working hard to replace an undersized culvert with a large arch pipe structure (AOP) in steelhead salmon country. This particular arch pipe takes several days to carefully assemble and install before backfilling to reconstruct the road. Not to mention slowly rewatering the stream before fish passage is fully restored!

From assembling the structure to setting components and working through the details of installation, our team is focused on getting the job built right.

These photos show a great look at the hard work that happens before the finished product. This project is made possible by Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery funds and Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG). Stay tuned for the final photos showing finished results!

09/23/2026

🌲 Restoration in Action with the Nez Perce Tribe

Our very own Mike Homza was out in the field providing construction oversight for the Red River Large Wood Placement project as crews worked to directionally fell trees for use in critical Chinook salmon habitat.

Large wood plays an important role in creating complex, resilient river habitat - helping shape channel processes, provide cover, and create diverse conditions and substrate for aquatic species. Having our team onsite guides tree felling for real-time coordination and adjustments as field conditions evolve.

It’s exciting to see a restoration design come to life in the field and we’re grateful for the partnerships!

09/11/2026

We are incredibly proud to share that RIVHAB President and Founder Jeanne McFall, PE has been named the Idaho Business Review’s 2026 Woman of the Year!

Jeanne was honored alongside an extraordinary group of 50 women from across Idaho—and at last night’s celebration, she was selected as the 2026 Woman of the Year.

Since founding RIVHAB in 2019, Jeanne has grown the company into a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, and construction professionals working throughout the Pacific Northwest. Through it all, she has remained focused on what matters most: building an exceptional team, taking care of our clients, and delivering meaningful projects that improve rivers, floodplains, fish passage, and communities.

This recognition belongs in large part to the incredible people who have helped build RIVHAB. Our growth and success would not be possible without a team that continually steps up, takes on difficult work, and believes in what we are building together.

Congratulations, Jeanne—and congratulations to all of this year’s remarkable honorees. We are honored to see RIVHAB’s founder recognized among such an accomplished group of Idaho women.

2026 Idaho Business Review Woman of the Year — Jeanne McFall, PE

09/06/2026

Our office will be closed tomorrow, September 7th for Labor Day. We will be back in office Tuesday morning!

09/01/2026

We are so thrilled to welcome Sam to the RIVHAB Engineering & Earthworks team! 👏🌊

Sam joins RIVHAB as a Water Resources Engineer (EIT), bringing a strong background in ecohydraulics, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, fisheries science, and riverine ecosystem restoration. His work focuses on improving river connectivity for native species and developing practical designs that balance hydraulic performance with ecological function.

An avid whitewater kayaker, Sam brings a unique, firsthand understanding of how water moves through river systems—experience that complements his technical expertise and helps him translate complex hydraulic conditions and fish-passage needs into effective, constructible solutions.

We’re excited to have Sam on the team and look forward to the expertise and perspective he’ll bring to RIVHAB’s river restoration work!

Welcome to RIVHAB, Sam! 🌿🐟🌊

08/28/2026

Need fish salvage support for your project? RIVHAB can help!

Fish and wildlife salvage is often a critical step before in-water construction, restoration, or maintenance work begins.

RIVHAB offers fish salvage as a stand-alone service, with two fisheries biologists, some very fishy hydrologists, decades of complex salvage experience, and the equipment needed to safely capture and relocate fish and other aquatic organisms.

We can also support permitting, documentation, and post-salvage reporting, helping keep projects moving and in compliance.

From electrofishing and seining to fish handling, identification, and relocation, our team is ready for any environment —and we can generally accommodate last-minute requests when schedules shift.

Have a project coming up? Reach out to RIVHAB—we’re ready to plug into your team where you need us.

08/26/2026

Please join us in welcoming Kalob to the RIVHAB Engineering & Earthworks team as our new Construction Manager!

Kalob joins with more than 10 years of project management experience across heavy civil construction, transportation, utilities, and land development. From managing public infrastructure projects for ITD, ACHD, Federal Highways, counties, and road districts to overseeing large-scale private development and utility projects, Kalob brings a wealth of hands-on construction and project delivery experience to our team.

Outside of work, Kalob is right at home in the outdoors and enjoys spending his free time fishing and hunting—making him a great fit for a team that cares deeply about the rivers, landscapes, and communities where we work. 🎣

We’re excited to have Kalob on board and can’t wait to see what he brings to the RIVHAB team. Welcome, Kalob!

08/20/2026

Team time! Sorry for the short notice, our office is closed this afternoon. We’ll respond tomorrow if you reach out to anyone on our Boise team.

07/30/2026

Protect first. Restore second.

Long before an excavator enters a stream, our team is hard at work prepping for site condition protection.

These hand-built timber mats, constructed from locally milled logs, allow heavy equipment to safely access sensitive wetlands while minimizing soil compaction and protecting vegetation and hydric soils.

From logging and milling the timber to assembling each mat by hand, this is a team commited to restoration. It’s a team effort rooted in craftsmanship, environmental stewardship, and doing the job the right way.

Protecting the ecosystem starts before the first bucket of dirt is moved.

🌲♻️💧

07/18/2026

RIVHAB based this design on sound science - including groundwater well installation, collection of sonar bathymetry, and accurate 2D hydraulic modeling to inform a successful design. We also provided construction oversight. What a great success! This would never be possible without Idaho Fish and Game Upper Snake. Thank you!

Digging!