Aquatic Contracting (AC) was selected by the Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District to repair an access road and replace a large culvert in Deer Island off Merrill Creek Road. During the extreme December 2015 storms, the existing undersized culvert became plugged with debris. Merrill Creek then overtopped the road, blowing out the culvert and road. Working with the SWCD, NRCS, ODFW and the landowners, AC worked to install a large, fish passable 25-foot span multi-plate culvert, repair the road, and install four large wood structures to improve habitat for the resident and anadromous fish species that utilize Merrill Creek. AC overcame several project challenges including schedule, winter conditions and stream flows, site access constraints, unanticipated geotechnical constraints, and subsequent culvert footing design changes during construction. Engineering and project funding constraints resulted in a fall/winter construction period. To address unanticipated geotechnical challenges, AC worked collaboratively with the engineer to recommend a larger _combination_ footing that included pouring an additional spread footing around the smaller, previously specified pre-cast concrete footings.