The Klamath River Renewal Program has received the 2026 FIDIC Large Project Award, recognizing the scale, complexity and environmental significance of one of the largest river restoration programs undertaken in the United States. McMillen Inc., an Idaho-based engineering, environmental and construction firm, served as Owner’s Representative and Construction Manager for the program.
The award was presented by the Fédération Internationale des Ingénieurs-Conseils (FIDIC), which recognizes major infrastructure projects for achievements in areas including sustainability, innovation, collaboration and long-term community and environmental benefits.
Completed in 2024, the Klamath River Renewal Program removed four hydroelectric dams and restored connectivity across the Klamath River system. The work reopened more than 400 miles of historic habitat that had been inaccessible for more than a century.
The program involved coordination among Tribal Nations, government agencies, local communities, technical specialists and construction partners. Its scope required planning and construction activities to be managed across a complex environmental and regulatory environment.
McMillen supported the project through technical leadership, construction oversight, risk management, permitting assistance and stakeholder coordination. The company’s role extended from planning through project completion, helping coordinate the various parties involved in delivery.
The restoration work has also produced early ecological indicators. Within months of completion, Chinook salmon, coho salmon and Pacific lamprey were documented moving upstream into areas that had previously been blocked by the dams.
FIDIC’s recognition places the Klamath program among major international infrastructure projects recognized for environmental and technical achievements. The award also underscores the role of collaborative project delivery in large-scale restoration work involving multiple public, Tribal, environmental and construction stakeholders.
The Klamath River Renewal Program demonstrates how major infrastructure projects can combine construction delivery with ecosystem restoration objectives. For owners and contractors involved in water resources and environmental infrastructure, the project provides an example of managing large-scale work across regulatory requirements, technical challenges and diverse stakeholder interests.
Source: Mcmillen.
