Restoring the river with BPA civil engineer Sean Welch

In celebration of National Engineers Week, we are profiling a handful of the numerous engineers that help keep BPA power, transmission, and fish and wildlife programs on track to meet their commitments to the region. 

Today meet Sean Welch, a professional engineer who has been part of BPA’s Fish and Wildlife Program since 2012. Sean plays a critical role in BPA’s efforts to restore natural stream channels, enhance water movement and open access to important salmon and steelhead habitat. 

What’s unique about your role as an engineer at BPA?

Currently I am the Program’s policy lead for habitat restoration across the Columbia Basin. This has been a great opportunity in applying my technical background in the fields of engineering, geomorphology and hydrology to the development of the Program’s strategy and policy.  My specific areas of technical expertise include watershed assessment and the planning, analysis and design of fish habitat, passage structures, fish screening, river and stream channel restoration, wetlands, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, floodplain restoration, water control structures, dams and spillways.  

Every river that I work on is like reading a new book. They all have a unique story and putting the chapters together to shape and implement projects is both challenging and fun! 

What’s the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is applying my technical training and skills in river engineering to help shape outcomes while often working with a diverse group of stakeholders including tribes, other federal and state agencies, NGO’s and other conservation partners. Habitat conservation on private and public lands is a huge component to species recovery throughout the northwest and implementing restoration measures while working with these different stakeholders is vital. A large part of my professional efforts have involved working with these partners to develop and implement shared restoration strategies. Establishing a clear understanding of goals and objectives leads to positive outcomes for all of the stakeholders.  

Why did you go into engineering?

Civil engineering has had a strong influence in my life starting with my father who had worked for the Forest Service and then went on to start an engineering consulting firm. Civil engineering has so much diversity in terms of areas of specialization and includes so much of what we see and what we don’t see, whether it’s pipeline systems, roads, bridges, buildings, subdivisions, dams, etc. I was very fortunate during my undergrad to have an advisor whose research focus was on river hydraulics and hydrology. I was able to work with him on a regionwide geomorphology and river hydraulics study where we collected survey data at river and stream gauges throughout Arizona and New Mexico. The field work and analysis involved with this effort, combined with a unique working relationship with my mentors, really set the stage for my educational specialization in water resources engineering for both my undergraduate and master’s degrees.

What would you say to young people who are interested in pursuing careers in engineering?

My field of civil engineering is one of my core passions in life. There are few days or weeks where I don’t learn something new, or apply new or different ways of thinking and analysis to the effort that I am tackling. I would recommend to someone who has an interest in my field that they should stay focused on goals, be tenacious in accomplishing them and have a desire to creatively work with people. Sitting on the bank of a river or stream where you worked hard with a team and implemented a successful restoration project, listening to the water, seeing the complexity of the flow and habitat and understanding the value it brings to fish is provides an amazing sense of accomplishment.