The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) has awarded McMillen, Inc., headquartered in Boise, Idaho, a Grand Award for exemplary engineering achievement in ACEC’s annual Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA). The award comes for the Klamath River Renewal project in Klamath Falls, Ore, and Hornbrook, Calif. As one of only eight Grand Award-winners, the project also is a contender for the EEA’s top honor, the 2026 Grand Conceptor Award. That winner will be announced during the EEA Gala at the Grand Hyatt Washington on May 5, 2026.
The world’s largest dam removal and river restoration effort has reopened more than 400 miles of habitat, reconnected tributaries, and returned various western river corridors and floodplains to their historic alignment. Led by the vision and leadership of the Hoopa, Karuk, Yurok, Shasta, Klamath, and Modoc Tribes—and strengthened by the contributions of more than 40 partner organizations—this unprecedented collaboration demonstrates what’s possible when cultural stewardship, ecological science, and engineering excellence align to heal a river system once thought beyond repair.
As owner’s representative for the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, McMillen’s team provided technical expertise and played a central role in bridging differences and translating competing goals into a coordinated and executable path forward. Technical working groups, workshops, and continuous support ensured that all voices were heard and incorporated into decision-making. Through this collaborative approach, McMillen helped the project overcome decades of division and deliver a successful plan for dam removal and river restoration.
Judging for the awards program took place in February and was conducted by a national 32-member panel of built environment leaders, along with experts from government, the media, and academia. Award criteria focused on uniqueness and originality, technical innovation, social and economic value, and excitement generated toward the engineering profession.
About the American Council of Engineering Companies
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of America’s engineering industry, representing more than 5,500 independent engineering firms and more than 640,000 professionals throughout the United States engaged in the development of America’s transportation, water, and energy infrastructure, along with environmental, industrial, and other public and private facilities. Founded in 1906 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACEC is a national federation of 51 state and regional organizations.