Glacier Excavating, Inc

About Us

Glacier Excavating, Inc. is an earthwork business based in Eureka, Montana, which has specialized in stream restoration, bank stabilization and wetland mitigation since 2004. Glacier Excavating employs approximately twelve employees each year with multiple employees having over 20,000 hours of equipment operating experience. Key personnel have been working together as a team for numerous years and have extensive stream restoration experience constructing floodplains, channel shaping, installing bank stabilization structures, floodplain microtopography, wetlands, and revegetation.
Owner and President Bob Cuffe graduated from the University of Idaho in 1993 with a degree in Busi-ness/Finance and spent five (5) years involved in bank management developing business skills prior to the formation of GEI. Bob is experienced at working with oversight personnel/project representatives to coordinate all aspects of stream restoration projects. With more than thirteen years of involvement in stream restoration and water quality projects, he has the knowledge and competency to ensure that projects are completed in a timely fashion and to the proper specifications. The Montana Chapter of the American Fisheries Society recently recognized Bob’s contributions to stream restoration by presenting him with the 2015 Outstanding Individual Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Protection and Enhancement of Fisheries Resources in Montana.

What we do

Each year GEI completes multiple major stream restoration projects simultaneously in addition to several smaller projects. Since 2016, GEI has specialized in placer mining reclamation and has excavated over 100,000 cubic yards each season, creating over 100 acres of new floodplain and constructing more than 25,000 lineal feet of new channel at former placer mine sites in Idaho and Montana.

Glacier Excavating, Inc. has a proven history of ensuring quality work on wetland and stream restoration and revegetation projects:

Constructing over 75,000 lineal feet of stream restoration projects including:
• Excavating and moving over 500,000 CY since 2016
• Dewatering large river systems and small creeks
• Microtopography/Floodplain Treatment
• Channel Shaping
• Vegetative Soil Lift Installation
• Vegetated Wood and Brush Fascine/Toe Wood
• Constructed Riffles
• Interior Culvert Stream Work
• Harvesting and placing Sod Mats and Willow Clusters

Constructing over 3,000 bank stabilization/habitat structures including:
• Log Vanes/Step Pools
• Woody Debris Jams
• Log and Rock Cross Vanes/Weirs
• J-Hooks
• Boulder Grade Controls

Utilizing design plans, on-site evaluation, and best management practices, GEI begins each project by establishing a dewatering plan, staging area, and identifying paths of least disturbance. A main goal in all restoration projects is to reduce any negative impact of construction on the environment, thereby max-imizing potential for permanent and rapid stabilization. Erosion control measures are utilized to mini-mize environmental impact, and to protect fish habitat and/or water quality. Equipment paths are careful-ly planned to assist in minimizing disturbance of existing vegetation and soils.

GEI’s approach to stream projects is systematic and conscientious. Each experienced operator has areas of specialty, which are utilized to ensure efficient and successful completion of projects. Less experi-enced employees can observe the progression of stream projects through their own individual contribu-tions, such as assisting with willow cuttings, revegetation, or hauling excavated materials during flood-plain construction and channel shaping. This allows newer employees to gain valuable understanding and experience, while ensuring successful completion of the project.

GEI consistently fulfills contract obligations in a timely manner and in accordance with the contract doc-uments while maintaining a mindful and respectful approach to water quality, aquatic life, and vegetation preservation.

Where we do it

Glacier Excavating, Inc has completed many projects in Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Wyoming.

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