The Springwater Wetlands Restoration project reconnects and restores the Johnson Creek floodplain while managing flooding by expanding on existing, historic wetlands. Similar to the adjacent Foster Floodplain Natural Area that preceded this work, the project also restores the wetland as a wildlife habitat and space for public access. Otak led the predesign research and worked iteratively with the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) and other stakeholders to meet a variety of goals throughout the permitting and design processes.
Enhancing a Wetland for Improved Habitat and Flood Mitigation
In addition to managing flooding through green stormwater infrastructure, the city aimed for broader benefits in restoring the Springwater Wetland, including the removal of contaminated fill and non-native species while enhancing habitat for native species such as the Red Legged Frog. An unsteady-state hydraulic model was used to evaluate flood storage capacity and develop hydraulic connections that convey flood flows to and from the wetlands. The modeling and hydrologic analysis was used to develop the Johnson Creek Restoration Plan that accounts for 10-year storm, 25-year flood, and 100-year flood events. Data gathered during modeling also informed the design of public access amenities, including the creative reuse of historic stonework as seating, new plaza areas, and architectural features throughout the site. Expanding the area’s use further, a dual-use trail system (that uses porous pavement to further reduce stormwater runoff) creates a safe, accessible connection to the Springwater Corridor Trail.
Spring Creek Pedestrian Bridge is a 385-foot clear-span cable-stay structure over the Methow River. Its design incorporated historical context from the town with elements that reflect 19th Century steel construction. The main steel truss and towers were constructed of weathering steel and the deck planks were precast concrete while tower foundations were designed to accommodate significant scour potential. Otak was responsible for structural design, stream hydraulics, and construction staking in partnering with Mowat Construction for this $2.5 million design-build project.
In decommissioning an aging outfall, the alignment of its replacement required the crossing of various obstacles including property lines, utility infrastructure, and multiple bodies of water. Utilizing various land survey tools, the Otak team established an extensive survey control network to navigate each of these elements across the entire process on the way to completed construction.
Extensive Land Surveying to Navigate Numerous Site Challenges
After nearly 55 years of service, an existing treated effluent outfall to the Columbia River was decommissioned, creating a need for its replacement. The new design presented numerous site challenges with the need to cross various infrastructure, property, and natural barriers. This included a BNSF railroad that carries 60+ trains per day, two state highway rights of ways, and three state-owned bodies of water – Salmon Creek, Lake River, and the Columbia River. It would also cross two major fiber optic lines and an 18-inch liquid petroleum line. To address these obstacles, land surveying work established an extensive survey control network with the retracement of dozens of property lines and easements with topographic mapping of the existing outfall, the proposed outfall alignment, and all existing access roads. A comprehensive set of land surveying tools, including traditional ground surveying, LiDAR scanning, UAV aerial photogrammetry, and a bathymetric drone, were utilized. Survey work continued throughout design and accounted for dozens of potholes, natural resource and archeological area mapping. Preparation of these extensive materials for the acquisition of easements from land owners involved extensive collaboration with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Burlington-Northern Santa Fe railroad, adjacent homeowners associations, and the US Coast Guard. As construction progressed, QA surveying and alignment checks were provided, mapping the location of the constructed pipeline, and performing as-builts of the underwater trench for the pipeline and diffuser in the Columbia River.
Creating more than 50 acres of natural habitat and public space, the restoration of Hess Creek Preserve protects the community from failing infrastructure while balancing human recreation with ecological health. Removal of two dams and invasive species combined with the addition of two bridges, unique earth art features, and a looped trail system are part of this Otak designed and managed project that celebrates the restored stream corridor.
Restoring a Natural Area that Blends Art, Ecology, and Education
Hess Creek is a tributary of the Willamette River that drains runoff from the slopes of the Chehalem Mountains. For the community of Newberg, Oregon, two small dams on the waterway presented an ongoing liability for property owners with the potential for failure. Plans to remove the dams and develop a publicly accessible park and natural habitat in their place took shape. The channels would also be re-graded to activate the natural floodplain and improve resilience during storm events. The design includes a looped trail system, bridges, and earth-themed art and educational installations. Restoration work began with the removal of invasive species and revegetation across 36 acres of riparian forest and reestablishing 10 acres of oak savannah, a once common native planting in the Willamette Valley that is now rare due to urbanization. These improved areas will support habitat for a variety of local birds, mammals, and aquatic organisms. This rare combination of private land, public access, and multi-agency support results in a community asset that blends ecology, education, and recreation.
In restoring5,600 feet of stream bank and retrofitting seven stormwater outfalls, a flood-prone neighborhood was transformed into the Foster Floodplain Natural Area, benefiting both regional wildlife and the surrounding community. The large undertaking was completed in close collaboration withthe City of Portland and also spurred the Springwater Wetlands restoration.Otak provided both the restoration and transportation design, including hydraulic modeling and topographic surveying while supporting public involvement, permitting, and construction.
Transforming a Flood-Prone Neighborhood into Habitat and a Public Asset
Centered on a reach of Johnson Creek, the very wide and complex nature of the Foster Floodplain posed unique challenges to managing flooding in for the area. The restoration design required a thorough understanding of the geomorphology and flooding dynamics in the area, developing an unsteady flow hydraulic model that properly evaluated the acre-feet of flood storage capacity available within the project footprint. Based on this modeling, design alternatives accounted for 10-year storm, 25-year flood, and 100-year flood events. That data also supported floodplain permitting as well as both Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) and Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) applications. The excavation and grading combined with a hydraulic control structure maximizes flood storage in the area while the removal of existing bank armoring and addition of vegetated stormwater facilities contribute to improved water quality. Three of the stream’s outfalls would also be redirected as part of mitigation efforts and log jams were engineered to protect the stream banks from lateral migration toward major infrastructure while still allowing the channel to naturally adjust in other locations. From various fish to the Red-Legged Frog and Bald Eagle, the area provides improved habitat for a wide range of the region’s native species.
To reduce flooding and improve habitat for aquatic organisms for the communities of Clackamas County, a stormwater master plan led to a series of capital improvements along Upper Kellogg Creek. From improved roadway stormwater infrastructure to a restored waterway, this merger of Otak planning and natural system design utilizes enhanced ecological functionality for optimized stormwater conveyance.
Capital Planning Leads to Enhanced Stormwater Management and Ecological Functionality
The flood-prone Upper Kellogg Creek created chronic flooding issues for more than 100 residential properties. With grant funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, restoration of the waterway was designed to eliminate or reduce these events by adding green stormwater infrastructure to the unique location of a residential neighborhood. Enhancing 800 feet of stream and the conversion of a dry pond to a new wetland connected with an improved stormwater system combined with the removal of undersized culverts along the roadway significantly increased capacity for runoff during storm events. Replacing the undersized culverts would not only reduce overflows caused by frequent clogging from debris but also contribute toward an enhanced natural habitat by improving fish passage. Native trees and shrubs replanted along the creek added to the improved biodiversity. Altogether, this work overcame extraordinary scheduling challenges to meet grant funding requirements and engage private property owners on the way to creating a more resilient community for decades to come.
With over 32,000 miles of routes across the United States, Union Pacific represents an integral component of the country’s supply chain infrastructure. As the shipping franchise continually expands its system of railroads and land access, Otak is on-hand to ensure projects get off the ground while properly mapped.
When it comes to property acquisition and easements along railroads for Union Pacific planning, this on-call project involves varying requirements from one location to the next. Spanning the western United States (including California, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona), meeting various jurisdictional requirements and safety certifications is central to that work. Union Pacific has built reliability and efficiency into the surveying practice with a consistent team that travels to each site. Through that consistency comes a deep knowledge of past projects and research that’s applied to anticipate the specific standards each circumstance presents. With strict background, safety and flagging protocols, consistency in railroad work also includes certifications. Maintaining relevant certifications (eRailSafe, ContractorOrientation, RailroadEducation, Amtrak, Roadway Worker) allows the Otak survey team to start and complete Union Pacific work quickly and properly.
The Amity Orchards development is a public-private partnership that consists of three multi-family buildings that add 164 affordable housing units and community facilities, as well as 40,000 square-feet designated for commercial space, as part of the South Cooper Mountain community plan. With a focus on sustainable design, community amenities, and access to transit, Otak managed everything from land use planning and entitlement to site surveying and construction documentation to complete this mixed use development.
Affordable Housing with A Sustainable, Accessible Design
Enhancing its affordable housing goals, the project is designed to exceed high universal design standards, going above and beyond code to provide accessible features. A multi-day design charrette with City of Beaverton staff delivered a site design that met the needs of the community, the jurisdiction, the developer and future residents and tenants. In designing the residential buildings, a sustainable approach in accordance with universal design principles includes solar-ready and electric vehicle (EV)-ready infrastructure. The site design includes low-impact stormwater management techniques including vegetated planters and swales. To save and incorporate mature trees on the property, an urban public plaza was also included in the design to complement the project’s varied utilization. That park project consists 0.25-acre plaza that will be owned and operated by Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District (THPRD). Additional landscaping consists of native and drought-tolerant plant species and the site’s transit design of the TriMet stop to support community access to multimodal transportation. All together, the sustainable elements position Amity Orchards to be certified with at least Earth Advantage Silver standards. Supporting primary goals around residential uses, the site received funding through the Metro Affordable Housing Bond, administered by the City of Beaverton as well as Oregon Housing and Community Service (OHCS) tax credits.
As we prepare to observe Black History Month here in the United States, we are reminded of the significant ways that Black Americans have contributed to and improved our communities through innovation. As we consider the Architecture and Engineering industry, one cannot separate the transformative nature of the work that we perform on a daily basis from the people who made so much of what we do possible. And even when we aren’t working, we see, use and enjoy inventions that Black Americans developed to improve our way of life.
Are you considering a roundabout as an engineering solution to improve traffic flow and relieve congestion? You can thank Benjamin Banneker, a watchmaker, almanac author and surveyor, who led the redesign of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) incorporating a series of traffic circles to address the misalignment of roads left by a previous roadway designer. Are you designing a signalized intersection? Look to the genius of Garrett A. Morgan who developed the three-light traffic signal. Do the streets that you designed need to be maintained? Charles Brooks has just what you need – a motorized street sweeper.
Do you enjoy the variation in color that you are able to use when drafting engineering designs? You can thank Mark Dean for co-inventing the IBM PC monitor. And speaking of computers, something that none of us can do without, the gigahertz chip – a revolutionary piece of technology that is able to do a billion calculations per second and is in every modern computer, was also invented by Mark Dean.
Designing a light rail corridor? Concerned about fuel efficiency and climate friendly solutions? Well, you can look to Granville T. Woods who invented the ‘troller,” a grooved metal wheel that allowed street cars (later known as “trolleys”) to collect electric power from overhead wires. And speaking of trains (or better stated, rail) don’t forget about the automatic car coupler (invented by Andrew Jackson Beard) because the railcars need to connect with ease.
Need to make a Teams or Zoom call? Make sure that your microphone (developed by James West) isn’t on mute! It’s a good thing that we have Marian Croak’s voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) to keep us connected. And don’t forget to add a GIF before you end the meeting…thanks for the laughs, Lisa Gelobter. Taking a ride to the 8th floor on the elevator? The automatic elevator doors were invented by Alexander Miles over 100 years ago with design elements that have stood the test of time.
Are you going to take a client out for an afternoon of golf? Well, don’t forget the golf tees created by Dr. George Grant. And, if you get lost on your way to the course, pull up your GPS (invented by Gladys West) and make a quick call on your cellular phone (invented by Henry Sampson) to let your foursome know that you’ll be late. Thank goodness there’s caller ID on your touch-tone telephone (both invented by Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson) allowing you to find their contact information and dial with ease.
Going to the company picnic? Don’t forget your Super Soakers (Lonnie Johnson). Going on vacation and need to take a long-distance flight (not the first flight…the first long-distance one)? Charles W. Chappelle can help you fly the friendly skies. Just need to take a short hop to your next destination? Let Paul E. Williams helicopter get you there. And Katherine Johnson, the NASA research mathematician who made the 1969 moon landing possible, can get you to the moon and back.
While I’ve listed several inventors of significance, there are hundreds of individuals with thousands of inventions, that I haven’t. If you’re interested in learning more, visit your local library or check out sites like www.ASALH.org (Association for the Study of African American Life and History), Daily Hive – Inventions by Black People, or this list of inventors and scientists.
…and that, folks, is the ‘Real McCoy’ (a phrase suggesting authenticity that is attributed to Elijah McCoy who received nearly 60 patents related to lubrication systems, who developed designs for modern ironing boards, the lawn sprinkler and other machines)!
Otak has long been at the forefront of survey and mapping processes and electronic data collection. With the recent acquisition of the Hyrdrolite single beam sonar and the Hydrone, an unmanned surface vessel (UVS) with the AutoNav system from Seafloor Systems, Otak’s survey teams have expanded capabilities in bathymetric mapping and hydraulic modeling. As Nathan Dasler, Otak Water Resources Engineer, states, “we now have an easy way of collecting a significant amount of accurate data for mapping channel bottoms to aid in our fish passage and stream restoration work, as well as construction and engineering projects that are either abutted against bodies of water or submerged.”
Equipped with pre-programmable GPS tracking, the UVS allows for remote data collection in otherwise challenging or inaccessible environments. Further, in situations where multiple surveys are needed over time, reliable data can be collected efficiently in the same location, and with extreme precision.
The application and use of the technology and equipment in the field are proving to be beneficial in a number of settings and project types including shoreline validation, hydraulic modeling, and sedimentation measurements.
Read the complete story on how Otak is using this new technology and the data it provides to achieve greater outcomes.
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