An evaluation of options to manage hydrology in the Smith and Bybee Lakes complex led to the restoration of its connecting channel and subsequent mitigation of seepage found in an existing levee. The design adds capacity to the connection channel through excavation, allowing Metro to better manage water levels in the lakes. Otak led the hydraulic modeling of the system to compare the benefits derived from varying levels of channel excavation for the resulting restoration design as well as alternatives analysis of proposed remedies for the levee hazard mitigation design.
Levee Seepage Mitigation and a Restored Channel for Improved Hydrology Management
From the simulation of spring freshet floodplain functions to control of invasive species and habitat for migratory waterfowl, Metro manages water levels across the seasons in Smith and Bybee Lakes for a variety of objectives. A control structure was constructed in 2003 to aid in this management. However, the water levels in Smith Lake were not responding to control structure manipulations due to sedimentation and partial obstruction in the channel connecting Smith Lake to Bybee Lake. After comparing options, a design concept to excavate the channel and restore capacity was developed along with the construction documents. After construction, an inspection revealed seepage in the levee near the control structure and also identified burrowing animals which further increased a risk of levee failure. An alternatives analysis to resolve the issue led to a 200-foot-long sheet pile cutoff wall with segments on either side of the water control structure. With the piles driven 20-feet below ground surface, the design increases the sub-surface flow path to reduce seepage to minimal levels while providing a physical barrier that prevents animals from burrowing.
By daylighting a stream that previously flowed almost entirely through a failing pipe network, endangering private property and downstream wetlands, the restoration of Miller Creek created a stable natural feature while supporting an adjacent trail along its embankments. This work followed an extensive planning effort in the area for redevelopment. Otak provided preliminary concepts, surveying, and permitting documentation, while also coordinating between multiple agencies and municipalities to see the project through construction.
Daylighting a Stream for Improved Stormwater and Habitat in a Redeveloped Subarea
With a focus on stormwater and habitat, the Miller Creek restoration utilizes a 162-acre subarea adjacent to the SeaTac Airport. The area’s proximity to Port of Seattle, as well as the Cities of Seatac and Burien, required each municipality’s involvement, and their collaboration made this work possible. In addition to relocating 900 linear feet of stream to ground level, the design also added another 300 linear feet as part of its newly formed floodplain. Two fish passable culverts under Des Moines Memorial Drive and Miller Creek Trail further enhance the natural habitat for wildlife like salmon that spawn in the creek and contribute towards the broader goals of restoring the Puget Sound Watershed. Along with native vegetation along the streambank, the project also connects with multiple green stormwater facilities to treat stormwater runoff from approximately 50 acres of impervious surfaces, complementing continued redevelopment in the area.
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.
With the City of Burien receiving a grant through the Washington Department of Ecology, a multidisciplinary Otak approach led design and construction engineering support for the stormwater retrofit of Moshier Park. Plans for the project include a comprehensive design for park improvements to benefit local waterways as well as the community at large.
Low Impact Development Stormwater Management Meets A Community Center
Restoration and preservation are an increasing priority in King County, Washington which is home to various native fish species including Coho Salmon. The Moshier Park public works project balanced a number of priorities with the ultimate goal of improving water quality to the Miller Creek watershed. Designed to mimic functions of the region’s naturally forested area, a number of green stormwater management techniques would return aquatic habitats to healthy levels while also addressing localized flooding that’s caused erosion along Miller Creek. Those improvements include two infiltration galleries, permeable pavement in the parking lot and sidewalks, onsite bioretention facilities, and biofilter treatment structures. Design of these features are seamlessly integrated with broader objectives for 15.2-acre public park’s place in the community. Adjacent to a high school and Burien’s Art Center, Otak coordinated with multiple stakeholders to build consensus around planned reconstruction of the concessions/restroom building and retrofit of the primary athletic field and parking lot to optimize the multi-purpose park’s usage as a true community center.
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.
For coastal communities, resilience design has shifted from nice-to-have to necessary
With a rapidly warming planet and increasing ferocity of weather patterns, coastal adaptation through resilience design has an added emphasis for today’s built environments.
It’s for good reason too. Currently, more than 50% of the US population – some 164 million Americans – live in coastal watershed communities while generating 58% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). And that number is only growing as more than 1.2 million move to the coast each year.
These coastal communities often bear the brunt of unpredictable weather and seismic events. Vulnerable communities like these must be resilient by design, and able to bounce back after even the most intense storm, tidal wave, earthquake or other catastrophic event.
Sustainability in planning and design, a core tenant of Otak’s mission, aligns directly with an approach to coastal adaptation. In this piece, we’ll discuss how a focus on coastal adaptation planning and resilience design translates into stronger coastal infrastructure and communities, at a time when they’re needed more than ever.
Coastal Resilience is defined as “building the ability of a community to bounce back after hazardous events such as hurricanes, coastal storms, and flooding—rather than simply reacting to impacts.”
Resilient design is a matter of preparedness, of being ready for natural hazards before they happen, and of informing clients to be aware of all factors in the design-build process. For example, the overdue cascadia earthquake presents a significant challenge in designing along the coastal fault line. Decisions and plans need to be made to anticipate and mitigate these environmental inevitabilities.
An illustration of how resilience design allows for quick recovery and multi-purpose utility of building operations during a catastrophic event
Why is Coastal Adaptation and Resilience Design Important?
Such high priority is placed on the resilient design of coastal communities for a variety of reasons. Among them is the simple fact that it’s a matter of survival. Not just the survival of the people in that community, but also the survival of critical infrastructures like power grids, water management systems, bridges, and schools.
This causes us to ask unique questions when we go to work. For instance, how will this community function when, not if, a major environmental event happens? How can existing structures be made into multi-use facilities in times of crisis? Most of all, how can the community adapt to these impacts? It all comes back to how these questions are answered during resilience design and planning.
4 Elements of Coastal Adaptation and Resilience
While there are a variety of variables that come with each specific situation and environment, there are also some overarching factors that impact any coastal resilience planning. These factors help assess vulnerabilities, investigate possible solutions, and set priorities among options that address those highest risks.
As a foundation for designers and planners, these factors can help communities, cities, regions, and governments quantify their vulnerability and risk, while prioritizing people, ecosystems, and economics into their plans.
1. Structurally Sound Built Environments
The first step to designing these communities is making sure all buildings are structurally and architecturally sound.
Regional specifics inform these design choices for coastal structures, like adding stilts to houses to account for sea-level rise, among others. It’s about taking a long-term view of creating a space, being mindful of how the community lifecycle will function in 50-100 years into the future.
2. Design for Environmental Sensitivities
Local environments have a direct impact on the vulnerabilities and potential hazards that need to be considered during coastal resilience planning. Those details, such as water restoration, also factor into the design of structures themselves and how recovery will affect the surrounding area.
Especially when talking about environmentally sensitive sites, the design should match those nuances and be able to respond to the natural environment accordingly. This can inform decisions down to the last detail. For example, the choice between building with stainless versus galvanized steel can be critical in ensuring the resilience of the structure.
3. Efficiency and Sustainability in Upkeep and Recovery
As hazards and extreme events become more commonplace, the question now often becomes not how does coastal adaptation planning avoid damage, but rather, how does it allow structures (and communities) to recover after the fact?
What happens in the aftermath of a catastrophic event can be equally, if not more important than what happens during. The ability for infrastructure to remain functional, despite sustaining damage, can be all the difference when the fundamentals for survival are at a premium.
How a built environment operates outside of a catastrophic event also has an impact. Limiting the amount of maintenance and upkeep increases preparedness while efficiency and sustainability factors help ensure that built environment isn’t contributing to the underlying causes of climate change while also keeping the costs of waste at a minimum.
4. Planning for Community Vulnerabilities
The process of coastal adaptation and resilience is a constant state of analysis, an ongoing attempt to answer the question of how these communities will function both before and after a catastrophic event.
Building resilience into planning is ultimately about protecting people and saving lives. And it’s important to recognize that certain areas or demographics of a single community can often be more susceptible to these conditions than others. Addressing these disparities should come through in the design of infrastructure and the intent behind its built environments.
Adaptive-use structures, or buildings with more than one purpose, are just one way to account for this issue. This means designing spaces like schools that can become shelters with their own generators in case of power grid failure, or we add height to bridges to account for flooding. When we design with intention of keeping people safe, communities are better able to respond on their own until help arrives and are ultimately more prepared to survive.
Pre-Existing Structure2D Modeling for 100-Year-PlanningConstruction of Three-Span BridgeOnce considered the second most hazardous bridge in Oregon, Lommen Bridge was at risk of collapse. Using the latest resilience technology, Otak replaced the structure while designing for sustainable elements like rain gardens, erosion control, and drainage features.
How to Approach Coastal Adaptation with Resilience Design
While there are a multitude of factors that must be accounted for when planning a community’s resilience design, the approach is often threefold:
Assess regional risk in resilience design by understanding the locations, unique environmental factors, cost details, and most importantly opportunities for improvement in any building phase.
Plan how structures will function during hazardous events, and be converted for multiple uses in times of crisis.
Considerthe sustainability of the structure and how it will be used 50-100 years from now, understanding the current carbon footprint and how to reduce it.
However, there are societal and social factors that go into how resilient communities are designed which should also be taken into account.
Identifying Social Factors
It is critical to note here that climate change and weather events affect lower-income and homeless groups to a higher degree than those with more resources. Clients need to be advised of the social impacts their projects entail because there is a relationship between homeless populations and how we plan for resiliency.
The lack of reasonable, low-income housing is just one issue that exacerbates this reality, which is why resilient communities must account for the whole of the population. Encouraging clients to think about these ideas ultimately makes for a stronger structure that can serve everyone, regardless of socioeconomic background.
Accounting for Climate Change Adaptation
While designing with resilience in mind, it’s imperative for coastal communities that projects come down to client goals. It’s important to gauge how clients feel they play into a municipality’s ability to adapt, using this information to inform how we present solutions to their problems.
During resilience planning and design, it’s of utmost importance to stress what the intent of the development truly aims to accomplish. Again, all pieces of infrastructure must be structurally and architecturally sound while meeting those goals.
The result is a resilient community with that also benefits from a reduced carbon footprint in the process.
Climate Change is Impacting the Risks Faced by Coastal Communities Including Increased Flooding
Lake Shorelines versus Ocean Shorelines
It’s also important to note, not all coastlines are the same. Resilience on shorelines doesn’t just apply to coastal communities. In fact, inland lake shorelines (not to mention river, creek and other shorelines with their own unique properties) must also be planned with a resilient design top of mind. The differences are plenty, however, there is a key distinction between the two.
For instance, if a coastline is not fraught with natural disasters every day, clients can take advantage of good weather conditions by harnessing alternative energy sources like solar power, wind power, and hydraulic power.
Inland lakes lack a tidal risk factor, meaning that communities along ocean shorelines must contend with events like king tides, or tidal shifts that can drastically affect the ferocity of coastal storms. While wind hazards are risk factors for both types of shorelines, there are decisions that need to be made when dealing with one versus the other.
Coastal Resilience Examples: How Otak Builds Resilience in Coastal Communities
Much like the weather events we’ve discussed, Otak’s work is also defined by intersections, and one of the biggest of these is the relationship between our built and natural environment. So, what makes our approach unique?
For one, Otak’s experience is multinational, meaning we have experience across different types of coastlines worldwide and have utilized design solutions that other firms may not have access to.
As a globally positioned organization, Otak has a unique vantage point that cannot be replicated. Just one example of our experience with different locales is our work for the Nestucca Valley School District, a rural educational model that satisfies our requirements of resiliency in an area at risk of wildfires. The school was renovated for existing students but designed for the whole community as a multi-use facility. With a full generator system, and grass fields big enough for helicopter transport, the school can house 3000 people with full power for 3-4 days.
Nestucca Valley Emergency Use Project
Second, Otak’s experience with public infrastructure sets us apart. Not only are we designing for structures that can stand up to harsh weather events, but we’re also planning for how quickly these buildings can bounce back, post-event. This can affect systems like a community’s water supply, wastewater management, and transportation infrastructure.
That’s why we build redundancies into existing systems. From making sure bridges are high enough to account for sea-level rise, to making sure secondary routes are available for evacuated motorists, to installing multiple pipelines in case of earthquakes. When it comes to resilience design, Otak’s work with coastal communities means we can walk our talk.
Want to discover more sustainable projects? Check out more examples of our work in sustainable, resilient design spaces and see how they aim to serve every aspect of the community.
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)!
King County, in Washington, is situated within a natural watershed, home to various native fish species, including Coho Salmon. Restoration and preservation have become a priority focus across the region with salmon runs declining due to loss of habitat, barriers to fish passage, and poor water quality. For cities like Burien, with sensitive Coho salmon-bearing creeks running directly through them, there is an urgency to address water quality and pollution from stormwater run-off.
Public works projects need to balance multiple priorities against available funding and budget restrictions. So, when Otak was hired by the City of Burien (City) to do the final design of a stormwater retrofit at Moshier Park along Miller Creek, the team took a multi-disciplinary approach. The goal was to resolve a complex set of issues and provide maximum benefit in conjunction with other planned park improvements.
Addressing Untreated Stormwater Runoff, Flooding
Miller Creek, a natural waterway for spawning Coho Salmon, crosses through urbanized areas and ultimately discharges into the Puget Sound. Due to the amount of untreated stormwater runoff draining from the creek basin, the health of the creek is greatly degraded and conditions are poor for supporting the aquatic habitat. In addition, localized flooding and erosion along the creek’s banks have resulted from existing vegetation being converted to impervious or less pervious surfaces.
Moshier Park is a 15.2-acre public park that features lighted athletic fields, a community arts center building, and a large parking lot that is also used by Highline High School for events at Highline Stadium. The park was identified as an area for a stormwater retrofit project, funded in part by the Washington Department of Ecology, which would have the highest benefit value to Miller Creek.
Balancing Priorities, Maximizing Opportunities
While the project’s primary objective was to retrofit Moshier Park to provide stormwater flow control and runoff treatment, Otak saw the greater opportunity to incorporate other park improvements the City wanted to complete. Otak project engineer, Tyson Hounsel, explains that “by packaging some of the other park improvements into the design and construction timeline, we were able to save the city both time and costs. Plus, through all of our teams—survey, architecture, landscape architecture, water and natural resources, and engineering—we could develop a comprehensive design that includes the stormwater facilities, as well as a synthetic sports field, and a new restroom and concessions building at the park.” Otak also aided in obtaining the necessary environmental permitting and will act as the construction manager to oversee the retrofit and park improvements through completion.
One of these key improvements will be converting the large asphalt parking lot to less-impervious surfaces and installing an underground water detention tank and treatment facility that will capture stormwater runoff. Interpretive signs will also be installed in the park, which will be used by the neighboring high school as well. The project will break ground later this summer and is slated for completion in 2022
In the end, the City will have a newly designed and updated multi-purpose park that, as Tyson states, “will be a real community center.” Miller Creek will also benefit from improved water quality and will provide a more hospitable environment for spawning Coho Salmon.
Otak is proud to announce that Ryan Makie, Water Resources Group Manager, has received the Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program. Ryan was nominated by Army reservist and Otak Stormwater Planner, Cody Kent.
The Patriot Award is given to a soldier’s supervisor who offers support to the Army Reserve’s missions through measures such as flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence.
“The whole office has been really supportive, and I wanted to recognize Ryan personally as a representative of Otak’s culture. Before deployment, I felt Ryan supported my service in the Army Reserves. During deployment, he went above and beyond and really shined. My wife and I had our first child in 2019 and, of course, 2020 was an incredibly stressful year for everyone with the pandemic and wildfires. Ryan kept me connected to Otak and reached out to both me and my wife to offer his support throughout the year. When I came back, despite all the changes, he helped me jump right back into work, and I quickly felt like I hadn’t left,” said Cody. Army Reserve soldiers commit to training one weekend each month and for two weeks every summer. They can also be called into full-time service to support Army combat missions, as was the case for Cody, who was deployed to Jordan for nearly all of 2020. He nominated Ryan when he returned to Otak in January 2021.
Ryan received the award during an online ceremony held June 9, 2021.
Ryan’s award reflects Otak’s commitment to stand behind our soldiers and the work they do to protect our country. We are happy to work with our employees who are in the Army Guard or Reserves and support the important commitments they hold outside of their employment with us.
“We are grateful for Cody’s service to our country and proud of the work he has done while deployed. The important skills Cody has gained during his service reinforce his professional growth here at Otak. We are honored to be able to support Cody and his family while he is hard at work with the U.S. Army Reserves,” Ryan commented.
Congratulations, Ryan, and thank you for your service, Major Cody!
The practice of Water and Natural Resources combines science and engineering to find a balance between the built and natural environment. For Otak, a company that strives to build sustainable communities in all its work, WNR is a critical discipline. While its WNR team is a mix of engineers and scientists, it’s not often both those skill sets are rolled into one employee, but that’s what Otak found in the hiring of Chris Romeyn as Senior Water Resources Engineer.
Tracy Emmanuel, Colorado Water Resources Director commented, “Chris brings wide-ranging experience and technical expertise that will help guide our design process, as well as provide crucial mentorship for our team.”
Chris had been flirting with Otak for a few years after a former colleague went to work for the company and tried to entice him to come aboard. He was interested in working for a smaller firm than the one he was with and liked what he saw at Otak, but it took a twist of fate with the arrival of the pandemic and forced work from home to solidify his hire. Chris had learned he preferred working at home or at least close to home in Glenwood Springs, Colorado and Otak is interested in expanding its services to that area of the state. With Chris’s background meeting Otak’s needs, the match finally clicked and Chris was hired in January.
A love for environmental issues and solutions goes back to Chris’s teenage years when he became obsessed with Edward Abbey’s books that touted environmental advocacy and showcased his time as a park ranger at Arches National Park. Chris ended up at the University of Vermont studying Natural Resource Management. Even with a degree in hand, Chris turned to his love of outdoor adventure and took a job in New Mexico working for the ski patrol.
Eventually, realizing he needed more of a career, he took the advice of a friend’s father and went back to school for his engineering degree, ending in a dual BA/MA program. Chris said the decision provided him with a broad set of skills combining technical competencies with a scientific understanding of waterways. “My goal has always been to do restoration work, but adding engineering broadened my skill set and set me up to land in consulting,” he said.
Chris is already putting his myriad of skills to work on complex projects at Otak. One is a fish passage that Otak was contracted to design through a grant from a non-profit. Chris explains there are two large river diversion structures that lie within a quarter-mile of each other and span about 100-feet across the river. The structures are at least 50 years old and can only dam the river up about three feet. For the fish that live there, and spawn in the Colorado plains, the existing fish passage is impossible to clear because they don’t jump. Chris says ramps that are several hundred feet long will have to be designed and built to give the fish a fighting chance of survival.
Other aspects of the project are to design for efficient sediment transport and meeting the needs of irrigation ditch owners. The overall project involves ditch companies, the USFWS, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, a water conservancy district, a fisheries biology professor from the University of Colorado, as well as the Otak team. The project is being funded through DOLA using federal funds and is sponsored by a non-profit watershed coalition.
Part of being a leader is having the ability to share your expertise with co-workers, and for Chris, that especially means his work with junior engineers. He has two points he feels are the most important to share. First is that critical thinking is the most crucial thing for a junior engineer to learn. There is no one solution to a problem, but there is a best solution, and an engineer must be able to look at all the facts and form a judgment for what will work. Chris said to get there the second idea he coaches is that people need to be comfortable to ask questions. “Learning from your mistakes works, but sometimes it’s good to feel comfortable going to someone who knows,” he said. He also commented that he faces his own challenges with his role as a mentor in letting go of the reins and accepting that someone else may do something differently than he would but that doesn’t make it incorrect.
Going forward, Chris is excited by the opportunities he sees to help grow the Colorado office and take on challenging projects that allow him to share his expertise at keeping waters flowing and fish swimming.
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