Adjacent to Sea-Tac International Airport, Burien’s Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA) is in transition because of the airport’s recently completed third runway. A multidisciplinary master plan develops infrastructure improvements that are compatible with airport operations and stimulate further economic growth.
A Multidisciplinary Master Plan for Economic Development
Given it’s proximity to the airport, residential zoning was limiting the value of land in the Northeast Redevelopment Area of Burien, Washington. Working the Port of Seattle and FAA, design plans for future development include updates to city-wide stormwater infrastructure as well as the restoration of Miller Creek and its associated trail, all while updating zoning. The plan for flexible future land use also makes roadway improvements to accommodate the change in traffic type to light industrial and commercial use, including smoother curves and better grades. Otak designed, permitted, prepared construction documents, and oversaw the construction management of all elements of the master plan aimed at furthering economic development, and accurately reflecting the goals of the Burien community.
After Colorado’s 2013 flood, the state received funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program to address extensive damage to homes, businesses, and road infrastructure.
A Reconnected Floodplain and Restored Stream to Mitigate Future Flooding
During the flood, high sediment loading quickly plugged undersized culverts at road crossings and caused threatened life and property. Improvements included floodplain reconnection, restored riffle-pool and step-pool sequencing, offset protection at critical assets, bank stabilization, and native revegetation. Public stakeholder meetings facilitated discussions with property owners, completed 1D and 2D hydraulic modeling, and provided sediment transport analyses to meet technical design and floodplain permitting requirements. This project has made the area much safer for its residents, with resiliency protections, reduced flood risk, and stream health improvements. The river will perform better during future floods with reduced damage and faster recovery time. Working closely with Lefthand Watershed Oversight Group and property owners, Otak led the analysis and design for this high-visibility project and provided construction support.
The City of Portland aimed to enhance conditions along Crystal Springs Creek, a major tributary to Johnson Creek, to benefit native fish and wildlife and improve water quality. Those enhancements were done through stream restoration and replacement of undersized culverts that were barriers to fish migration.
Finding Efficiency in the Culvert Replacement Process
The creek is largely spring fed, which results in cool and uniform streamflow throughout the year that provides significant habitat for salmon, birds, and other wildlife. It was originally expected that there would be a need to prepare a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) based on hydraulic modeling and mapping by the US Geological Survey. Through initial work on the project however, it was determined that a no-rise condition could be demonstrated and a CLOMR would not be necessary. Otak then worked with the City to prepare a Letter of Map revision after the last culvert replacement project was constructed. The work included hydraulic modeling, floodplain mapping, and assisting the City with individual property and public notifications. Now that half of Crystal Springs has been restored, salmon find colder, cleaner water and more abundant food and shelter.
Li Alligood, AICP, LEED Green AP, is a senior planner and project manager who has mentored young women through the American Planning Association’s mentoring program; elevated Otak’s Green Otak (GO) Committee, which focuses on sustainable practices, operations, and training; and enjoys working with a large team of positive, sharp, committed professionals to build vibrant community spaces. Recently, she has worked as a senior planner on “The Fields,” a 264-unit affordable multifamily development and 100,000-square-foot office development in Tigard.
Principal Don Hanson believes his decision to hire Li is one of the best contributions he’s made in his 32 years at Otak. “Li’s exceptionable performance has upped our game on complicated projects and given both our team and our clients’ confidence that projects will be successful,” Don said. “Before joining Otak, Li did excellent work in the public sector on community-based planning initiatives. Li provides much of the glue that unifies our team moving forward.”
Tammi Connolly, P.E., CWRE, ENV SP, is a water resources engineer with a true passion for helping others develop their technical and leadership skills. She’s a role model for young professionals through her commitment to diversity, sustainability, and community outreach. Tammi is on the board of Women Leading Water and chairs the annual Women in Leadership Symposium, a place for women to come together to talk about the challenges they face in the workplace, find ideas and support, and discuss how they can bring others along on the journey. She also co-chairs Otak’s GO Operations Subcommittee, coordinating sustainable operations at our offices, including composting, recycling, transit programs, and energy and water saving.
Tammi has been mentoring a young engineer, Jeremy Tamargo, P.E., for the past four years. “Tammi’s leadership manifests itself daily through her deeds, particularly her willingness and commitment to go above and beyond her job description to support team members. She always sets high standards, challenging team members to uncover latent abilities and talents which otherwise would remain untapped.” Jeremy concluded, “Tammi has made me feel like an appreciated and valued member of the team since my first day at Otak. Unsurprisingly, Tammi inspires a deep sense of loyalty and affection. I feel grateful to call her a mentor and a colleague.”
Otak is proud of Li and Tammi for what they have accomplished in their careers and for our communities. “Li and Tammi are with Otak not because they are women, but because they are leading professionals in our industry,” said Jim Hamann, Otak’s CEO and president. “It’s our responsibility as a firm to ensure we continue to foster and increase our focus on establishing a culture of inclusion for all. We look forward to the continued advancement of Li and Tammi, and all women in Otak, to make us a stronger and better firm in the future.”
The Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce Women of Vision awards pay tribute to Oregon and Southwest Washington women who are shaping the built environment with their leadership, mentoring efforts, community involvement, and promotion of industry diversity. The awards ceremony will take place Oct. 18, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront hotel.
Uphill of Lake Sammamish, the 40th Street stormwater trunk was originally built in the 1980s to intercept stormwater runoff from commercial properties and send it to the lower reach of Villa Marina Creek. The complete master plan includes a unique water quality facility. After years of erosion threatened water quality downstream, upgrades were designed to accommodate a 50-year flood event and redirect peak flows with the addition of a new outfall dissipation structure.
Diverting Peak Flows of Stormwater Runoff to Improve Water Quality and Erosion Control
In an area experiencing high growth, the City of Redmond aimed to put in place more sustainable stormwater management infrastructure and practices for future development. Stakeholder outreach provided a forum for feedback and built consensus around the project’s importance throughout development of the lake outfall plan. Upgrades to the trunkline includes over 1,400 linear feet of 42-inch HDPE pipe and 300 linear feet of 12-inch water line relocation. The design also accounts for the restoration of the roadway and sidewalk including signal modifications, the relocation of utilities. To divert damaging peak flows from Villa Marina Creek to the outfall at Lake Sammamish, an interactive flow splitter progressively increases peak flow rates as a new submerged channel is formed and shoreline plantings establish healthy root systems.
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experience, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
