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Backsights Foresights
Fall/ Winter 2023
Semiannual newsletter on company projects, news, and events.
Ready to Tackle Any Dam Challenge INSIDE THIS ISSUE Using GoldSim to Model System Dynamics How Climate-Smart is Your Farm? PTMApp Far From Home Featured Service Area: Parks and Recreation Project Snapshots
HEI’s Dam Rehabilitation Services Help Communities
Read on to discover more about our dam rehabilitation services along with example projects! continued
Employee Spotlights News and Events
Photo: Big Elk Lake, Sarpy County, NE
Bourbanis Dam, ND.
Pelican River Rock Rapids Dam Retrofit, MN.
Dam Rehabilitation Services Ready to Tackle Any Dam Challenge
Hydrology and Hydraulics
Site Civil Design Lake Rehabilitation Environmental Permitting Inspections Construction Administration We have in-house expertise to complete comprehensive assessments of dam infrastructure, develop the best action to address deficiencies, and ultimately implement solutions.
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Fall/Winter 2023
Assessing Needs
Understanding the needs of our aging dams is critical to proactively maintaining our existing infrastructure. Assessments can be completed at many scales to assist dam owners. On the broad scale, multiple dams can be categorically ranked against each other. These rankings assist owners of multiple dams to prioritize which structures to first take action on. In 2022, HEI was contracted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to provide a risk assessment of 39 structures across the state. A desktop risk assessment was performed using available design information, breach analyses, inspections, and other available data to assess potential failure modes of the dams as well as the related downstream Population at Risk (PAR) and location of critical or environmental resources at risk.
The information our team has gathered will be used by FEMA and the State of Iowa to identify dams at risk as well as the potential for eligibility under FEMA’s Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) Grant Program. High Priority
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Overall Rank
Geotechnical Engineering
Our depth of experience with multiple dam safety-related issues ensures your project will be a success, whether your needs are routine maintenance or major rehabilitation.
Overall Score
Dams have been used since ancient times to help control water levels. Today, we use dams for irrigation, flood control, and more. Every dam is different based on its purpose and location. Houston Engineering, Inc. (HEI) offers a wide range of services to dam owners, including planning, design, permitting, and construction administration for spillway replacements; drawdown facilities; embankment repairs, removals and decommissioning; and lake restorations, just to name a few. This work includes a variety of disciplines:
Low Priority
Example of how a group of dams are ranked in order to prioritize which structures to update first.
Project Highlight Lake Wanahoo Dam Stilling Basin Rehabilitation Project Saunders County, NE
The Lake Wanahoo Dam stilling basin suffered damage in the 2019 flood on the north side of Wahoo, NE, including the removal of a portion of the stilling basin’s end sill and the development of a large scour hole that undermined the basin’s existing concrete apron. Owned and operated by the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District, HEI was hired to perform a site investigation of the basin area using bathymetric surveying equipment and sub-bottom profiling. The team also worked in cooperation with a local
fire department’s dive team to develop an accurate depiction of what damage occurred underwater. The damage included scouring of the surrounding earthen backfill, movement of riprap that was in place to protect the surrounding outlet channel, the removal of a portion of the basin’s end sill, and scour in the outlet channel downstream of the end sill.
Let’s Take This One Step Further A more detailed review can also be completed on a smaller subset of dams. For example, HEI provided the Nebraska office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) with assessments of 10 structures owned by three different natural resource districts (NRDs) to assess their current hazard classification and hydraulic capacity as well as identify the PAR. This information helps the NRCS prioritize available funding for local dam owners of aged structures to identify a path forward that includes federal funding to improve overall dam performance.
Repairs In North Dakota, HEI recently assisted the Pembina County Water Resource District in replacing the steel catwalk and low-gate closures on four principal spillways for four dams. The existing walkways and gates had deteriorated to the point of being inoperable or unsafe to access. Since these projects were on dams where the normal pool could not be fully drained for installation, careful coordination with the contractor was required so that dewatering activities were undertaken for a successful gate installation.
The NRCS hired HEI to perform a bathymetric survey on 7 of the 10 structures. Maintenance and Repairs
Maintenance and repair are a part of life for dam owners. HEI has performed routine maintenance and repair projects on dams for several clients across the Upper Midwest. This work can come from inadequate design, required hazard upgrades, and after large-scale catastrophic flooding. Our assessments can identify what is needed to maintain the operation of existing facilities.
more than completed across the
200
dam projects
Upper Midwest
A spillway repair and improvement was designed and construction has now been completed.
Lake Wanahoo Dam Stilling Basin. Our team completing bathymetric survey at the Lake Wanahoo Dam in Nebraska.
Improvements Other times, improvements to the original design may be required. In Nebraska, HEI assisted the Lower Platte NRD with a major repair to the principal spillway basin at Lake Wanahoo Dam. The team designed repairs to the stilling basin apron at the outlet of the principal spillway of the Lake Wanahoo Dam. Another example took place in South Dakota, where HEI assisted the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks (SD GFP) with replacing a principal spillway as well as a portion of the embankment that had washed out on New Stickney Lake during a recent flood event. continued
aerial drones HEI has FAA-certified drone pilots, who are also trained surveyors, on staff. Not only can aerial drones capture more data points to create highly accurate surface models, they can be safely flown from a distance and reduce safety risks at project sites.
Before photo of the New Stickney Lake Dam in South Dakota prior to our rehabilitation efforts. houstoneng.com
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Project Highlight High Island Lake Water Control Replacement Sibley County, MN
High Island Lake is located in south-central Minnesota and has long been a destination for boaters, anglers, and others. In 2018, the lake began to drain when a leak developed under the existing water control structure. By 2019, the outlet failed and was removed. HEI was retained to provide a design for the replacement structure.
team developed a water control structure that incorporated stop logs as well as a fish barrier. The fish barrier prevents common carp from entering the lake from High Island Creek. Common carp are an invasive species that compete against desirable sport fish and stir up lake sediments, resulting in degraded water quality.
The project team completed a site assessment that included extensive hydrologic and hydraulic analysis. The
Construction was completed in 2022. The stop log structure allows the dam owner to have the ability to drawdown the
HEI developed a solution to repair and improve the structure so future floods don’t have the same result. The design was developed in close coordination with the SD GFP, submitted to FEMA for disaster mitigation funds, and was ultimately awarded funding for construction.
lake outlets to promote fish passage and reduce public safety risk. In most cases, the lowest cost option to address both concerns is to leave the structure intact then retrofit a drop spillway with a riprap chute at a flat enough slope to facilitate fish passage.
Rehabilitation, Replacement, or Decommissioning
Rehabilitation Once a dam reaches the point where maintenance and repair become infeasible, dam owners may have to consider more drastic action. Often times this involves an in-depth review of the original dam’s intended purpose versus the current benefits that the structure provides. In some cases, existing dams have created unintended consequences related to public safety or environmental concerns. One such example of this are low-head dams that can cause a significant risk to human life, limit fish passage, and fragment aquatic ecosystems. We have assisted in many retrofits of low-head dams in rivers and
Leading the Projects Zach Herrmann zherrmann@houstoneng.com
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High Island Lake Dam now includes new fish screens to prevent invasive species from entering the lake. lake to control invasive species. The lake was stocked with 100,000 walleye fry in the spring of 2023 to help return the sport fish to the the lake. coordination. The planning effort will result in locally acceptable, cost-effective alternatives to rehabilitate these dams and provide federal cost-share for construction.
Decommissioning a Dam Sometimes removal or replacement is the most feasible alternative for a dam. In 2022, HEI assisted with the removal Every dam is a unique of Bourbanis Dam in North Dakota in challenge and often response to severe damage during a not like other projects. spring flood event. The high-hazard dam was partially decommissioned -Mike Sotak on an accelerated timeline to remove Replacement Dams the public safety risk for future floods A large portion of the nearly 92,000 dams and capitalize on NRCS Emergency listed in the US Inventory of Dams were Watershed Protection funding. HEI’s team constructed in the 1960s, 1970s, and led design and construction efforts that 1980s. Many dams, including the nearly included the removal of an embankment 13,000 dams constructed by the NRCS and installation of a riprap chute and as part of the PL-534 and PL-566 stilling basin. The project moved rapidly programs, are nearing their design from conceptual designs to substantial lives (reservoir capacity and useful completion within one North Dakota use of imported materials) and require construction season. Additionally, HEI rehabilitation, repair, and/or replacement. is starting construction on West Papio Site WP-2 in Nebraska in the fall of 2023. This is one of the reasons for the recent WP-2 is a new high-hazard dam in urban rejuvenation of NRCS dam rehabilitation Omaha that replaces an aged NRCS funding. HEI is currently working through structure in the same location. Watershed Planning for the rehabilitation of six NRCS watershed dams. These As dams across the country continue efforts include a significant amount of to be built and age, HEI will be ready to public input, technical review, and agency solve any dam challenge.
Mike Sotak msotak@houstoneng.com
Decommissioning of Bourbanis Dam in Pembina County, ND, after a major spring flood event in 2022.
Mike Opat mopat@houstoneng.com
Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3HpbasS
Fall/Winter 2023
Using GoldSim to Model System Dynamics and Uncertainty There are many modeling tools used in water resources and water quality solutions. So many that it is easy to confuse the abbreviations and names if you are not familiar with them: XPSWMM, PTMApp, HSPF, HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, and many more. In some situations, a more flexible and customized approach to modeling is beneficial. This is especially true when what is being modeled is a complex system containing inherent uncertainty and the system or process is not adequately represented by commonly used software. HEI has a wealth of experience with commonly used water resource simulation tools, but for integrated systems, we utilize a flexible and powerful system dynamics model called GoldSim (https://www.goldsim.com/).
Environmental Systems Modeling
Water resources Mine water and waste Radioactive/hazardous waste Energy Ecological and biological Human health risk
Engineered Systems Modeling
Business Systems Modeling
Risk, failure, and vulnerability Reliability and throughput Warranty and cost
Strategic and project planning Finance Supply chain Best practices management Risk management and insurance Marketing simulation
How has HEI applied GoldSim to system functions and quantify the impacts of potential climate change and water-related systems?
HEI has developed GoldSim models for shallow natural lakes, impoundments/ reservoirs, and oxbow lakes. Modeling goals and purposes have been diverse and include detailed water balance HEI is one of only 13 simulations, quantifying sediment and Certified Solutions nutrient balance, and the simulation of Providers worldwide! lake restoration design and management alternatives. HEI has utilized the GoldSim What is GoldSim? model to simulate the dynamics of a GoldSim is a general purpose simulation sediment containment basin, including software capable of dynamically how it fills with water and sediment simulating complex systems in based on a variety of hydraulic dredging engineering, science, and business. pump rates and run times. HEI has also GoldSim is graphics-oriented, modular, used GoldSim to predict lake drawdown and powerful. Why is GoldSim superior times to determine the feasibility of to spreadsheets and commonly used an accelerated construction schedule models? under varying weather conditions. In • It is very visual, which enhances its most of HEI’s lake applications, data use and understanding by both model uncertainty and natural variability have builders and end users (clients). been incorporated into the models • It includes a powerful, built-in to better understand the range and methodology to evaluate how likelihood of system behavior over systems behave over time using time. The information produced by this probabilistic simulation. This key approach is much more meaningful feature of GoldSim allows the user to to resource managers than annual quantify the variability and uncertainty average conditions, which, by definition, of a system, which provides extremely miss important seasonal variations and valuable information for end users extremes. that want to optimize design or management of a resource or system. Most recently, HEI has embarked on • A fully customizable “dashboard” can an effort to apply the GoldSim model be developed and delivered to the end to optimize operations and maximize user, which allows them to change benefits of a large irrigational canal and model variables and assumptions, storage system in western Nebraska – run scenarios, and visualize results. the Perkins Canal project. This effort Scenarios can be run and viewed will provide the Nebraska Department of using the dashboard without Natural Resources and its water partners purchasing a software license. the ability to fully understand how the
operational decisions as well as explain the benefits to water users within and downstream of the system.
How and where else can GoldSim be utilized?
One of GoldSim’s major benefits is its versatility. Simply stated, GoldSim can be utilized to simulate any movement, storage, and change of a material. This material can be water, chemicals (such as nutrients), industrial/commercial products (machine and parts), vehicles/traffic, population dynamics, energy/power, or money.
When should I consider using a system dynamics tool such as GoldSim? GoldSim offers advantages over spreadsheets and single-purpose modeling software programs whenever you want to: • Simulate a complex system with a variety of integrated components (materials, pathways, storages, etc.). • Optimize the design of system components in a way that considers potential variability and uncertainty. • Simulate and visualize future conditions or scenarios via a user-friendly interface (GoldSim dashboard). Leading the Project Charles Ikenberry cikenberry@houstoneng.com houstoneng.com
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How Climate-Smart is Your Farm? Here is How HEI Can Help Guessing you’ve noticed some changes in the weather lately. It doesn’t matter if you’re a rural, suburban, or urban resident, the weather and impacts of the changing climate are experienced by everyone. The agricultural sector is a key stakeholder for both navigating and building resiliency in an evolving climate. Many are looking at agricultural supply chains as opportunities for climate solutions. Understanding how your operation or supply chain is currently performing is the first stop to becoming Climate-Smart. HEI has equipped our clients and their communities to combat impacts of the changing climate while also providing technical expertise to agricultural communities to help them increase their sustainability. A key area that HEI supports clients in is providing assistance in measuring and modeling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the agricultural sector. Do you need to adapt to meet the conservation and production demands of the 21st century? Here is how HEI can help: Regional/Statewide Support: The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, seeking to understand how soybean-based biofuel is helping reduce GHG emissions in Minnesota, chose HEI to complete an evaluation of the GHG impacts of biodiesel. HEI estimated the GHGs emitted from various blends of biodiesel that the state of Minnesota requires gas stations to use. The GHG estimates included all GHGs generated from the soybean to the gas pump. HEI also reviewed various consumer products that contain soybeans, such as vehicle tires, and compared the GHG scores against their non-soy-based counterparts. HEI determined that biodiesel has a lower GHG emission when compared to non-bio-based diesel. HEI’s findings help quantify the GHG benefits associated with the B20 mandate in Minnesota and support soybean farmers by demonstrating 6
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biofuel’s reduced carbon footprint. This will broaden the economic horizon for the soybean farmers as biofuel continues to be a part of our energy mix in Minnesota and the country. Community Level Farmer-Led Support: Agricultural conservation practices play an important role in managing the effects of the changing climate and improving the environment, but it is often time consuming to estimate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of implementing conservation practices. HEI is a part of multiple partnerships that have been working on establishing sustainability assessments for their farms, including: • The Lafayette Ag Stewardship Alliance (LASA), • The Headwaters Agricultural Sustainability Partnership (HASP), and • Peninsula Pride Farms (PPF). Farmers For Sustainable Food (FSF) is a key partner to HEI in supporting many of these efforts. HEI focuses on gathering data, analyzing sustainability and GHG outcomes, and delivering the results to the farmer-led groups in a manner that puts the information to work in making management and business decisions. Some of these efforts have been active for several years. By providing results in an understandable format and on a yearly basis, HEI and FSF have enabled these partnerships to see how they are improving soil and water quality, maintaining profitability, and reducing GHG emissions over time. Supply Chain Support: HEI tailors solutions to individual clients based on their unique obligations for reporting sustainability outcomes. Valley Queen Cheese hopes to make progress towards achieving their GHG and sustainability goals by partnering with the dairy operations that sell them milk. HEI, in partnership with FSF, was hired to evaluate and model the GHG footprint of these dairy operations and provide
insights on how the operations can improve GHG estimates. Another project where HEI modeled on-farm scenarios was the 20-year lookback for Kinnard Farms. For 20 years, Kinnard Farms has implemented conservation practices to improve the overall productivity of the farm and improve environmental outcomes. To quantify their GHG footprint, HEI supported a collaboration with Kinnard Farms to complete a carbon accounting analysis. HEI utilized a carbon accounting method to estimate carbon storage over time on the farm. This process helped both Kinnard Farms and dairy producers across the nation understand the utility of carbon accounting on dairy farms in the United States.
Our Client Partners:
PTMApp Far from Home HEI developed the Prioritize, Target, and Measure Application (PTMApp) for the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources to help users see which best management practices (BMPs) would help them meet their water quality goals. The application shows how well different BMPs treat water in different areas. This allows decision makers to choose the most cost-effective practices for their area, while meeting their water resource goals. PTMApp uses the latest GIS data and can be adapted to any location in the US. That means if you’re working to improve water quality and have GIS data, PTMApp can give you the solutions you need. In fact, our staff provided PTMApp solutions and training in the furthest state from our offices.
Aloha Oʻahu
In 2022, PTMApp caught the attention of the Oʻahu Resource Conservation and Development Council (ORCD). They hired HEI to help run PTMApp on three watersheds and create a pathway for PTMApp to support conservation efforts across the Hawaiian islands. Our team recently met with local stakeholders to reinforce the outcomes provided by PTMApp. So far, the outcomes will support conservation efforts in O’ahu. Our team also taught ORCD staff how to use PTMApp
and its outputs. This will allow them to use PTMApp without a consultant, giving them full ownership of their data and projects. Though the trainings were largely virtual, our team was excited to make the trip out to the island this fall to attend stakeholder meetings. These meetings have provided local producers with insights on how PTMApp data can help them to take care of their land. They also have been used to make sure that adapting PTMApp to Oʻahu aligns with local knowledge and up-to-date science around water quality. With one pilot watershed done, the ORCD is now looking to model two more watersheds on the island.
“For over a decade, Oʻahu ORCD has co-invested with local farmers and landowners to improve water quality and provide essential environmental services for our island community. PTMApp helps us make smarter decisions to prioritize and target our efforts. Drew and HEI staff have seamlessly integrated and been fantastic in supporting our team throughout the process. My only regret is that we didn’t launch this partnership ten years ago!” - Dave Elliott, Executive Director of ORCD
t a l Climate Resiliency Plans That F o HEI has a history of partnering with local communities, counties, and government agencies to proactively form effective climate resiliency plans related to increased runoff. Heavy rains and flooding can be experienced by all, so whether your area of concern is rural, urban, or a mix of anything in between, we’ve got you covered.
Rural: In rural Austin, MN, a region prone to heavy rains and flooding,
HEI partnered with the Cedar River Watershed District (CRWD) to identify 18 potential water storage locations. Future climate hydrology was employed to ensure sustainable solutions, with HEI assisting in funding and community engagement for CRWD’s flow reduction goals.
Rural/Urban: The Rice Creek Watershed District faces escalating flood
risks across its 186 square miles of mixed rural and urban areas. HEI’s comprehensive approach involving modeling, engineering analysis, and community workshops—in collaboration with the Freshwater Society— pinpointed vulnerable sites for flood risk mitigation.
Urban: Urban areas like Moorhead, MN, present unique challenges due
to impervious surfaces, leading to intensified flooding. To strengthen the resiliency of Moorhead, HEI developed a climate change hydrology study, employed InfoSWMM models, and conducted a feasibility study to enhance resiliency. HEI also extended the study beyond the immediate area due to conveyance limitations downstream. houstoneng.com houstoneng.com
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Rocking Horse Park, Fargo, ND.
Creating Community Spaces
Featured Service Area: Parks and Recreation Creating access to outdoor spaces for citizens to enjoy the landscapes of the Upper Midwest is a must-have for communities across our region. A main pillar of HEI’s purpose is to enhance the communities in which we serve through responsible infrastructure solutions. We continually apply this mantra when working with both public and private clients to develop new parks, recreational facilities, trails, and more. Learn more about our comprehensive services beginning with master planning through design and construction!
Master Planning
HEI strives to see every project from concept to completion, and this often begins with urban and community planning. The planning process begins with you, to determine the needs of your city and community. We listen to residents, gather data, examine results, and pair the needs with available funding sources. We have proven success in grant writing and excellent relationships with regionwide funding agencies.
Project Highlight: Sioux City
Marina Expansion Master Plan, Sioux City, IA. HEI worked with a private client to create drawings and design renderings for a conceptual master plan for an expansion of the Sioux City Marina along the north shore of the Missouri River. The plan includes expansions and updates to three separate areas: the marina, the campground, and the villas. 8
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Lake McConaughy Recreational Trails, Keith County, NE – HEI’s work included a bathymetric survey of the Martin Bay and Cedar View boat ramps, redesign of the Martin Bay ramp, identification of areas that would benefit from localized dredging, and design of shoreline protection. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/46tSNh8 Our in-house landscape architects work in tandem with our planners to help bring vision and guidance to a variety of park-related projects.
Mapping and Database Management
Without an effective data and asset management system, it can be challenging for organizations to collaboratively make Master Planning Projects decisions. What sets HEI apart from your • Marina planning typical software development companies is • New park planning our domain expertise in natural resources, environmental, water resources, Grant/Funding Sources engineering, agriculture, stormwater, and • Community Development Block Grant vector control with industry knowledge Program (Economic Development in local/state government and nonAdministration) profits. Our developers are part of • Recreation Trails Program (Federal our geospatial technology sector Highway Administration) and work side-by-side with our • Pedestrian/Bike Trails (Minnesota scientists and engineers to develop Department of Natural Resources effective solutions to recreation asset and Minnesota Department of management. We take an innovative Transportation) approach to building software solutions on Esri’s geospatial platform or open-source platforms.
Project Highlight: Recreation
design for several sports complexes from high school football fields to a professional baseball stadium.
Mapping, Statewide, ND. HEI worked with the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department to collect Public Spaces Projects data and establish a web-based, GIS • Playgrounds • Skate parks database to efficiently view state • Sports complexes recreation assets for a more • Zoos robust and targeted approach to inventorying, planning, and tourism. Infrastructure Explore the viewer here: https://bit.ly/453wCgZ
Mapping and Database Management Projects • Park and recreation asset viewers • Trails and recreation information portals • Urban tree canopy assessments
Public Spaces
Now that you’ve created an inventory of your current assets and made a long-term plan, it’s time to look into improving current amenities or creating new ones! We have worked with both private developers and public agencies to obtain permits for, design (civil and architectural), and construct several new parks and playgrounds across the region, bringing new opportunity for community togetherness. Replacing aged infrastructure for large-scale outdoor recreational facilities can be a challenge. HEI’s staff have provided surveying as well as civil, stormwater, irrigation, and parking lot
Choosing appropriate amenities for a community is only part of the equation; making certain the proper infrastructure to support safely accessible outdoor recreation is equally as important. Well-designed infrastructure should be functional as well as fit into the overall aesthetic of a space. Some—not all—of the features our designers take into consideration include ADA compliance and lighting updates, incorporation of green infrastructure solutions, neighborhood connectivity via pedestrian shared-use paths and bridges, and more. Our team is also attentive to project and schedule management to facilitate peak park use while also meeting construction deadlines. Infrastructure Projects • Boat ramp replacements • Bridges (pedestrian and vehicular) • Multi-use sidepath trails • Parking lots
Boat ramp
Rain garden Como Parking Lot Stormwater and Parking Lot Design, Saint Paul, MN – HEI worked with the City of Saint Paul to provide stormwater benefits in a highly urbanized, developed part of the Twin Cities metro, building in green infrastructure to existing practical infrastructure. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2UEPMLi
Heart of the Lakes Trail, Otter Tail County, MN – HEI designed the custom trail map (left) for each of the five segments of this 32-mile-long, multi-use sidepath trail (right) that will provide cyclists, joggers/hikers, and others a safe path from Pelican Rapids to Perham. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/46q7Toa houstoneng.com
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Project Snapshots
We'd love to showcase all that we do at HEI, but we'd run out of pages! Here's a short overview of some recent project highlights.
An aerial view of the Whiskey Creek project.
Whiskey Creek Enhancement Project Buffalo-Red River Watershed District Wilkin County, MN
Whiskey Creek, a tributary of the Red River of the North located in Wilkin County, MN, is one of many natural waterways within the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD). For years, the creek has experienced poor drainage and water quality due to sediment build up within the channel. In 2016, Wilkin County and the BRRWD secured a Clean Water Fund Accelerated Implementation Grant to study the creek and investigate how to stabilize the stream. HEI evaluated the existing conditions of Whiskey Creek, identifying problem areas along the creek. Following the completion of a hydraulic model and an informational meeting with landowners, HEI began developing alternatives for the restoration of Whiskey Creek. HEI assisted the BRRWD through the process of project development, using Minnesota Watershed Law, and worked alongside the BRRWD to apply for and obtain grant funding. The first phase of construction began in 2021, with final construction anticipated to be completed in 2025. The project replaced outdated traffic signals at nine intersections from the early 2000s by installing new traffic signals.
State Street Safety Improvements and Preventative Maintenance North Dakota Department of Transportation East Divide Avenue to East Calgary Avenue, Bismarck, ND
An intersection improvements project along State Street is a project the City of Bismarck and the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) have planned for several years.
Zoomed-in view of the interesction at State Street and Harvest Lane/Weiss Avenue under construction. 10
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HEI led the environmental and public involvement process and completed the preliminary and design engineering for the State Street Improvement project. Improvements included additions and/or extensions of right- and left-turn lanes, median access modifications, storm sewer inlet and pipe modifications, curb ramp upgrades to meet ADA standards, roadway lighting modifications, and upgrades to the traffic signal systems, including full replacement of signal poles, control cabinets, and the IT system. In addition, the project included extensive utility coordination to address potential utility conflicts with the proposed design improvements. The project is anticipated to be substantially completed by the end of this year.
Sewer and Water Improvements
Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission Belcourt, ND Upon obtaining financial assistance through the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service, the Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission retained HEI to provide engineering services related to its multiphase sewer and water improvements project in Belcourt, ND. Deliverables included preparation of USDA Rural Development funding applications, preliminary scoping and project conception, final design, bidding services, construction administration, and start-up services.
Preliminary, Topographic, and Drainage Survey South Dakota Department of Transportation SD 40 from Hermosa to the Battle Creek Bridge HEI’s team provided survey along SD 40 for approximately 17 miles, being bounded on the west by the intersection with Vilas Street in Hermosa and bounded on the southeast by Battle Creek. The project corridor also included 12 drainage areas that are more than 1,000 acres.
HEI’s team provided survey along SD 40. Riverwood
Oak Grove
Our team’s flexible survey approach, using a hybrid approach of both aerial- and mobile-based LiDAR collection platforms along with traditional surveying methods, was successful in completing this project for the South Dakota Department of Transportation this past summer.
Flood Mitigation Projects City of Fargo Fargo, ND
Elm Circle
Upon completion of the Fargo-Moorhead (F-M) Area Diversion project, the 100-year flood elevation through the F-M area will be at a river stage of 37 feet. To account for potential ice jams and other flow constrictions during a flood event, any areas that would require emergency flood protection at a river stage of 39 feet were identified as needing permanent flood protection. HEI’s team was retained by the City of Fargo to assist in the planning, design, and construction of various flood management projects in the Riverwood, Elm Circle, and Oak Grove neighborhoods. Mitigation measures included earthen levees, cast-in-place concrete floodwalls, steel sheet pile walls with precast concrete panels, aluminum stoplog removable closure structures, and stormwater pumping stations. Concrete retaining wall blocks were also used in select locations to minimize impacts to adjacent properties. houstoneng.com
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EMPLOYEE
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS
SP
TLIGHTS
Special Edition: Honoring Our Tenured Team We’re proud that many of our employees have been with us for several decades. This longevity is a cornerstone of the success of our firm built on trusted relationships with our clients and a work environment that provides an opportunity for our staff to thrive. Learn about these six HEI team members, and view more of our team members’ milestone annivesaries on page 14.
Q&A Q: What contributed to your long tenure at HEI? A: My extended tenure at HEI can be attributed to two pivotal factors: the talent I work alongside daily and the invaluable opportunities presented to me. Having the autonomy to push typical career path boundaries is something unique to HEI that is very appealing to those who wish to grow.
25 years
Jeremy McLaughlin Senior Civil Engineer
Q: Where did you grow up? A: I lived in Grafton, ND, until I was about 8 and then moved to Lankin, ND (town of 100 people). My high school graduating class was 10 people. Q: What professional advice would you like to pass along to others? A: Many of our services at HEI have stemmed from people being passionate about something and taking a risk. Don’t be afraid to be that person.
Mark Aanenson
25 years
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Senior Scientist
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Q&A
Q: What do you like most about your job/role? A: I really like the diversity of the work. In the environmental permitting sector we get to work with many of our other groups including our water resources, transportation, and municipal sectors. This allows us to meet and work with different clients and to work on many different project sites throughout our region. The variety of clients and landscapes definitely keeps work at HEI interesting and enjoyable.
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Q: What contributed to your long tenure at HEI? A: I think the people at HEI are the biggest factor in staying at a company for more than 25 years. Our team is made up of a great group of leaders that provide both opportunities and support for you as you progress in your career. Also, our environmental team members have provided me with technical and professional support which makes it really fun to come to work every day.
Q&A Q: What has been the most rewarding project you’ve worked on thus far in your career? A: The most rewarding project I’ve worked on has been the F-M Area Diversion Project. HEI worked closely with the cities of Fargo (ND) and Moorhead (MN) on flood protection concepts before the 2009 flood, and then the Diversion Project commenced as a permanent solution to flood protection. Our water resources team had been modeling (hydraulics) design concepts for many years as the Project developed alternatives and then honed in on a design that could be permitted and constructed. Now that project construction is well underway, it is rewarding to see the accomplishments, but we recognize that there is still a lot of work ahead over the next few years as construction is completed and the project becomes operational.
20 years
Learn more about the F-M Area Diversion Project: https://bit.ly/3NcwBRV
Chad Qualley
20 years
CAD/Survey Administrator
Greg Thompson Senior Civil Engineer
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Q&A Q: What is your top travel destination on your bucket list? A: I want to travel to Europe. Specifically Germany with my family, since my two oldest daughters speak German from taking it in school. Q: What contributed to your long tenure at HEI? A: HEI was willing to trust my judgement and follow my lead on some big changes to stay on the forefront of software usage and technologies to make HEI a leader in the region.
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Q: What do you like about your role and being part of the HEI team? A: I like that I am able to use emerging technologies to figure out efficient ways to answer technical questions.
Q&A
Q: What are three reasons someone should want to work at HEI? A: Rewarding projects, great culture, and people.
20 years
Dave Schwengler Engineering Specialist
Q: What has been your most memorable vacation? A: Visiting the Cape Kennedy Space Center is high on the list, but any vacation to visit our kids and grandchild in North Carolina is the best. Q: What has been the most rewarding project you’ve worked on thus far in your career? A: The Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) Project is the project I have been working on for almost my entire career at HEI. I have worked (and still do from time to time) in the field and performed hydraulic modeling. I also collaborate with the client, fellow staff, and stakeholders on design and implementation of the project, which once completed will provide a good, safe supply of drinking water to the communities of northwest North Dakota.
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NEWS AND EVENTS Our employees are the core of our company, and we value their commitment and contributions. Congratulations to the following employees on their milestone HEI work anniversaries!
Service Milestones
25
35
years
20
years
Joe Freitag Civil Engineer
years
Mark Aanenson Senior Scientist
Chad Qualley CAD/Survey Administrator
Jeremy McLaughlin Senior Civil Engineer
Greg Thompson Senior Civil Engineer
Dave Schwengler Engineering Specialist
15
years
Greg Bowles Senior Civil Engineer
Dan Heitzman Senior Civil Engineer
Zach Herrmann Senior Civil Engineer
Alan Kemmet Senior Civil Engineer
Kate MacDonald Civil Engineer
Shawn Mitstelski Administrative Assistant
Tony Nordby Civil Engineer
Chris Otterness Senior Civil Engineer
10
years
Brian Pattengale Brenda Stroh Civil Engineer Controller
Trent Berg Chad Cass Senior Civil Engineer Civil Engineer
Dan Korf Civil Engineer
Lois Erickson Mike Ferrie Human Resources Civil Engineer Manager
Jerry Neu Engineering Specialist
5
Chad Nunemacher GIS Analyst
Stan Hanson Senior Civil Engineer
Jeff Renner CAD Supervisor
James Hennessy Project Manager Land Surveying
Jun Yang Civil Engineer
years
Rachel Glatt Civil Engineer
Brad Peschong Hydrogeologist
14
Fall/Winter 2023
Chris Gulan Survey Technician
Hannah Passolt Scientist
Josh Hengel Civil Engineer
Nate Renner Civil Engineer
Josh Johnson Landscape Architect
Rusten Roteliuk Senior Civil Engineer
Adam Kaye Civil Engineer
Andrew Sheppard Senior Software Engineer
Brady Wall Civil Engineer
Kelby Laxdal Civil Engineer
Aaron Zigan Civil Engineer
NEWS AND EVENTS NEW EMPLOYEES Welcome to our team!
Neil Austin Senior Civil Engineer
Tristan Balmer Civil Engineer
Muhammad Jamil Civil Engineer
Noah Boerboom Civil Engineer
Jonas Mitzel Civil Engineer
Tyler Olson Engineering Specialist
Ted Bridges Civil Engineer
Siane Chirpich Scientist
David Orthengren GIS Technician
Be part of our team! Visit our careers page to find open positions or sign up for alerts: www.houstoneng.com/careers
Derek Giese Courtney Grandbois Sam Irhke Civil Engineer Administrative Survey Technician Assistant
Isaac Purseglove Survey Technician
Carter Ueland Civil Engineer
Ryan Winkel Civil Engineer
EVENTS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND MORE!
Kudos to Carly Wagner, Aaron Zigan, Eric Suing, and Mark Jacobs for earning their Professional Engineer (PE) License!
Congrats to Steve Strack for graduating from the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber Leadership Program!
Our fantastic team members had a blast spreading joy by handing out candy at various parades.
This summer, employees savored food, games, and bubbly fun at picnics hosted across various office locations.
HEI’s talented team had a swinging good time flaunting their golf skills (or lack thereof) this summer. Some swings were a work of art, while others added a touch of chaos to the fairway! houstoneng.com
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New Website Coming Soon! We’re eagerly working on launching a new and improved website to showcase our clients’ wonderful projects and our amazing HEI team. Stay tuned for the new look in 2024! 16
Fall/Winter 2023
HEI Listed Among 50 Best Places to Work Prairie Business recognized HEI as one of its 50 Best Places to Work in its annual list for 2023. HEI is honored to have been on this list every year since it started in 2014. We couldn’t have earned this accomplishment without the incredible response from our talented team members, who nominated us for this title! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3P83nUa