Minnesota’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4s) are currently in the process of applying for coverage under the revised MS4 General Permit. The updated MS4 General Permit creates changes in the ways that MS4 permittees will operate, starting with modifications that address procedural and programmatic changes needed to comply with updated rules.
One of the main changes is new performance-based responses to Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Total Phosphorus (TP); including a TMDL assessment to identify and prioritize activities to achieve reductions. WSB’s SWAMP system helps to address these new regulations by streamlining TMDL compliance through tracking and documenting improvements that have been completed to date or since the baseline of TMDL development. The SWAMP system also helps target subwatersheds that are underperforming or lacking the necessary treatment to meet water quality goals. SWAMP improves efficiency by saving time on planning and modeling when developing an efficient plan to address TMDL requirements.
Aside from improving compliance with new MS4 TMDL requirements, SWAMP continues to help address existing MS4 requirements.
Estimate TP and TSS reduction from existing ponds and BMPs
Prioritize inspection and maintenance activities related to ponds and BMPs
Ensure standard operating procedures are in place and stormwater management features continue to function as designed
Inspection and maintenance activities are automatically updated and reflect real-time information
Tracks and stores completed activity records for on-demand reporting
Jake has more than 15 years of engineering experience designing and managing many types of water resources projects, including modeling, planning, design, maintenance programs, and construction. Jake has worked with various municipalities, counties and state agencies to solve challenging water quality and water quantity problems.
On Friday, February 26, the American Council of Engineering-Minnesota (ACEC/MN) presented WSB with two Honor Awards for the Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Water Treatment Plant in St. Paul Park and Highways 169/41/78 Interchange Improvement Project at the virtual Excellence in Engineering Awards.
For over fifty years, the association has been recognizing outstanding engineering projects through their awards program. Minnesota engineering firms across the state enter their most innovative projects and studies hoping to be recognized for the work they’ve done to make the state stronger.
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Water Treatment Plant ACEC Honor Award
The Granular Activated Carbon Water Treatment Plant was constructed to provide residents a sustainable solution for bringing cleaner drinking water to the St. Paul Park community. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of manmade chemicals that do not naturally decompose due to their heat and water-resistant structure. Studies have found that consuming drinking water with elevated levels of PFAS can be associated with high cholesterol, reduced immune response, thyroid disease and kidney cancer. In response to this pervasive health threat, WSB partnered with the city to design the water treatment plant to remove PFAS from public drinking water and the surrounding environment. The implementation of the plant is anticipated to improve water quality and reduce the impact of harmful contaminants on community residents.
Highways 169/41/78 Interchange Improvement Project ACEC Honor Award
Scott County partnered with WSB to address freight, mobility, and safety problems on TH 169 between TH 41/CSAH 78 and CSAH 14, south of Shakopee. WSB completed preliminary and final design, environmental documentation, public engagement, permitting, and construction staging. The project included: replacing a signalized intersection at TH 41/CSAH 78 with a diverging diamond interchange; constructing a partial interchange at CSAH 14; addressing flooding at Picha Creek; improving an at-grade railroad crossing; geometric improvements at adjacent intersections on TH 41, CSAH 78, CSAH 14 and Red Rock Drive; closing 30 access points; constructing trails and noise barriers; and constructing 3.2 miles of frontage roads, 1.3 miles of CSAH facilities, and one mile of local routes; and reconstructing four miles of trunk highway.
The new position will focus on renewable energy and firm-wide resiliency initiatives.
Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that Amy Fredregill has joined the organization as their senior director of sustainability. Fredregill joins the firm’s Golden Valley office where she will lead WSB’s renewables and resiliency strategy.
Fredregill was most recently the managing director of the Sustainable Growth Coalition at the Environmental Initiative, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit. Throughout her career Fredregill has supported the Minnesota Association of Cooperatives, Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System Inc. and Xcel Energy.
“Amy brings a wealth of knowledge to this position with both her public and private sector experience,” said Andi Moffatt, vice president of environmental services at WSB. “Many of our clients and their communities are prioritizing resiliency and we will continue to see a demand for sustainable approaches and initiatives in the future.”
This new role will strengthen and expand the firm’s sustainability services and solutions. For years, WSB has been delivering sustainable solutions, such as stormwater and flood management, water reuse, municipal resiliency planning, materials, smart cities and renewable energy. Fredregill will help form the foundation for WSB’s sustainability strategy across markets and divisions.
“WSB’s clients face complex infrastructure challenges and we must find innovative and sustainable solutions to service our client’s needs now and into the future,” said Fredregill. “I’m thrilled to join a fast-growing firm that is committed to resiliency and innovation.”
Sustainability is a long-term goal for WSB as communities throughout the nation continue to prioritize resiliency. As part of WSB’s environmental team, Fredregill will work with many service areas and support the team in terms of knowledge, expertise, business development and execution of the firm’s sustainability strategy.
Construction projects are complicated and include many moving parts. One way to help assure a project’s success, is to engage in a constructability review early in the design phase of a project to make sure all those moving parts are working together as efficiently as possible. These reviews give a second set of eyes to examine your project’s plans and specifications to address areas of risk, identify areas for cost savings, and reduce claims during construction with minimal additional cost or turnaround time. Having an experienced professional provide independent review and suggestions from the viewpoint of a contractor bidding on the project can result in more bidders, better and more competitive pricing, as well as a high-quality and less risky bidding and construction experience.
However, constructability reviews can often become superficial and ineffective due to a lack of understanding of the process, improper implementation, and limited resources. By better understanding the process, the odds of success increase. Below is a list of 5 ways a constructability review can impact a project.
Knowledge of Construction Means and Methods
Effective constructability reviews begin with an in-depth evaluation using knowledge of standard construction methods, materials, and techniques so a project can be analyzed from a construction or field standpoint. Reviewing a project from this perspective evaluates things like the equipment needed to complete the work, environmental or spatial constraints, and installation procedures for the materials being used. Considering these items results in fewer issues during construction and fewer changes in scope.
Understanding of Contract Documents, Specifications, and Special Provisions
Providing a constructable project with transparent and well-defined expectations in the plans and specifications increases the likelihood of more potential bidders on the contract. Clarity in these project documents and specifications supports a clear approach to the project allowing contractors to provide more competitive and accurate bids.
Discipline-Specific Expertise and Resources
Discipline-specific knowledge and resources eliminate the potential for missed or overlooked details resulting in delays or open-ended contract requirements. Expert understanding of specific materials, practices, and specifications leads to an efficiently planned construction project that will stand the test of time.
Understanding of Contractor Scheduling and Bid Methods
Understanding contractor production rates and bid methods reduces the risk of project delays, missed completion dates, and uncertainty in bidding. Knowing how to accurately predict the contractor’s approach, sequencing of work, and bid methods will result in reduction of claims, change orders, and non-competitive or high bidding. Thus, increasing the overall likelihood of an on-time and on-budget completion of the project.
Delivering Intended Project Scope
The goals and purpose of a project often have significant influence over the design process but can sometimes be lost in the transition between design and construction. Incorporating construction specific personnel into the design process ensures the project’s original objectives are integrated into the plans and maintained during construction.
Paul has nine years of experience in construction services and is MnDOT certified in several disciplines. His expertise includes project management, quality engineer, project design, construction inspection, contract administration, record documentation, and materials testing. Paul’s experience as a contract administrator and quality assurance make him a valuable asset to any project.
The new 2020 MS4 General Permit is now available from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). While there are lots of familiar questions in the permit, the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) application form is new territory for many MS4s. The goal of the TMDL application form is to document progress towards meeting waste load allocations (WLA) for impaired waterbodies that the MS4 discharges to. Unlike previous applications that allowed for a simple qualitative tracking of progress (i.e. listing education programs, ordinance updates, etc.), it is now a requirement to provide documentation of quantitative load reductions, for example how many pounds of phosphorus does your new infiltration basin remove?
But like any new process, there may be some growing pains, so we recommend starting early.
Below are some steps to follow for a smooth transition.
Identify the subwatersheds in your jurisdiction that are tributary to the TMDL waterbody.
Gather information on structural BMPs that have been constructed or retrofitted in the subwatershed.
Did you complete a pond maintenance project?
Have you coordinated with a Watershed District, Soil Water Conservation District or other agency to construct a BMP?
Did you include BMPs with a street reconstruction project?
Street sweeping?
Have you constructed streambank or slope stabilization repairs?
Model to determine the BMP load reduction
Input the load reductions into the TMDL spreadsheet
The spreadsheet will need to be updated annually with the MS4 permit application. The bulk of the effort will be invested with this first application form.
Reminder that the spreadsheet is due on April 15, 2021 with the Phase II application.
Now that the spreadsheet is updated and there is an understanding of what progress has been made towards meeting waste load allocation and water quality improvements – the next step is outlining a plan to achieve compliance. Subwatershed Assessments are a great method for evaluating, ranking and prioritizing BMPs to continue progress towards WLAs that aren’t met. These assessments focus on identification of drainage areas with little to no stormwater treatment or opportunities for large increases in treatment. These assessments help the MS4 achieve TMDL requirements or keep waterbodies from being added to the impaired waters list.
The BMP load reductions and cost from the Subwatershed Assessment can be used to apply for grant funding. Reach out to partnering agencies, watersheds, conservation districts to gain momentum, buy-in and funding. There are multiple grants that prioritize funding for projects that work towards compliance with TMDLs.
Earth has 20 years of experience as a project engineer and project manager on technically diverse projects in water resources. She is a technical resource in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, flood damage reduction and floodplain modeling, water quality modeling and evaluation of best management practices, permitting, and hydraulic design. She has has worked extensively with MnDOT and state aid requirements and coordinated with local, regional, and state permitting agencies.
The targeted workforce training and development program aims to diversify AEC industry.
Design and consulting firm WSB today announced that the company has launched its second Opportunity+ cohort. Opportunity+ is the firm’s workforce training and development program designed to prepare participants for long-term careers in the civil engineering industry. The program, first launched in January 2020, is a free and fast-paced training course led by experts at WSB.
“We have a responsibility as leaders in the AEC industry to build diversity and opportunities for all people interested in civil engineering,” said Bret Weiss, WSB’s president and CEO. “I am thrilled to kick-off our next cohort and introduce our participants to the world of construction materials testing and surveying.”
From January through April, eight program participants will receive accelerated training through evening and weekend sessions. The flexible schedule allows participants to continue working during the day while completing the hands-on program. Upon completion of the program, Opportunity+ participants will be trained in surveying and construction materials testing – two high-demand positions in civil engineering.
“Even though my dream was to pursue a career in an engineering-related field, I never had the opportunity after finishing my GED,” said Salvador Santibañez Sánchez, a member of this year’s Opportunity+ cohort. “I’m ready for a career change and I see this training as a great opportunity to put me on the right path of what I believe is my true calling, where I can use my skills and learn new ones.”
Nine cohort members completed the first Opportunity+ training class and received their certificates. WSB hired two program participants from the first Opportunity+ cohort. Through hiring partners and WSB’s own hiring practices, the intent is to place every cohort participant interested in pursuing a career in civil engineering following completion of the program.
“I’m looking forward to launching our second cohort not only to help provide access to rewarding careers in the industry, but also to continue our efforts to build a more diverse workforce,” said Laura Rescorla, WSB engineer and program manager of Opportunity+. “It’s been a rewarding experience and we have another impressive cohort eager to explore new possibilities that may not have been accessible to them in the past.”
Program partners include Emerge Community Development, Eastside Employment xChange, City of Minneapolis, City of Saint Paul, Hennepin County and Ramsey County.
Bart Fischer, Senior Public Administrator, discusses how asset management can lead to better decision making with WSB’s Director of GIS Services Justin Hansen.
Asset management is incredibly important, but not often valued to its full potential. Gathering data is great, but only if that data is used effectively.
I recently sat down with WSB’s Director of GIS Services, Justin Hansen to learn more about Asset Management to get his perspective on how communities can use it to their advantage.
BF: Asset management is a big topic – I often find it overwhelming. What is the main thing a community should understand about asset management and GIS?
JH: Asset management is incredibly undervalued. Solid asset management can lead to more informed decision-making, proactive and practical planning, improved capital planning decisions and better resource management.
BF: What is one of the most common issues you see when it comes to asset management within a city?
JH: I think asset management is misunderstood by some communities. Many cities will go out and purchase a system, but they struggle to realize the benefits of it. The system becomes something that is just being used for data input and nothing of true value. It may be assisting a city with their day-to-day support of operations, but they’re not using it to its full potential as an organizational-wide decision support platform.
BF:What is the solution to that problem?
JH: Education and planning. Take the time to educate key staff about asset management and how it can be applied to your city. Include staff across the city; not just public works and engineering. Develop an asset management strategy and plan for implementation. This helps develop organizational goals and allows the city to make a more educated decision on how to proceed with asset management.
Some communities may only need to start with a GIS-centric asset management approach where they utilize tools like WSB’s Datafi. Datafi gives cities an easy-to-use tool to manage field operations using GIS. Datafi can help change the culture at a city to understand the benefits of using technology in the field to assist with operations. Other communities will want to invest in full-blown asset management systems that meet their needs for approaches to asset management, operations and planning.
BF: How does streamlining asset management benefit a city?
Cities have an immense challenge around how they operate efficiently and effectively. Balancing the needs of residents, planning for future infrastructure improvements and preparing for the unexpected are benefits that come from a strong approach to asset management. Data gives staff ammunition to back-up a decision or a recommendation. It provides transparency and helps align priorities.
BF: How have you seen cities be successful with Asset Management?
JH: Cities that have been successful with asset management have always built a culture that embraces using technology to manage operations. It’s hard to think outside of the status quo when you’re driving forward fast and furiously but investing in these systems now will better prepare communities for the future. Also, successful communities get engaged and communicate the impact that asset management has on their organization to their residents while also providing ways for their residents to participate through citizen request applications.
There’s been a lot of chatter about Smart Cities and Smart Communities recently, but what I find the most interesting is that many communities are already smart. They’re using GIS and asset management to make data-driven decisions. Leveraging data to make informed decisions is the core tenant of a smart community. Don’t be afraid to embrace it!
Bart Fischer has over two decades of experience in public administration. Throughout his tenure, he’s worked in five Minnesota communities as the city or assistant city administrator. Bart joined our firm in 2019 as a senior public administrator and focuses on lending his public service expertise to our clients.
Justin Hansen has over 13 years of experience in managing GIS projects, staff, software development, solutions design, integration and implementation. Justin works closely with clients to implement GIS-based tools and related systems that maximize value and foster engagement.
Construction operations on roadways disrupt normal traffic flow and generate undesirable delay. As traffic continues to increase throughout many metro areas, the Federal Highway Administration has been encouraging DOTs to be more proactive in their maintenance of traffic during construction.
Good construction staging provides safe and efficient traffic operations throughout a project to minimize impacts on the community during construction. WSB has begun development of traffic models that simulate the flow of traffic under different staging scenarios. These traffic simulation models consider all available routes, how construction will impact these routes and how much additional time this will add for commuters. These models are being used to determine if there are improvements that need to be made on any surrounding routes to allow for better operations throughout construction.
This new approach is more proactive than past construction staging methods and is based upon data. By modeling actual construction conditions, we’re able to pinpoint where potential challenges may occur during construction and how to avoid them. Below is a list of potential benefits of construction staging and maintenance of traffic modeling using traffic simulation.
The benefits of advanced traffic simulation for construction staging and maintenance of traffic
By understanding what the impacts to the community are, we can be more proactive in mitigating them.
If we better understand what routes traffic will use, we can ensure that traffic controls are set up to accommodate additional traffic volumes.
Limit changes can be evaluated.
Informs decisions on critical maintenance items.
Provides a public engagement tool for cities and residents.
Through advanced traffic simulation technology, we’ve been able to enhance construction staging plans resulting in better projects.
Do has been a civil engineer in the transportation field for over 25 years. His experience includes modeling, operational analysis, design and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) of large-scale transportation projects in both the United States and Qatar. Do has successfully managed over 30 major transportation and research projects utilizing traditional macroscopic travel demand forecasting modeling and state-of-the-art microscopic traffic simulation modeling techniques.
Harris will lead the firm’s construction efforts in Texas.
Engineering and consulting firm WSB announced today that Melvin Harris is joining the organization as their director of construction engineering and inspection. Harris joins the firm’s Houston office where he will lead WSB’s efforts to build a strong construction inspection team in Texas.
“Melvin is technically solid and a significant strategic hire for our firm,” said Jay Kennedy, WSB’s vice president of Texas operations. “His experience working with the Texas Department of Transportation, his construction management knowledge and bridge inspection and management skills will set a foundation for growth and will allow us to expand our services to clients in the Houston area and beyond.”
Harris joins WSB with nearly ten years of experience working on high-profile construction projects in Texas. Throughout his career, he had the opportunity to work with the Texas Department of Transportation on large-scale infrastructure projects including the Grand Parkway Project and the US 290 Corridor Project.
Most recently Melvin held the position of Director of Construction Service Operations for Aguirre and Fields. During his tenure, he grew the team from 30 to 50+ members, standardized several inspection processes and implemented a safety program.
“I’m excited to join a firm with so much momentum and opportunity behind them,” said Harris. “My goal is to build a technically solid team that focuses on elevating the services we provide for our clients. The opportunities are endless and I’m looking forward to what the future holds for WSB’s construction services in Texas.”
As part of WSB’s construction team, Harris will support WSB’s clients in the heavy civil construction market. He will focus on the firm’s operations while working to strategically support growth. As a consulting engineering firm, WSB provides transportation planning and design, water/wastewater utility work and community planning services throughout the state of Texas.
