By: Ann Boeholt and Camille Felkins, �鶹TV��վ Senior Environmental Managers

Adaptive management is often described as a best practice, but its value is most evident when projects face conditions no plan can fully anticipate. This case study — shared at the — illustrates how flexibility, collaboration and observation helped guide a project in a complex wetland system on Tribal lands.

Salmon, Sovereignty and Fish Passage

Pacific salmon have long been central to the cultures, economies and lifeways of Pacific Northwest Tribes. Over time, however, state highway infrastructure contributed to fragmented aquatic systems, limiting access to historic spawning and rearing habitats.

Since the 1990s, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has worked with Tribes and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify and address fish passage barriers across the state highway system. This work accelerated significantly following a 2013 permanent injunction that established a 2030 deadline for replacing approximately 400 barriers — those expected to reconnect roughly 90 percent of the targeted habitat. Today, this ongoing, collaborative effort focuses on restoring connectivity within waterways that often intersect sensitive environmental and regulatory settings.

A Culvert, a Wetland and Changing Conditions

One such project along U.S. Highway 101 involved installing a fish‑passable culvert in 2025 to restore natural stream function. Adjacent to the site was a mosaic wetland system within the Quinault Indian Reservation.

Shortly after construction, a high‑flow event caused nearby Harlow Creek to overtop its banks. Water moved across the newly graded wetland, forming overflow channels and flow paths not anticipated in the original restoration design. While the culvert performed as intended, the surrounding wetland — newly planted and not fully stabilized — responded rapidly to these conditions.

These changes introduced challenges. Permit requirements included specific restoration and stabilization goals designed to meet water quality standards, while the wetland’s natural response made a rigid, prescriptive approach difficult to apply. In addition, the stream’s new flow path through the wetland meant that no in-stream work could occur until the following summer construction window. Any potential retrofit work within the wetland or stream would also require careful coordination, as these conditions coincided with the federal government shutdown in fall 2025.

Managing Complexity Through Collaboration

Responding effectively required close coordination among WSDOT, Tribal partners and multiple regulatory agencies. Additional constraints, including narrow in‑stream work windows and limited agency availability, reinforced the need for an approach that was both practical and adaptive.

Rather than attempting to force the system back to its original design assumptions, the project team proposed a flexible, adaptive path forward.

Letting the System Inform Solutions

In the near term, the team implemented minimal erosion‑control best management practices to protect the site while limiting additional disturbance. At the same time, they committed to ongoing monitoring to better understand how the wetland functions under post‑construction conditions.

Monitoring showed that the new overflow channels aligned with the wetland’s mosaic character. While the final design solution is still evolving, the longer‑term approach shifted toward stabilizing those channels within the floodplain — supporting ecological function and permit objectives while working with natural processes.

Together, these decisions reflect how adaptive management can support effective outcomes in dynamic environments by allowing real‑world conditions to inform design, permitting and long‑term performance.

Join Us at NAWM

We will share additional lessons learned from this case study during our presentation, “Implementing effective adaptive management to meet project goals in the face of unforeseen and changing conditions,” at the on Thursday, April 30, at 11 a.m.

If you are attending NAWM, we invite you to join the session and connect with us or continue the conversation on LinkedIn.

Project earns an ACEC Georgia Engineering Excellence Award.

Babak (Bobby) Shayan, David McKenney, Alexandra Davis, Andrew Pankopp and Andy Casey accept award on behalf project team.��

Spelman College has long been recognized for its academic excellence and leadership in liberal arts and sciences. As the college envisioned its first major new academic building in more than 25 years, campus leaders saw an opportunity to create something extraordinary — a space where the arts and sciences could finally converge and inspire one another.

The result is the 82,500‑square‑foot , a landmark building positioned at one of the campus’s most prominent corners. Designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, the Center includes performance spaces, classrooms, dance studios, a museum, a café and the Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab — an advanced maker space inviting students from across disciplines to experiment and create.

The project recently earned statewide recognition, receiving an , in the Special Projects category. This award highlights the successful collaboration and technical excellence that brought this transformational building to life.

Engineering a Shared Vision

�鶹TV��վ is proud to have played a significant role in delivering the site design solutions that made this bold vision possible. Our team provided comprehensive services, including site planning, grading and drainage, stormwater management, utility design, erosion control, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) documentation, permitting and construction support.

Designing within a dense, historic and active campus environment required meticulous planning and coordination. The project site, formerly a faculty parking lot, contained a complex web of existing utilities critical to campus operations. �鶹TV��վ conducted extensive investigation and subsurface utility exploration to minimize relocations, protect essential systems and see that construction could move forward without disrupting campus life.

This careful groundwork proved invaluable, especially when designing the foundations for the pedestrian bridge that connects the new Center to the campus core. Bridge footings were needed in an area crowded with existing and proposed utilities. �鶹TV��վ worked closely with the structural engineering team, using designating and targeted test pits to verify the exact location and elevation of utilities.

Sustainable Solutions Below the Surface

While much of the Center’s beauty is visible in its open, sun‑lit architecture and inviting outdoor “porch” spaces, some of its most impactful engineering features lie underground.

Located within — an area historically affected by pollution and flooding — the site required thoughtful water management strategies. �鶹TV��վ designed a 63,200‑gallon underground cistern, constructed from 84‑inch‑diameter pipe, to capture runoff from both landscaped areas and building rooftops. Pretreatment through vegetated swales and a high‑capacity First Defense system improves water quality, reduces downstream flooding and gives Spelman a sustainable irrigation source that reduces reliance on the city’s potable water supply.

During utility evaluations, �鶹TV��վ also identified opportunities to enhance segments of the existing sanitary sewer system serving a large portion of campus. The team designed a new watertight sewer main, improving system performance and safeguarding both campus operations and nearby natural environments.

The Center for Innovation and the Arts has already catalyzed new activity and programming on campus, creating a vibrant hub for creativity and discovery. For �鶹TV��վ, the project represents the impact of thoughtful civil engineering — solutions that operate quietly beneath the surface yet play a pivotal role in a building’s performance, sustainability and long‑term campus value.

“Earning the 2026 ACEC Georgia Merit Award underscores the significance of this achievement. The Center stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when visionary design meets technical precision: a building that not only serves Spelman College today but strengthens its legacy for generations to come,” said Tom Price, �鶹TV��վ Infrastructure President.

Additional Award-Winning Contributions

Alongside the Merit Award for the Spelman Center for Innovation and the Arts, �鶹TV��վ was also recognized for its contributions to the Big Creek Water Reclamation Facility Expansion and the Brookhaven City Center, which earned a State Award and an Honor Award, respectively.

In this article, �鶹TV��վ’ Abandoned Mine Lands Program Manager Clayton Kirk Roderick discusses Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation. ��With more than three decades of mining experience, �鶹TV��վ understands how to transform abandoned mine lands into safe, sustainable spaces through effective planning, strategic permitting and successful remediation.

Across the Appalachian and Midwestern coal regions, the physical legacy of historic mining remains visible — and consequential. ��Abandoned highwalls, unstable spoil piles, subsidence features, clogged streams and acid mine drainage (AMD) are not relics of a distant past; they are active risks to public safety, water quality and surrounding ecosystems. Addressing them requires more than remediation. ��It requires leadership grounded in experience, regional understanding and long‑term accountability.

Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) reclamation is among the most technically complex and publicly consequential forms of environmental restoration. ��The work sits at the intersection of geology, hydrology, engineering, ecology and regulation. ��Success depends on understanding how historic mining practices altered landscapes and how those altered systems behave decades later.

Coal powered America’s industrial rise from the late 1800s through the mid‑20th century. Extraction occurred aggressively, often without environmental safeguards. Today, abandoned mine features can impair watersheds, destabilize slopes and threaten communities. Recognizing this history is important; effective reclamation depends on translating that understanding into sound, site‑specific solutions.

�鶹TV��վ’ AML practice is built on more than 30 years of collective mining and reclamation experience. ��Our multidisciplinary team of engineers, geologists, scientists and designers works from offices located within the bituminous and anthracite coal basins of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. ��That proximity matters. It brings deep familiarity with regional geology, hydrologic behavior and regulatory requirements — insight that allows reclamation plans to move efficiently from concept through permitting to construction.

AML sites rarely present a single challenge. ��A typical project may involve steep and unstable slopes, acid‑producing spoil, degraded streams, complex drainage patterns and abandoned underground mine openings. ���鶹TV��վ approaches these sites with integrated planning and design services that address risk holistically. ��Our work includes reclamation plan assessment and development, grading and drainage designs, groundwater and subsurface investigations, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and evaluations of active and passive AMD treatment systems.

Environmental compliance and long‑term performance are central to every project. ���鶹TV��վ supports AML programs with environmental assessments, stream and wetland delineations, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation and permitting services. ��During construction, our teams provide quality assurance and oversight to support that approved reclamation procedures are implemented correctly. ��Post‑reclamation monitoring and operation support help confirm that treatment systems and restored landscapes continue to perform as intended.

This integrated approach has been applied across a wide range of AML projects in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. ���鶹TV��վ has led reclamation designs for sites featuring vertical abandoned highwalls exceeding 80 feet in height, extensive spoil and coal refuse areas, stream restoration / reconstruction, closure of underground mine openings and AMD‑impacted waterways. ��Some solutions have included highwall reclamation by backfilling using existing mine spoil, grading and revegetation to reduce infiltration, acid generation and sediment transport, drainage improvements, AMD treatment systems and the stabilization of landslide‑prone slopes. ��In some cases, projects have also incorporated habitat features and public amenities while maintaining safety and regulatory compliance.

The value of AML reclamation is measured not only in technical success, but in public benefit. �鶹TV��վ’ work has been recognized with multiple Ohio Department of Natural Resources Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards, reflecting outcomes that improve water quality, enhance safety and return land to productive use.

As federal and state investment in AML programs continues, the scale and complexity of remaining legacy sites will demand experienced, trusted partners. ��Effective reclamation requires more than correcting past impacts — it requires restoring confidence in the land itself. ��Through disciplined engineering, environmental stewardship and sustained oversight, AML reclamation can protect communities, stabilize landscapes and support healthier, more resilient futures.

Learn more about �鶹TV��վ’ Abandoned Mine Lands solutions.

By Alex Hartig, Program Manager and A.J. Alshammasi, Senior Engineering and Operations Manager

This week, we’ll be in Bakersfield, California, joining peers from across the country at the 2nd Annual Orphan, Idle & Marginal Wells California Conference. For those of us working directly on well plugging and abandonment, this gathering comes at an important moment.

Across California — and well beyond — states are facing a growing inventory of orphan, idle and marginal wells. Many of these wells, drilled in the early and mid-20th century, were left without proper documentation or closure, leading to methane leaks, soil and groundwater contamination and safety risks to nearby communities.

From our perspective, conferences like this matter because they create space for honest, technical conversations about what is working, what is not and where programs still struggle.

Why This Work Matters to Us

Both of us dedicate our days to the intricacies of well abandonment, engaging in project planning, navigating regulatory requirements, coordinating field teams and addressing unforeseen issues that arise once operations commence. Each site and well presents unique challenges, frequently extending beyond purely engineering concerns to include data deficiencies, community considerations and long-term land use planning.

Alex’s work focuses heavily on subsurface investigations and remediation across Southern California, including sites with complex contamination histories and limited documentation. Much of that effort involves review of historical aerial photos, available public/private records and aligning closure activities with broader environmental compliance goals.

A.J.’s role centers on leading engineering, operations and risk management for complex orphan, idle and marginal wells — reconstructing incomplete well histories, designing abandonment programs that are technically sound, regulatorily defensible and executable in the field. That often means balancing cost, safety, environmental protection and uncertainty, all at once.

What connects our work is the belief that successful closure programs rely on collaboration — between engineers, geoscientists, regulators and communities — and on the smart use of modern tools.

Sharing Lessons from the Field

At the conference, A.J. will be presenting “A Well Abandonment Journey Overview,” which draws directly from real‑world project experience. The presentation will walk through how teams are approaching complex abandonment projects today, including:

• Reconstructing well histories when records are incomplete or missing.
• Using drone‑based geophysical tools to help locate undocumented wells.
• Integrating engineering design with field execution to reduce surprises.
• Applying risk‑based planning to prioritize work and protect communities.

These are not theoretical concepts — they’re lessons shaped by what we see on the ground. Our goal in sharing them is to contribute practical insights that others can adapt to their own programs.

The Value of Coming Together

The technical challenges around orphan and idle wells are significant, but so are the opportunities. We’re seeing encouraging progress as states invest in closure programs and as the industry becomes more open to new technologies and cross‑disciplinary approaches.

What we value most about this conference is the opportunity to listen — to hear how others are addressing similar challenges, to learn from different regulatory environments and to understand community perspectives that shape how projects move forward. These conversations help refine practices and, ultimately, improve outcomes.

As national efforts to address legacy wells continue to scale, the path forward depends on shared learning and sustained collaboration. We’re looking forward to being part of that conversation in Bakersfield — and to carrying those insights back into the work that continues long after the conference ends.

Learn more about �鶹TV��վ’��Orphan, Idle and Marginal Well Closure services.

Brian McGowan understands that leadership is more than just a title. A true leader must be able to think outside the box and be willing to take risks, especially as markets shift and technologies evolve. With more than 25 years of leadership experience across the construction, transportation, environmental, engineering and infrastructure sectors, he has built a career focused on strategic growth, market expansion and organizational advancement.

Brian was recently promoted to a new role at �鶹TV��վ as Director of Strategic Growth & Advanced Facilities. In this role, Brian is helping support �鶹TV��վ’ enterprise-wide growth strategy by focusing on revenue acceleration, market expansion, strategic pursuits and the development of high-impact opportunities. We caught up with Brian to discuss how emerging technologies are helping reduce water dependency in the data center market and what trends he’s seeing across the industry.

In honor of , celebrated each year on March 22, �鶹TV��վ recognizes the essential role water plays in our communities, industries and environment. As data center growth accelerates across the U.S., Brian answered a few questions regarding the topic of water availability becoming a critical factor in responsible development, as it relates to data centers and advanced facilities.

Q: Is water availability becoming a critical factor in responsible and sustainable data center development? Are our clients worried about water availability?

Yes, water availability is becoming a real constraint in many U.S. markets, especially as Artificial Intelligence or AI-driven hyperscale growth accelerates. Multiple independent analyses show U.S. data centers consume billions of gallons of water annually both directly for cooling and indirectly through power generation.

In water‑stressed regions, like Texas, Arizona, and parts of California, water availability now directly influences site selection, cooling strategies and permitting timelines. In water‑abundant regions, such as the Midwest and Great Lakes, it’s less about absolute supply and more about community perception and expectations.

Clients are typically addressing it in three ways: designing water out of the cooling equation (zero‑water or near‑zero‑water cooling); using reclaimed or non‑potable water where evaporative systems remain and engaging municipalities early to address cumulative impacts and avoid late‑stage permitting resistance.

PQ: What trends are you seeing in reducing water usage at new or existing data center sites?

A few consistent trends show up across both new builds and retrofits. There’s been a clear shift away from evaporative cooling. Traditional evaporative cooling can consume hundreds of thousands of gallons per day per hyperscale facility, so operators are increasingly avoiding these systems in favor of mechanical or liquid cooling solutions that drastically reduce or eliminate water use.

Secondly, Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) is becoming a Key Performance Indicator (KPI), alongside Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). For many owners, WUE is now tracked alongside PUE, and leading operators report measurable improvements in WUE over time, driven by design standardization and tighter operational controls.��

Additionally, we’ve seen a preference for “future-proofed” designs that can operate without potable water if requirements tighten. Even in regions with ample water today, developers are designing facilities that can operate without potable water if regulations or community expectations tighten over time.

Finally, we’re also seeing more retrofitting of existing facilities to reduce ongoing water draw, most often through hybrid retrofits like dry coolers plus limited liquid cooling, improved controls and leak detection, as well as seasonal switching between cooling modes to minimize water draw during peak demand.

Q: What technologies are being implemented to reduce water usage?

Several technologies are moving from pilot to mainstream deployment:

• Closed-loop liquid cooling (chip-level) — uses a sealed system that recirculates coolant without evaporation. Once filled during construction, it typically requires little to no ongoing water input.��
• Air-cooled and dry-cooler systems — can consume zero water, typically with higher energy tradeoffs. They are becoming increasingly viable when paired with advanced controls and when regional climate conditions are favorable.
• Immersion cooling — servers are submerged in engineered fluids, which can be extremely efficient for high‑density AI racks. It’s still an emerging technology, but it is gaining traction where water and space constraints are severe.��
• Smart water-management platforms — enable real‑time monitoring of WUE, leaks and cooling performance and support continuous optimization rather than static design assumptions.

Q: From a development and permitting standpoint, how is water stewardship becoming critical?

Water stewardship has become central to entitlement risk management. Municipalities and utilities increasingly require disclosure of projected water use and contingency plans. In some jurisdictions, approvals are being conditioned on measures such as use of reclaimed water, zero‑water cooling commitments and long‑term monitoring and reporting.

Community scrutiny has also intensified. High‑profile cases where data centers consumed a material share of local water supply have made transparency non‑negotiable in many markets. This has led to some hyperscalers to issue a community data center pledge reinforcing their commitment to protecting watersheds and water supply.

From a practical standpoint, projects that address water early move faster, while projects that treat water reactively face delays, opposition or redesign.

Q: Looking ahead, what’s one emerging technology that will define water-efficient data center development in the next five years — and what will be transformative over the next decade?

Over the next five years, I’d point to closed-loop, chip-level liquid cooling. This technology is the near‑term inflection point because it eliminates evaporative water use, scales effectively with AI rack densities and is already being standardized by hyperscalers.��

The biggest transformation won’t be a single device; it will be systems thinking: water‑free cooling paired with low‑water power generation, AI‑driven optimization of cooling, energy and water simultaneously, as well as facilities designed to be net‑neutral or net‑positive in local water impact through reuse and watershed investment.

Q: What’s the bottom line you want stakeholders to remember?

Water has moved from a supporting utility to a strategic constraint and a differentiator in data center development. Owners who can demonstrate credible, technically sound water stewardship are earning faster approvals, stronger community trust and more resilient assets.

As we recognize World Water Day, it’s clear that water stewardship is no longer optional — it’s foundational to sustainable, future‑ready data‑center development. Brian’s insights highlight not only the challenges ahead but also the promising innovations shaping a more resilient and resource‑efficient digital infrastructure.

�鶹TV��վ’ Mike Filmyer reflects on his 40‑year engineering journey in water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. Mike highlights some of the memorable projects he has been involved in and offers advice to up and coming engineers who are interested in making a difference to protect public health, preserve natural resources and help communities flourish and thrive.

For more than four decades, I have had the privilege of contributing to the design, management and improvement of water, wastewater and stormwater systems that millions of people rely on every day.

These essential yet often unseen systems form the backbone of healthy, sustainable and resilient communities. My journey in engineering has been shaped by a deep belief that infrastructure is more than pipes, pumps, tanks and treatment processes — it is about protecting public health, preserving natural resources and ensuring that communities can thrive.

A Dual Foundation in Biology and Engineering

My path into engineering began with a strong grounding in biology from St. Joseph’s University, followed by a second degree in Environmental Engineering Technology from Temple University.

The combination of biological insight and engineering rigor helped me understand not only how infrastructure works, but why it matters — especially when dealing with water quality, ecological health and regulatory compliance. Early in my career, this interdisciplinary knowledge proved invaluable as I began working in Baltimore before returning to my hometown of Glenside, Pennsylvania, where my roots and career both continued to grow.

Engineering in Service of Communities

Across my career, I’ve worked on hundreds of projects spanning water treatment plants, wastewater facilities, stormwater systems, pump stations, force mains, storage tanks and complex regulatory programs.

Each project brought its own unique challenges, but the most rewarding aspect has always been the impact on the communities we serve. Some of the highlights that continue to make me proud include:��

• An Anaerobic Digestion & Cogeneration Facility, where waste biogas was transformed into renewable energy for the community.
• An 18-inch force main installed via Horizontal Directional Drilling under the Lehigh River, a technically complex project that protected both infrastructure and the river ecosystem.
• A 3.4-million-gallon underground Combined Sewer Overflow storage facility, which eliminated millions of gallons of polluted discharges into local waterways. This tank was placed under a local university’s tennis courts, which were replaced as part of the project.

These projects, and many others like them, illustrate the critical role engineers play in public safety and environmental stewardship.

Technology as a Transformational Force

Over the past 40 years, technology has continually reshaped how we design and operate infrastructure. I’ve seen firsthand how advanced SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, new materials, better treatment technologies and improved hydraulic modeling have expanded what’s possible. My work on SCADA upgrades for regional authorities brought real‑time system visibility and operational reliability to facilities that previously operated with limited monitoring.

Technology has enabled us to make systems smarter, safer and more sustainable, and it will continue to drive the future of engineering.

Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility

Sustainability has been a thread running through my entire career, long before it was a buzzword. Whether designing Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce pollutant loads, preparing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit renewals or implementing stormwater reduction plans, I have seen how thoughtful engineering can dramatically improve environmental outcomes.

Projects such as stormwater BMPs, streambank restoration efforts or regenerative stormwater conveyance systems illustrate how engineered solutions can harmonize with natural systems.

Our responsibility as engineers is not only to solve today’s problems, but to protect ecosystems for generations to come.

Advice to the Next Generation of Engineers

One unique aspect of my career is the long-standing relationships I’ve built with my colleagues, many of whom I’ve worked with for decades. That continuity of people, knowledge and a shared mission has allowed us to take on increasingly complex challenges with confidence and collaboration.

To those entering the profession, or early in your careers, I offer a few guiding principles:

• Stay curious. Engineering changes constantly; lifelong learning is essential.
• Remember who you serve. Infrastructure exists for people and the environment, so keep communities at the center of every design.
• Embrace the details. In our field, precision saves money, prevents risk and protects lives.
• Seek mentors and be a mentor. Much of what I know came from generous colleagues who shared their expertise.
• Stand proudly in the impact you make. Engineers often work behind the scenes, but our work shapes the world.

A Career Built on Purpose

From wastewater treatment plants to pump stations, SCADA systems to stormwater BMPs, my career has been shaped by the belief that engineering is a public trust. Every design, every calculation and every decision carries with it the responsibility to safeguard communities and the environment.

As I reflect on more than 40 years in this profession, I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, the people I’ve worked with and the communities our work has contributed to. And as new generations begin to lead, I am confident the future of engineering will continue to bring innovative, resilient and sustainable solutions to the challenges ahead.

Q&A with Alex Peck, �鶹TV��վ National Director of Industrial Hygiene & Building Science��

What is��Legionella,��and why is it dangerous?

In 1976,��one of the top��news��stories was the��mysterious pneumonia��outbreak at the landmark Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.����

Approximately 4,000 representatives from the state��American Legion met��for a bicentennial convention��at the hotel��that��July.��The meeting went off without any issues, but several days��following the event,��hundreds of��attendees��began coming down with pneumonia-like symptoms.��By August,��approximately��30 people had��died��from complications. Following the outbreak, a research microbiologist from��the Center for��Disease��Control and Prevention (CDC) determined the cause to be a��new��bacterium, known today as��Legionella��pneumophilia, which is commonly��found in water pipes and air conditioning units.����

This first outbreak��identified��a��public health��threat��for��large facilities like hotels��and hospitals, where water��moves slowly through a complex web of pipes, valves and other plumbing fixtures, and the threat is still very��real today.��Yearly outbreaks of��Legionnaire’s disease��and Pontiac fever��(a milder case of��legionellosis)��occur,��including recent cases��in��California,��New York��and Florida.����

While the threat is real��and likely increasing��due to a combination of increased surveillance, aging populations, increased urban density��and��warmer temperatures��that create a prime environment for increased bacteria growth��(especially in��America’s��aging��buildings and their water��systems), it is imperative for businesses to focus on prevention, rather than mitigation.����Not only is prevention less costly,��but it��can��most importantly help��save lives��and��protect your��company’s reputation.��Not to mention, outbreaks can lead to extended closures and loss of business, which can be costly too.����

Is Legionnaire’s��disease preventable?����

Yes, Legionnaire’s disease is preventable if businesses take proper precautions to��maintain��their water systems.��The CDC reported 6,000 cases in 2015��and predicts annual cases range from 10,000 to 15,000.����

How can your business protect itself from��legionella outbreaks in your facilities?����​

Legionella��outbreaks are likely to occur in buildings with��large,��complex water systems, such as hospitals, nursing homes,��hotels, office buildings,��manufacturing��facilities��and in��engineered water systems like cooling towers, water��fountains��and hot tubs.����

The most��common��places��to breed bacterial growth include:��

• Cooling towers.��

• Water features (falls, foundations, ponds, misters).��

• Swimming pools and hot tubs.��

• Drinking water fountains.��

• Aging water systems.��

• Unused plumbing.��

• Ice machines.��

• Water heating and hot water distribution.��

• Shower heads and faucets.��

However, by conducting formal evaluations to��identify��places��where��Legionella��growth��is likely to occur in your facility, you can proactively mitigate your risk by taking a basic approach��that involves:��

• Creating��a team.��

• Diagraming��water systems.��

• Evaluating��systems for risks.��

• Implementing��controls.��

• Monitoring��corrective actions.��

• Assessing��program effectiveness.��

• Documentation.��

How is Legionella regulated?����​

Unfortunately,��not��many��regulations specific to��Legionella��(although the number is increasing)��exist, and currently no federal regulations��are in place.��The��Centers for Medicare and Medicaid��Services (CMS)��has issued a��memo��that requires��all Medicaid facilities��nationally��to develop and��maintain��a��Legionella��management program,��in accordance with��the��CDC recommendations.����

Some state agencies have adopted their own��Legionella��regulations.��For instance, in 2015 and 2016, New York published rules for cooling towers and medical facilities, which��include registration of cooling towers, monitoring, notification,��maintenance��and reporting.����

More recently,��New Jersey��passed��a��comprehensive��rule,��requiring��community water systems to��always��maintain��a minimum detectable disinfectant��level in��all active parts of��its��public water system.��This��law��also��requires owners or operators of covered buildings or facilities (including hospitals, certain health care facilities,��prisons��and certain senior housing facilities) to develop a water management program to minimize the growth of L�𲵾��DzԱ������ bacteria in the facility’s water system and to include periodic sampling and testing for the presence of bacteria. It also includes fines for non-compliance.��While some state regulations exist, more can be done to protect public health.��

What is �鶹TV��վ’ Experience in Addressing Legionella?��

�鶹TV��վ’ team of highly qualified��industrial hygiene and building science experts have worked with businesses��and organizations��for many years to mitigate the potential risk of��Legionella.��Our team��helps by��creating��water management plans,��as well as��conducting��sampling��to identify��Legionella��and make��recommendations to help��mitigate��any��issues.��

�鶹TV��վ recently helped a��25-story��office building by performing initial water sampling.��We��identified��Legionella��in one of the kitchen sinks. Our team helped��the client remediate the issue until the��Legionella��bacteria were��gone.����

We have many case studies like this; however,��to understand the real risks,��we��consider��several factors.��This might include��the number and age of��water and plumbing��fixtures, as well as how the systems have been maintained.��For example, a hotel has more��risk��than an office, and an old hotel��is more likely to have��conditions favoring��Legionella��growth��than a newly constructed hotel. Also, occupants of a retirement community are more likely to be susceptible to��Legionellosis disease than the occupants of a high school.����

If you are curious as to whether your business might be at risk for a��Legionella��outbreak, just��remember,��if��a building has��a��water system, there is a risk for��Legionella��growth. While there are��numerous��factors at play, the key to preventing��Legionella��growth is��maintaining��proper water quality,��disinfection��residuals, temperatures and flow-through—all pieces of an effective water management program.����

How does construction impact the environment?

From the air we breathe to the water we drink, the construction industry’s impact on the natural world is far-reaching. While new technologies and better ways to build smarter and more sustainably are transforming the industry, it is important for organizations to understand how our building materials and choices impact our world. ��

Working in unison with Caltrans, �鶹TV��վ designed an environmental reporting tool that bridges engineering data and public policy. The newly designed tool monitors the environmental impact of construction materials, specifically for their Global Warming Potential (GWP), as mandated by the Buy Clean California Act. ��

Initially, �鶹TV��վ assisted Caltrans’ Materials Engineering and Testing Services (METS) division in implementing a method for contractors to submit Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) information as required under the law. While this enabled compliance, Caltrans turned to �鶹TV��վ for a better way to gather information from contractors and streamline data collection, validation and reporting for statewide compliance.

Answering Caltrans call, �鶹TV��վ designed an award-winning EPD web application with modern data visualization tools that converts complex datasets into interactive dashboards, making information easier to understand and translate into actionable decisions. This complex project was delivered on time and on budget and provides Caltrans with better automation, dynamic dashboards and user experience enhancements that position our client as a national leader in automated environmental compliance reporting. With real-time data validation and trend analysis, Caltrans was able to eliminate manual processes—saving both valuable time and resources.

“In today’s fast paced world, �鶹TV��վ is helping our clients build modern tools required to make data-driven decisions,” said Baron Colbert, �鶹TV��վ Senior Engineer. “This technology reinforces �鶹TV��վ and Caltrans’ dedication to sustainable infrastructure by transparently tracking carbon footprint data and analyzing the environmental impact of construction materials on our environment.”

Recognized for demonstrating California’s leadership in sustainable infrastructure, this project earned an Engineering Excellence Merit Award in the 2026 Engineering Excellence Award competition. ��

�鶹TV��վ technologists Jim Kooser, Wetlands and Natural Resources Practice Leader, Midwest and Northeast Regions and Eric S. Goddard, PWS, Ecological Resources Project Manager highlight the role of native soils in restoration. Strategic soil planning not only enhances ecological outcomes but also reduces costs through faster recovery and lower maintenance.��

Across the U.S., agencies are investing billions of dollars to restore wetlands, uplands and ecosystems as well as reclaim orphaned wells and redevelop brownfields. These initiatives carry high stakes: they reverse decades of land use impacts, improve stormwater management and help rebuild critical habitats. The most successful restoration strategies go deeper than what’s visible above ground. Lasting success depends on what happens beneath the surface. By addressing soil structure, restoring hydrology and supporting healthy nutrient cycles and microbial life, �鶹TV��վ helps agencies and developers achieve outcomes that endure, cost less to maintain and deliver stronger returns on public investment.��

Why Soil Matters��

When restoration approaches prioritize speed and immediate cost savings, the result is compacted soil during earthmoving, the application of low-cost seed mixes quickly and considering the job complete as soon as something green appears. The outcome is predictable: invasive or undesirable species dominate while target native plants struggle in degraded soil conditions.����

Foundation Work Happens Underground��

Sustainable restoration begins with what you can’t see. Before any seed hits the ground, four critical soil factors determine project outcomes: soil structure, chemistry, biology and hydrology.����

Native soils function as complete ecosystems. Beyond basic sand, silt and clay, soil also contains organic matter and living microbial communities that cycle nutrients, regulate moisture, create structural microhabitats and strengthen plant resilience. Compaction and the removal of accumulated soil organic matter essentially break this biological engine, leaving restoration efforts to fight an uphill battle.����

The shift in approach is straightforward: address the soil foundation before vegetation establishment, and native species gain the competitive advantage they need to thrive in the long term.����

Practical Soil Development Strategies��

• Prevent Compaction Damage: Heavy machinery destroys soil structure with every pass. Instead, loosely pile materials and use low-pressure, tracked equipment for final grading. For severely compacted areas, the “push-up method” — creating aligned soil stacks with minimal pressure, then light grading — can restore essential porosity. Deep tilling to a depth of 2-4 feet optimizes the root growth capacity of trees, shrubs and meadow species.������

• Feed the Microbiome: Incorporate fine organic matter such as sawdust to increase soil carbon, enhance water retention and support beneficial microbes that aid native plant health and resilience. When possible, repurpose on-site tree and shrub material to reduce waste and naturally enrich the soil.����

• Balance Nutrient Chemistry: Test soil conditions before adding fertilizers. Former agricultural sites often contain excess nitrogen that fuels the growth of invasive species. Carbon-rich amendments can help rebalance these conditions, depriving non-native species of their preferred higher-nitrogen environment.����

Strategic Species Selection��

Match plant choices to restoration goals, whether that’s pollinator support, wildlife corridors, visual appeal or ecosystem reconstruction. In many cases it’s all the above. Regional native species offer proven compatibility with local soil and climate conditions.����

Maximize ecosystem resilience by incorporating plants with varied bloom periods and mature heights. Establish native meadows through drilling, broadcasting or hydroseeding techniques. In deep-tilled areas, combine tree and shrub planting with strategically placed brush piles made from site debris. These serve as wildlife refuges, carbon stores and seed banks that accelerate natural regeneration.����

Long-Term Performance Advantages��

Well-established native systems require minimal ongoing intervention. Initial watering and weed management may be necessary during the first growing season. After that, annual dormant season mowing often provides sufficient maintenance. Forested areas require some initial understory maintenance but become increasingly self-sustaining as canopy coverage develops.��

The broader benefits extend beyond reduced maintenance. Properly designed native systems control stormwater runoff, filter pollutants, support biodiversity and deliver measurable ecological value. These projects succeed not just by what gets planted, but by what flourishes over time.����

The Bottom Line��

Investing in soil strategy shifts the focus from short-term site turnover to long-term ecosystem health with aesthetic benefits. It requires more upfront planning, but the return on investment is clear: better environmental outcomes, fewer future interventions and measurable cost savings. Start with the soil, and you build a legacy that lasts.����

When Alexandra Davis volunteered to write her first National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document, she didn’t realize she was stepping into a new future. Before that, she’d been digging deep — literally. Trained as an archaeologist, Alexandra spent years unearthing human history at excavation sites in Malawi, Africa, contributing to discoveries featured in The New York Times.����

That one document marked a turning point, shifting her focus from uncovering the past to shaping the future. Now, as NEPA Services Lead at �鶹TV��վ, Alexandra helps navigate federal requirements that determine whether critical infrastructure improvements can proceed, analyzing everything from wetland impacts to community displacement to ensure Georgia’s transportation improvements protect both people and natural resources.����

Her work sits at the intersection of science, policy and community advocacy, influencing the infrastructure that connects Georgia’s communities. Recently, this impactful work earned Alexandra recognition as one of Engineering Georgia Magazine’s 2025 “35 Under 35 Women to Know,” an honor celebrating young leaders who are redefining the future of engineering.����

Q: Let’s go back to the moment you first said yes to writing a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document. What were you thinking, and did you know then it would change everything?��

I was only 24 when I was offered the opportunity to work on NEPA documents, and honestly, at the time, I was just focused on staying employed and continuing to learn. It was right at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, so job security was at the front of my mind. I figured if I could cross-train and make myself valuable to the team, I’d have a better shot at holding onto my position. It wasn’t an immediate career-defining moment. It took about two years of working in NEPA and three years at �鶹TV��վ for me to realize that this path was going to reshape my career in ways I hadn’t expected. And I’m so grateful I said yes to that opportunity.��

Q: You started your career excavating ancient remains in Africa. How did that path lead you to shaping policy through NEPA at �鶹TV��վ?

As an archaeologist, my work required not only excavating ancient remains but also being a strong technical writer and researcher, digging up information about the past, analyzing complex data and translating those findings into detailed reports. Those skills transferred directly to environmental consulting work. About a year after I started at �鶹TV��վ, my manager offered me the opportunity to begin authoring NEPA documents. I’ve always been eager to learn and grow, so I jumped at the chance. In addition to writing, I began coordinating with the Georgia Department of Transportation as a NEPA Analyst. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I had a real love for Environmental Project Management and, surprisingly, for the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of juggling multiple projects at different stages. While it might seem like a big shift from excavating ancient remains, both roles require attention to detail, problem-solving and a deep respect for our environment and history.��

Q: As NEPA Services Lead, what major projects or initiatives have you led since your promotion?����

Since my promotion, I’ve taken on leadership of all NEPA projects in Georgia, overseeing environmental compliance for more than 75 transportation projects. One of the most notable efforts has been managing and coordinating nine GDOT bridge replacement projects, which have required near-daily coordination and problem-solving. A major challenge on that effort was receiving Notice to Proceed later than expected and having to recover the schedule. This meant accelerating the environmental process for archaeology, history and ecology without compromising our quality standards. This experience showed me how important it is to build flexibility into our environmental review processes and maintain careful oversight. Beyond project work, I’ve also been leading initiatives within �鶹TV��վ’ Southeast region to strengthen connections between young professionals and current college students.��

Q: How do you balance protecting the environment with supporting the needs of the communities connected to it?����

On our larger GDOT projects, especially those involving new location roadways and potential displacements, it takes a lot of public involvement and coordination to address community concerns. In some cases, this has even led to redesigning project alignments to better serve the environment and the people impacted. Balancing these priorities requires constant, open communication between the design team, including the project manager, lead designer, traffic engineers and the environmental team. On the other hand, many of our bridge replacement projects tend to have minimal environmental impact and generally receive strong community support, which makes those collaborations much smoother.��

Q: You’ve been named one of Georgia’s 35 Women to Know. What do you hope stands out about how you lead and connect with others?��

My goal is to lead with kindness, empathy and flexibility. It’s important to me that the people I work with feel supported, heard and valued. I always want to be the kind of leader who makes time for questions, concerns, or just a quick conversation. I also believe work should be enjoyable. I truly love what I do at �鶹TV��վ and the people I work with, and I want my team to feel that same sense of purpose and enjoyment in their roles.��

Alexandra’s career may have started with a shovel in the ground, but her greatest impact may lie in what she is building — collaborative teams, thoughtful policies and space for more voices to shape the future. Her story reminds us that engineering is about more than equations or approvals. It’s about people, purpose and vision.����

Discover how our environmental services can support your next project, or follow Alexandra’s lead and join our growing team.��