Vol. 28 Issue 1 Jan. 2013

Wenck Update

Hopkins Landfill Waste Consolidation and Closure Project

In the fall of 2010, Wenck was retained through the Design and Oversight contract Wenck has with the MPCA Closed Landfill Program to perform investigation activities at the Hopkins Landfill to delineate the extent of waste both lateral-ly and vertically. Wenck also performed borings and test pits to estimate the amount of cover soil over the waste. Wenck then put together concept designs to consolidate the waste footprint at the site. The driving goal of the project was to create a separation distance between the waste footprint and the residential dwellings of at least 200 feet. The Hopkins landfill has the highest density of residential dwellings within the closest proximity to waste of any other site in the Closed Landfill Program. The MPCA held a City Council meeting and a Home Owners Association meeting for those living adjacent to the site. The biggest concerns were related to the odor during construc-tion and the overall height increase of the landfill. The project went out for bid in February of 2012 and Veit Companies was awarded the contract. Construction began in late September 2012. The overall construction plan is to excavate waste from the perimeter of the site and relocate it to the center of the site, install an active gas collection system and flare, and install a geomembrane final cover liner system. As the project progressed, it was discovered that the waste came within about 25 feet of the foundation of a townhome complex. It is anticipated that the gas extraction wells and gas piping will be installed over the winter months and the contractor will return to the site for installation of the final cover system liner in the spring of 2013. For more information on this ongoing project, please contact Heather Libby (hlibby@wenck.com) or Megan Beyer (mbeyer@wenck.com) at 763-479-4200.

Clean fill placement of waste excavation area near residential dwellings.

Waste excavation operation.

Demolition of existing flare pad. Final grading activity.

Wenck Welcomes

Daren Lundin Maple Plain, MN Process Designer dlundin@wenck.com

Dave Losier Maple Plain, MN Sr. Mechanical Engineer dlosier@wenck.com

Paul Wallick Maple Plain, MN Civil Engineer pwallick@wenck.com

Chris Meehan Maple Plain, MN Water Resources cmeehan@wenck.com

Shawn Louwagie Fargo, ND Project Engineer slouwagie@wenck.com

Rum River Streambank Protection Project

Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) experienced high water levels and flows in the Rum River during the spring of 2011 that resulted in severe erosion along a 300-foot streambank section at an outside bend in the river. After a grant was awarded from the Metro Conservation Districts Joint Powers Board, Wenck designed structural improvements that would be implemented to protect the streambank and prevent further erosion. Working closely with SWCD staff and the landowner, who served as the contractor, Wenck evaluated treatment options and prepared plans and estimated quantities for the selected structural improvements. These included stream barbs and tree revetment. The SWCD developed a vegetation plan to be implemented in conjunction with the structural improvements. Wenck also worked with the DNR and land-owner to harvest cedar trees on state land that were used for tree revetment purposes. The streambank protection work began in December 2011, during low flow. The eroded streambank was graded and smoothed using a backhoe and small dozer. Then three stream barbs consisting of large riprap boulders ranging in size from 9 to 30 inches were installed, extending from the top of the bank down into the river to help deflect erosive flows away from the bank. A row of overlapping cedar trees were anchored into the ground along the base of the slope using steel cables to further protect the shoreline. In the spring, black dirt was brought in and spread over the side slope, seeded, and topped with an erosion control blanket. Lastly, the SCWD planted willow shoots and red dogwood along the bank. Wenck attended a pre-construction meeting, provided construction staking, and worked with the landowner during construction to ensure that the work was done in accord-ance with the plans. Upon completion of the work, Wenck conducted a final site inspection certifying completion according to the design and plans. For more information on streambank protection, please contact Ed Matthiesen (ematthiesen@wenck.com) or Dale Claridge (dclaridge@wenck.com) at 763-479-4200.

The streambank before October 19, 2011.

The streambank after July 6, 2012.

Merrill, Inc., a general contractor, was hired to perform final design and construction inspec-tion services on a design-build project for the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office (SEO). In co-operation with the United States Geological Survey, the SEO maintains and operates a stream gage station located on the North Platte River near Orin, Wyoming. A concrete crest spanning the river at Orin Gage was con-structed in 1995 and stabilizes the bottom of the river so that the stage-discharge relation-ship stays relatively stable. For several years, the gage site had experienced erosion of gabi-on baskets, a riprap downstream of the crest, resulting in various erosion areas. As part of the Orin Gage Station Rehabilitation Project, Wenck was hired to define the extent and de-termine a repair method of the hydrologic ero-sion and cavitation at the Orin Gage crest.

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Orin Gage Station Rehabilitation Project

Placement of Class 5 riprap.

Collaborating with Anderson Engineering, of Plymouth, MN, the team of Wenck-Anderson was among three firms awarded a contract by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to assist with difficult wetland determinations in Wells, Richland, and Bottineau Counties in North Dakota. The project team is conducting field assessments of 8,000 acres in each of these counties. Over the past few years, the NRCS has received more requests than it can process from land owners wanting to know if depres-sional areas in their fields are regulated as wetlands so that they can make operational decisions. Wenck wetland staff from Maple Plain, Woodbury, Fargo, and Mandan have taken part in this project, which involves determining whether subtle depressions meet wetland criteria or not. The work also involves conducting “scope and effect” analysis of surface drainage systems to determine the impact of drainage ditches on wetlands. Work is expected to be completed in the spring of 2013. For more information, please contact Mike Graham (mgraham@wenck.com) at 651-294-4580 or Peter Miller (pmiller@wenck.com) at 763-479-4200.

Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetland Determinations

Typical farmed pothole wetlands.

Article continued on next page.

800-472-2232 www.wenck.com

1800 Pioneer Creek Center P.O. Box 249

Maple Plain, MN 55359

The Principals of Wenck are proud to announce the election of two new Principals and 11 new Associates to the Firm.

A Wenck Principal is a leader who takes respon-sibility for development of other members; takes responsibility for the long-term success of the Firm; understands and supports the strate-gic direction of the Firm; and demonstrates strong project management skills.

Congratulations to the following new Principals: Pamela Kiel Massaro, PE

John W. Schulz, CWB

A Wenck Associate is a leader who demonstrates that they provide stability and growth for the Firm; demonstrates a desire, passion, and potential to be part of the leadership of the Firm; and exhibits knowledge and capabilities in developing project management and business development.

Congratulations to the following new Associates: Lori A. Bartels, PE Amy J. Denz Tim Donlin

Andrew J. Feia Michael J. Graham, PWS, WDC

Paul B. Hester, PG, CHMM Michelle L. Hosfield

Jess Keller Rowdy W. Schmidt Jason M. Warne, PE

The extent of the erosion was determined to be isolated to an area directly downstream of the low flow notch in the concrete crest and along each river bank. The erosion downstream of the low flow notch was estimated to be 15 feet deep and 40 feet wide and extended downstream approximately 75 feet. Placement of large, durable rock riprap was determined to be the most suitable method to prevent fur-ther erosion. Well graded riprap no smaller than 36 inches and no greater than 60 inches in diameter with an average diameter of 42 inches (Class 5) was specified and placed in the large hole downstream of the low flow notch, whereas smaller riprap no smaller than 24 inch-es and no greater than 42 inches (Class 3) was specified and placed along the river banks. Approximately 725 tons of Class 5 riprap and 120 tons of Class 3 were placed. For more infor-mation on this project, please contact Skylor Wade (swade@wenck.com) or Victor Anderson (vanderson@wenck.com) at 307-634-7848.

Erosion protection along river banks and channel.

Orin Gage Station Rehabilitation Project article continued from previous next page.