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Stormwatermanagement ServiceS
NCSU Centennial Campus, Partners I Building1017 Main Campus Drive, Suite 1200Raleigh, North Carolina 27606919-582-5850
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Freese and Nichols, Inc. (FNI) is excited to expand our professional consulti ng services to support communiti es in the great state of North Carolina. Aft er years of research and analysis, we opened our offi ce at the NCSU Centennial Campus in Raleigh as part of a strategic growth initi ati ve to bett er serve our clients and att ract and retain the best talent in the nati on. North Carolina’s Research Triangle area was selected because of its synergies with our areas of strength, as well as the fact that its business and local culture complement our own. We are committ ed to the greater Raleigh-Durham area and will pursue deliberate growth with a focus on client service and community investment.
Over the past 120 years, FNI has built its practi ce on a strong foundati on of client service and a commitment to project excellence. Our outstanding reputati on for quality work results in nearly 90 percent of our work coming from repeat clients throughout the southern parts of the United States. Our primary focus remains being a trusted advisor for our clients.
As the Division Manager chosen to lead the operati ons in North Carolina, I am eager to carry on the fi ne traditi on of providing the quality service and trusted advice for which FNI is known. Your home is now my home, and I look forward to becoming an integral part of your community.
Here, you will fi nd informati on about our services, qualifi cati ons and the many strengths we bring to each endeavor. I look forward to working with you in the days ahead. In the meanti me, please feel free to contact me with any comments or questi ons at 919-582-5860.
Sincerely,
Mike Wayts, P.E., CFMVice President/[email protected]
INTRODUCTION
Mike Wayts, P.E., CFMVice President/Principal
Sincerely,
Mike Wayts, P.E., CFM
MissionInnovati ve approachesPracti cal resultsOutstanding service
VisionBe the fi rm of choice for clients and employees
FNI has an offi ce on North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus in Raleigh to provide local service to our clients in “The Triangle.”
Guiding PrinciplesWe are ethicalWe deliver qualityWe are responsiveWe add valueWe improve conti nuouslyWe are innovati veWe develop professionallyWe respect othersWe appreciate our employees and clientsWe give back to our communiti es
Since our founding, FNI has specialized in municipal work. We
have developed successful public-private partnerships with
more than 200 municipaliti es that trust us as stewards of
their capital building expenditures and operati ng budgets. By
limiti ng our private work, we are also able to avoid potenti al
confl icts of interest with our municipal clients.
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ABOUT FREESE AND NICHOLS, INC.
FNI founder John Hawley circa 1923.
InnovationJust as John Hawley’s innovati ve engineering concepts in the late 1800s helped to make drinking water an accessible and safe resource, FNI employees conti nue to search for and provide clients with innovati ve soluti ons. It is a commitment that goes beyond solving a problem and, instead, consistently seeks to fi nd bett er ways to accomplish tasks, no matt er the magnitude of the challenge. Innovati on is accomplished not just in how things are planned, but it’s also how things are done. From process to product, FNI strives to develop innovati ve ways of doing things.
A Leader in SustainabilityLow Impact Development (LID) is an integrated site design approach for addressing hydrologic and environmental impacts oft en associated with conventi onal land development and linear transportati on projects. Clients can save money and reduce environmental impacts in a practi cal manner uti lizing LID techniques and practi ces.
Working Toward Sustainable InfrastructureFNI joined the Insti tute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) as a charter member in 2012 and has nine certi fi ed Sustainability Professionals on staff . The ISI’s mission is to develop, maintain and support the Envision™ civil infrastructure sustainability rati ng system. FNI’s Mike Wilkins, who graduated from North Carolina State University, was one of 20 individuals nati onwide selected to serve on the fi rst team of Verifi ers for Envision™. FNI also has employees serving on four diff erent nati onal ISI committ ees.
FNI traces its roots back to 1894, when founder John Hawley became one of Texas’ fi rst independent water and sewer engineers. He soon invited Simon Freese and Marvin Nichols to join his fi rm. From those beginnings, FNI has grown to 17 offi ces in Texas and North Carolina, serving municipaliti es throughout southern parts of the United States. Our staff of 550-plus talented and accomplished employees is dedicated to one vision: Be the fi rm of choice for clients and employees.
FNI is a full-service professional consulti ng fi rm and the fi rst and only engineering/architecture fi rm to receive the Malcolm Baldrige Nati onal Quality Award. FNI provides engineering, architecture, environmental science, planning, energy and program management services. Our services include:
• Architecture
• Constructi on Services
• Environmental Permitti ng
• Facility Planning
• Funding/Grant Applicati ons
• Growth Management and Development
• Landscape Architecture
• Levee and Dam Evaluati ons and Design
• Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Engineering
• Oil and Gas Engineering
• Park and Recreati on Planning and Design
• Program Management
• Stormwater Master Planning and Design
• Structural Engineering
• Transmission/Substati on Engineering
• Transportati on/Infrastructure Planning and Design
• Urban Planning and Design
• Water and Wastewater Master Planning and Design
• Water and Wastewater Treatment
• Water Resources Planning and Facility Design
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How FNI Helps YouFNI has assisted many municipalities with all aspects of a stormwater program. This includes citywide, basin and neighborhood planning, design, development management, regulatory compliance, and funding assistance. The FNI stormwater team consists of professionals who work almost exclusively on stormwater projects for municipalities. We seldom serve the private development community. This is a seasoned team that works on municipal stormwater projects every day without any development conflict of interests. We know how to use the latest modeling software that will help you make fully informed decisions and save you money on construction. Our experienced stormwater staff will provide you constructible, sustainable alternatives that optimize your budgets for construction, operations and maintenance.
Strong Public InvolvementGaining public support is a critical piece of almost every stormwater project due to the visibility of most projects to the public. FNI’s Charles Archer leads the public involvement portion of your projects. His community relations background and decades of public engagement experience as the Halifax County Manager, and his lobbying efforts with the League of Municipalities are strengths of our team that will prove invaluable for your projects.
Commitment to ServiceFNI has adopted a culture of client service. We have put in place quality review processes, client surveys, executive client visits and training for our staff to be the very best at client service. This commitment has helped us be the only engineering/architecture firm to ever earn the national Malcolm Baldrige Award.
OUR SERVICESDesign• Storm sewer and drainage systems
• Open-channel flood and erosion-control improvements
• Regional detention/retention ponds
• Water-quality ponds
• Stream stabilization
• Bioswales
• Wetland restoration and creation
• Pressure sewers and tunnels
• Pump stations
• Levees and dams
Development Management• Low-Impact Development (LID) policy and
technical criteria development
• Preparing and planning for future growth and developments
• Enforcement of development through stormwater management reviews
• Developing stormwater drainage criteria and ordinances
Funding Assistance• State and federal grant programs
• Stormwater utility fees
Studies/CIP Development• FEMA Flood Study updates
• Fluvial geomorphology assessments
• Citywide, watershed or neighborhood CIP studies
◦ Identify, quantify and prioritize needs
◦ Develop regional approaches
◦ Better information allowing better decisions
Regulatory Compliance• Phase I and Phase II NPDES
• FEMA mapping studies
• Dam-safety regulations
Professional Development• Best practices for municipal floodplain
management
• Stormwater software selection and training
• Brown bag training for addressing contemporary stormwater issues
• Professional Development Hours (PDHs) through Freese and Nichols University
FNI customizes our approach to meet the unique needs of each client. Our team members regularly work together across disciplines, giving our clients the benefit of total service integration.
FNI provides the following key services
within our practice of Stormwater Management:
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Bee Cave Parkway and Freitag Creek CrossingCASE STUDY
As the City of Bee Cave, Texas, experienced tremendous growth through the past decade, FNI helped assess the City’s future infrastructure needs. One of the FNI-designed projects was the City’s new 5,400-foot four-lane divided arterial thoroughfare roadway. This project included the following stormwater management faciliti es:
• Storm drains and drainage swales• Multi ple water-quality ponds (retenti on/irrigati on)• Level spreaders• Multi ple creek crossings • Creek realignment using natural design techniques
As part of the project, FNI innovati vely designed a two-span pedestrian crossing at Freitag Creek under Bee Cave Parkway to provide pedestrian and cyclist access, as well as to convey stormwater runoff . One span of the arched structure conveys fl ood fl ows up to and including the 10-year storm event. The other span will see everyday use as a hike-and-bike path and, during large storm events, convey stormwater runoff .
Downstream from the Freitag Creek crossing, FNI designed a staged drainage channel mimicking the natural fl ow of the creek, helping to preserve the creek’s natural appearance. To maintain a stable channel slope, the team incorporated two limestone drop structures, creati ng a riffl e-pool system to dissipate energy along the channel. To maintain stable side slopes and prevent erosion along the creek, the team specifi ed live fascine bundles and live stakings of nati ve plant species to conti nue our eff orts to preserve the creek’s natural environment. The project’s minimal footprint allowed constructi on under a Nati onwide 404 Permit without triggering a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers noti fi cati on requirement, resulti ng in substanti al cost and ti me savings.
FNI also provided environmental services, including a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment, Secti on 404 permitti ng, survey for karst features, threatened and endangered species habitat surveys, coordinati on of subcontracted archeology pedestrian survey, preparati on of a Texas Department of Transportati on (TxDOT) Categorical Exclusion for the intersecti on at SH 71, and environmental documentati on for the TxDOT access permit at the intersecti on of RM 620. FNI also prepared a Contributi ng Zone Plan to comply with the Edwards Aquifer Contributi ng Zone requirements.
Client ReferenceFrank Salvato
City AdministratorCity of Bee Cave
4000 Galleria PkwyBee Cave, Texas 78738
109
Master PlanThe City of Bryan, Texas, has had numerous hydraulic and hydrologic (H&H) studies completed for its watersheds, but it needed a way to combine the informati on from these studies and implement a plan for improvements. This project consisted of managing and prioriti zing various fl ooding, erosion, maintenance and water-quality problems.
Preliminary improvements were proposed to alleviate identi fi ed problems and grouped into capital improvement projects. FNI worked with City staff to prioriti ze the stormwater projects according to a ranking system that helped the City make more fully informed, business-case decisions. FNI entered the projects into a Microsoft Access database that the City can conti nuously update with new projects and data using a standard form. The ranking criteria included life safety, street fl ooding, infrastructure damage, structure fl ooding, frequency of fl ooding, project cost, maintenance, funding sources and right-of-way (ROW) availability. As a result of the prioriti zed project listi ng, FNI developed a citywide stormwater Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that opti mized the City’s budgets and stormwater management needs.
Stormwater Master Plan and Lynndale Acres Neighborhood StudyCASE STUDY
Client ReferenceBrett McCully, P.E.
Assistant City EngineerCity of Bryan
P.O. Box 1000Bryan, Texas 77805
Lynndale Acres Neighborhood StudyAs a follow-up to the CIP, FNI conducted a watershed study for the Sti ll Creek watershed, using existi ng HEC-RAS models to propose channel- and road-crossing improvements throughout the watershed. The project also included three public meeti ngs to obtain resident input on previous fl ooding events and proposed soluti ons.
For the Lynndale Acres Neighborhood, located in the Sti ll Creek watershed, FNI developed a 2-D model using Infoworks SD. A 2-D model was chosen due to the complex nature of fl ooding from the creek and lack of internal stormwater infrastructure in the neighborhood, resulti ng in massive sheet-fl ow fl ooding in multi ple directi ons across the neighborhood. By using a 2-D model for this type of complex situati on, FNI was able to accurately understand the issues and develop alternati ves that the team was confi dent would address the issues and not shift the challenges downstream.
FNI recommended alternati ves for two regional detenti on basins, three road-crossing improvements and storm drain improvements to solve the fl ooding problem without moving it downstream. The project is currently under considerati on for a FEMA SRL grant for constructi on, and the City hired FNI to design the improvements.
1211
Royal Creek Channel RepairCASE STUDYThe City of Fort Worth requested that FNI perform a natural channel design feasibility study on Royal Creek to determine if channel erosion within the study reach could be stabilized using natural channel design techniques. Channel erosion and localized fl ooding were concerns for nearby residents. Additi onally, the City was planning to enlarge the culverted road crossings at the upstream and downstream ends of the study reach to miti gate existi ng fl ooding issues.
FNI conducted a stream geomorphic assessment, in which the enti re study reach was walked to document channel conditi ons, such as areas of instability, existi ng infrastructure, bed and bank sediment characteristi cs, knickpoints, bank failures and density of vegetati on cover. FNI built hydrology and hydraulic (H&H) models using HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS soft ware and used the data in conjuncti on with channel bed and bank sediment characteristi cs (sampled from the study reach) to esti mate sediment transport potenti al and the equilibrium slope of the channel.
FNI used the sediment transport functi ons in HEC-RAS to generate a suite of stable channel dimensions that may be used for design in conjuncti on with the channel equilibrium slope. FNI assessed how the sediment was transported through the reach under existi ng conditi ons with the undersized culvert capacity and then studied how increasing culvert capacity would aff ect the sediment transport of the stream.
FNI also studied the erodibility of the streambank soils using the submerged jet erosion testi ng device to characterize soil erodibility in the fi eld. The coeffi cients obtained from the test results were coupled with the H&H model data to predict erosion during diff erent modeled storm events.
The relati vely inexpensive feasibility study determined that a natural channel design was not in the best interest of the City, resulti ng in a cost savings of an esti mated $500,000. The client agreed with FNI’s recommendati on that enlarging the culverts at the road crossings would reduce fl ooding and improve channel functi on. The culvert renovati ons would also decrease long-term maintenance costs. The client appreciated the extra eff ort put forth by FNI to investi gate sediment transport at the culverts and expressed that they may implement this process for all future culvert design work.
Client ReferenceSteve Eubanks, P.E.
Senior Stormwater EngineerCity of Fort Worth
1000 ThrockmortonFort Worth, Texas 76102
1413
In response to the U.S. Environmental Protecti on Agency (EPA) regulati ons and to address the issues facing the region, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) hired FNI to lead development of its innovati ve Integrated Storm Water Management Program (iSWM™) for Constructi on and Development. NCTCOG defi nes this program as:
“Acooperativeinitiativethatassistscitiesandcountiestoachievetheirgoalsofwaterqualityprotection,streambankprotectionandfloodcontrol,whilealsohelpingcommunitiesmeettheirconstructionandpost-constructionobligationsunderstatestormwaterpermits.”
The iSWM™ program includes two guidance documents: the iSWM™ Design Manual for Site Development and the iSWM™ Design Manual for Constructi on. The completed manuals integrate stormwater quanti ty and quality issues and are used as tools to assist municipaliti es in developing local and regional stormwater ordinances and practi ces. The manuals provide tools for all Phase II MS4 citi es to use in their NOI submitt als and detail the most current and applicable stormwater management techniques. The manuals also outline criteria and rati onales for selecti on of structural and non-structural water quanti ty and quality best management practi ces (BMPs). They also integrate all current, new and pending regulati ons that have an impact
iSWM™ Program for Constructi on and DevelopmentCASE STUDY
on water quality, protecti on of the environment, stream bank erosion, sedimentati on, natural resources, habitat and other environmental and water quality issues.
Recently, FNI was selected again by NCTCOG to provide a formatti ng update to the iSWM™ manuals. We worked with the steering committ ee and NCTCOG staff to change the format of the manuals to facilitate easier adopti on, navigati on and interpretati on. NCTCOG’s iSWM™ manuals are currently available online for statewide use.
The iSWM™ program has been successful since it began, and it is now the widely accepted standard for stormwater design and planning practi ces in North Texas. FNI has been involved in ongoing implementati on eff orts of the program for NCTCOG, as well as for various municipaliti es in NCTCOG’s region. FNI is proud to have been selected as NCTCOG’s go-to fi rm for this important work.
Client ReferenceJack Tidwell
Environment and Development Manager
North Central Texas Council of Governments
P.O. Box 5888Arlington, Texas 76005
817-695-9220jti [email protected]
Since 2002, FNI has worked with NCTCOG to bring nati onal trends in stormwater quality and quanti ty management to North Texas, using state-of-the-art structural and non-structural controls and best management practi ces.
1615
FNI completed a watershed-wide study for Richardson’s Floyd Branch watershed. This study included development of a unit hydrograph hydrologic model for existi ng and future land use conditi ons of the urbanized watershed, a StormCAD model system of trunk lines 30 inches in diameter or larger, and hydraulic modeling of both the Floyd Branch main stem and a tributary. FNI recommended alternati ves for alleviati ng defi ciencies throughout the watershed, which included channel capacity, pipe capacity, street capacity and road-crossing capacity. To prepare for anti cipated development in this commercial corridor, the City of Richardson retained FNI to provide constructi on documents for the Phase I improvements.
As the fi rst step of the design phase of this project, FNI converted the StormCAD model to an EPA-SWMM dynamic model to measure whether the volume of the massive underground system and the overland fl ow would allow for the downsizing of the proposed infrastructure and result in a cost savings for the City. By using this dynamic model, the City realized about a 15-percent cost savings, reducing the projected cost of constructi on from more than $7.5 million to $6.3 million.
Floyd Branch Stormwater ImprovementsCASE STUDY
The design project included a survey; subsurface uti lity engineering (SUE); a standard TxDOT bridge; 6,200 feet of box culverts; fi ve juncti on boxes; channel modifi cati ons for a new headwall; numerous water and sewer relocati ons; avoidance of fi ber opti c and gas uti liti es, road, sidewalk, parking lot and driveway reconstructi ons; TxDOT coordinati on; traffi c control plans; analysis of adjacent building foundati ons due to close proximity of the box culverts; and a constructi on-phasing plan. In a highly developed urban corridor, the 4-9x7-foot box culverts spanned curb-to-curb under the street in some locati ons.
Client ReferenceJim Dulac, P.E.
Special Projects Engineer City of Richardson
P.O. Box 830309Richardson, Texas 75083
1817
FNI assisted the City of McKinney in developing a stormwater ordinance and drainage design manual. The project began with various work sessions at City Council that were held to approve a set of stormwater policies that would be the basis of the plan. A drainage advisory committ ee was formed, and the committ ee obtained public input on citywide drainage concerns.
The evaluati on incorporated analysis of the fl ooding conditi ons as part of the overall street rati ng. FNI also assisted the City with review of numerous drainage studies submitt ed by developers, for compliance with the City’s drainage manual and ordinances. The process generally involved review of the studies, discussion of comments with the City, meeti ngs with the developers (when needed), and review of the revised submitt als.
In additi on to basic H&H reviews, FNI also completed channel erosion reviews and performed complex H&H analyses, such as the confl uence of Honey Creek and the East Fork of the Trinity River. The hydraulics of this area are
McKinney Drainage Manual and OrdinanceCASE STUDY
very intricate and required a detailed analysis uti lizing unsteady-fl ow HEC-RAS to bett er represent the dynamics of the two streams, and how they were aff ected by a proposed expansion of US 75.
Client ReferenceKyle Odom, CFM, R.S.
Engineering Environmental Manager
City of McKinney221 N. Tennessee StreetMcKinney, Texas 75070
2019
The Central Arlington Heights neighborhood in Fort Worth, Texas, has an old drainage system that does not follow the street layout and oft en crosses private properti es beneath homes and other structures. The storm drain systems in this area are signifi cantly undersized, causing widespread fl ash fl ooding in the neighborhood, even in frequent storm events. This fully developed watershed was one of two fl agship storm drain planning studies that the City conducted following the implementati on of the Stormwater Uti lity Fee.
The early phases of the planning study included a preliminary evaluati on of the drainage system using EPA-SWMM, public involvement to collect input from residents on fl ooding problems, and a physical inventory and conditi on assessment of the aging storm drain system.
During the next phase of the project, FNI converted the EPA-SWMM models to InfoWorks SD/2D to obtain a more accurate picture of the existi ng fl ooding problems. FNI also further evaluated the potenti al improvement scenarios
Central Arlington Heights Storm Drainage and Watershed Planning StudyCASE STUDY
with the goal of providing 100-year fl ood protecti on for the neighborhood. This study determined that there were no feasible opti ons to provide 100-year fl ood protecti on that fi t within the funding capacity of the City’s stormwater uti lity fee.
During the next phase, FNI worked with the City during a Feasible Opti ons Study to review other strategies to provide incremental fl ood relief to this and other similar neighborhoods throughout the City without providing full 100-year protecti on. Following the completi on of the Feasible Opti ons process, FNI designed the fi rst capital project in the watershed, which consisted of under-street detenti on within the ROW, now in constructi on. This was the fi rst project of its kind for the City. The second capital project is currently under design. Concurrent with the design, FNI is also evaluati ng long-term strategies for providing incremental fl ood relief as part of the fi nal study phase. The public has been involved at every step of the process as the City and FNI investi gate and implement ways to solve the fl ooding in a cost-eff ecti ve manner.
Client ReferenceSteve Eubanks, P.E.
Senior Stormwater EngineerCity of Fort Worth
1000 ThrockmortonFort Worth, Texas 76102
“For large, complex studies and projects, I hold no other fi rm in higher esteem than the Freese and Nichols team. I look forward to future projects that we can do together.”
– Steve Eubanks, P.E. Senior Stormwater Engineer City of Fort Worth
2221
FNI has worked with staff at the City of Westworth Village to develop, implement and maintain a stormwater quality management program meeti ng the requirements of the state municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. Since the program’s incepti on, FNI has been step-by-step with the City to identi fy BMPs to meet stormwater quality protecti on requirements for public educati on and involvement, constructi on site and development, storm system inspecti on and maintenance, and municipal facility operati ons.
FNI provides compliance assurance to the City through the submitt al of stormwater management plans and agency noti fi cati ons, annual agency reports, and by serving as the City’s representati ve for agency inspecti ons. In fact, aft er the most recent agency inspecti on, the state inspector requested the City’s permission to use the City as a reference example to other citi es for how to implement and operate an MS4 program correctly.
Where practi cal, City staff members have implemented and conti nue to maintain BMPs on their own. FNI provided technical assistance for more
challenging BMP needs. FNI developed a GIS-based storm system inventory and conducted initi al illicit-discharge detecti on monitoring of identi fi ed outf alls on behalf of the City. City staff proudly displays on the City Hall wall a 4- by 12-foot map of the storm system infrastructure mapped by FNI. While conducti ng the storm system inventory, FNI staff also evaluated the physical conditi on of each structure to identi fy maintenance needs for City staff . Georeferenced photos of each storm system feature were collected and are accessible from the electronic map merely by clicking on the desired storm system structure, providing staff a visual representati on of the specifi c conditi on at the ti me of inspecti on. The GIS system was set up in a manner to allow for routi ne additi ons of data and photos as subsequent inspecti ons are conducted by staff .
FNI also developed updated stormwater ordinance requirements to meet constructi on, post-constructi on and illicit-discharge mandates of the MS4 permit. FNI worked with City staff and Council to identi fy eff ecti ve approaches to protect stormwater quality without inhibiti ng desired development in the community.
Phase II MS4 Stormwater Quality Permit ComplianceCASE STUDY
Client ReferenceRoger Unger
City AdministratorCity of Westworth Village
311 Burton Hill RoadWestworth Village, Texas 76114
2423
FNI performed an open-channel study and hydrologic analysis of Mary’s Creek, developing and calibrati ng an unsteady RAS model using HEC-HMS soft ware. This signifi cantly altered the fl oodplain, lowering base-fl ood elevati ons from the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) by 2-7 feet, and removed 190 structures from the existi ng fl oodplain. A Lett er of Map Revision (LOMR) has been submitt ed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is awaiti ng approval. Mary’s Creek has a 55.2-square-mile drainage area and is the largest contributor to the Clear Fork of the Trinity River downstream of Benbrook Dam. Changes in the discharges on Mary’s Creek directly aff ect the Clear Fork. As a result, the project required close coordinati on with the Citi es of Fort Worth, Benbrook, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
To create the new model, FNI evaluated two diff erent methodologies for infi ltrati on losses and unit hydrographs: the fi rst used initi al and constant losses and the Snyder’s unit hydrograph; and the second used the U.S. Soil Conservati on Service (SCS) curve number method and the SCS unit hydrograph. This comparison allowed the clients to make a fully informed decision on the methodology most appropriate to the Trinity River. They
selected the methodology using the initi al and constant losses and the Snyder’s unit hydrograph because it bett er matched the response of Mary’s Creek from available gage informati on.
FNI also created a new unsteady-fl ow HEC-RAS (River Analysis System) model based on surveyed cross secti ons in the main channel and 2009 LIDAR data for the overbanks, using HEC-GeoRAS to process the geometry. The model also takes advantage of features that were not available in HEC-2, such as lateral structures to represent diversions, inline structures to represent channel dams and storage areas to represent ponds.
The updated H&H models and inundati on maps provide a more accurate representati on of the fl oodplains of Mary’s Creek and the Clear Fork Trinity River within the study area. At the same ti me, the peak fl ows calculated by the model account for the eff ect of diversions, spills and ponds that cannot be represented correctly in the hydrologic model. This is crucial when esti mati ng realisti c fl ooding risks of the roads and properti es located along the streams.
Lower Mary’s Creek Open-Channel StudyCASE STUDY
Client ReferenceSteve Eubanks, P.E.
Senior Stormwater EngineerCity of Fort Worth
1000 ThrockmortonFort Worth, Texas 76102
2625
In 2008, City staff recognized the need for dedicated stormwater funding through a stormwater utility fee. The City already had in place a clear understanding of the services intended to be funded by the stormwater utility but needed FNI’s assistance to develop an equitable approach to assess the fee in accordance with the Texas Municipal Drainage Utility Systems Act.
FNI inventoried impervious area for properties using GIS, recent aerial photography and electronic parcel data. Impervious area served as the rate basis for each property’s utility fee. The City considered a variety of fee structure options from a single residential rate to five rate tiers. The revenue impact of exempting city, school district, church, and county properties were individually and collectively evaluated for Council consideration in making exemption policy decisions.
FNI’s real-time financial model provided on-the-fly output for fee structure options. Due to an unfavorable political climate resulting from the economic downturn, the stormwater utility adoption was postponed until 2011. FNI’s development approach provided staff an opportunity to quickly adopt and implement the fee once a favorable atmosphere for fee adoption returned. FNI worked hand-in-hand with City staff to integrate the stormwater utility fee into the City’s billing system in preparation for live billing in February 2012.
Stormwater Utility Fee for City of Richardson, TexasCASE STUDY
Client ReferenceJim Lockart, P.E.
Asst. Director of EngineeringCity of Richardson
P.O. Box 830309Richardson, Texas 75083
Stormwater Utility Fee ExperienceFNI has helped many small to midsized cities over the last several years to develop and implement a stormwater utility fee. Some cities we have assisted include:
• City of The Colony (pop. 36,000)• City of Corinth (pop. 22,000)• City of Frisco (pop. 126,000)• City of Lancaster (pop. 36,000)• City of Lubbock (pop. 234,000)• City of Richardson (pop. 100,000)• City of San Angelo (pop. 88,000)• City of Terrell (pop. 15,000)• City of Weatherford (pop. 25,000)• City of Westworth Village (pop. 5,000)• Town of Little Elm (pop. 26,000)• Town of Trophy Club (pop. 8,000)
2827
The City of Lancaster has several homes located along Ten Mile Creek that have fl ooded multi ple ti mes over the past 40 plus years. This area of homes was originally developed in the 1960s in the county jurisdicti on, which was later annexed into the City. In 2004, a 25-year fl ood event occurred on June 28, fl ooding the neighborhood and several homes. While sti ll cleaning up from this fl ood event, another much larger fl ood event hit the same neighborhood and damaged more than 100 structures across the city on July 29. More than 30 structures were declared substanti ally damaged along Ten Mile Creek.
Following the fl oods, the residents looked to the City for assistance. The City hired FNI as its fl oodplain administrator to assist with documentati on, substanti al damage calculati ons, public involvement and rebuilding procedures. While sympatheti c to its residents’ predicament, the City did not have the funds to purchase these homes. Some residents successfully challenged the substanti al damage calculati ons and rebuilt; others elevated their homes and some just walked away, all of which changed the climate of the neighborhood.
On the City’s behalf, FNI applied for Hazard Miti gati on Grant Program (HMGP) funds to pursue a voluntary purchase program for this neighborhood. In late 2009, the City was awarded the HMGP grant from a porti on of the funds allocated to the State of Texas following Hurricane Ike. The City received almost $1.2 million to purchase up to 13 properti es in this voluntary property-acquisiti on project (buyout). The City’s staff was already stretched thin, so it hired FNI to manage the grant on its behalf, including obtaining appraisals, interacti ng with the public, completi ng and submitti ng grant paperwork, overseeing the appeals process and coordinati ng closings.
In all, FNI assisted the City in purchasing 15 residenti al properti es – 12 with structures and three vacant lots – with the grant that represented 75 percent parti cipati on in a completely voluntary program. The project maintained a benefi t-cost rati o greater than one and uti lized approximately 90 percent of the grant awarded.
Lancaster Property Acquisiti on using HMGP FundsCASE STUDY
Client ReferenceOpal Robertson
City ManagerCity of Lancaster
1425 E. Dallas Ave.Lancaster, Texas 75146
972-218-1302orobertson@
lancaster-tx.com
3029
OUR TEAMMike Wayts, P.E., CFMMike Wayts, a Principal/Vice President at FNI, is the firm’s Southeast Division Manager, responsible for opening FNI’s Raleigh-Durham office on North Carolina State’s Centennial Campus. He has in-depth knowledge of watershed drainage studies and capital improvement program (CIP) development, including modeling, conceptual planning, cost estimation, design, scheduling and overall project management. In addition, he has extensive experience with low-impact development (LID) policy adoption, technical criteria development, integration of LID policy with city planning ordinances and the practical design of best management practices (BMPs) to minimize maintenance and aesthetic concerns. Mr. Wayts understands municipal clients and the citizens they serve, and he excels at achieving public buy-in on highly controversial projects. His relevant project experience includes:
• ComprehensiveStormwaterMasterPlansandArea/WatershedStudies–ProjectEngineer/ManagerorPrincipal-in-Charge. Multiple Stormwater master planning studies for the Cities of Brownwood (South and Willis Creek), Bryan (citywide), Burleson (citywide), Corinth (citywide), Dallas (Dixon Branch, Daniels, Richards, Wesco and Elm Fork of the Trinity River), Euless (citywide), Frisco (Stewart and Cottonwood Creeks), Garland (Downtown and citywide), Grand Prairie (citywide), Keller (citywide), Richardson (Floyd, Lois and Hunt Branches), Round Rock (citywide) and Wichita Falls (citywide).
• IntegratedStormWaterManagement(iSWM™)ProgramforConstructionandDevelopment,NorthCentralTexasCouncilofGovernments – Project Manager/Engineer (multiple phases) for development of a program to assist North Texas municipalities with stormwater quality protection, streambank protection and flood control, while assisting them in meeting construction and post-construction obligations under state NPDES storm water permits.
• MillCreekStormwaterPressureTunnelProgramManagement(Subconsultant),CityofDallas–Principal-in-Charge. Performed as the City’s Program Manager with regard to reviewing 2-D hydraulic models and physical modeling for the Mill Creek Stormwater Pressure Tunnel. This tunnel was installed to relieve flooding on Peak’s Branch, State Thomas and Mill’s Creek near downtown Dallas.
Stormwater and Public Involvement Professionals
Experience 18 years
Education B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington
Registration Professional Engineer, North Carolina #039905
Professional Engineer, Texas #92056
Certified Floodplain Manager #NC-12-0487
Charles ArcherCharles Archer joined the firm in January 2013 as an Account Director for our new office at NCSU Centennial Campus in Raleigh. Charles received both his B.S. in Political Science and his Master of Public Administration from East Carolina State University. Prior to joining FNI, Charles spent 12 years with the North Carolina League of Municipalities serving as their Director of Intergovernmental Relations and then Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Archer has also held positions as the County Manager for Halifax County in North Carolina and the Director of Planning for the City of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.
Mr. Archer’s in-depth knowledge of North Carolina communities is a crucial component to increasing public involvement and gaining public support for local projects. His community experience and decades of public engagement activity as the Halifax County Manager, as well as his lobbying efforts with the League of Municipalities, is a strength for our team that will prove invaluable to our clients.
Prior to joining FNI, Mr. Archer was responsible for the following projects:
• Halifax-NorthamptonRegionalAirport – Guided master plan development, secured funding and acquired land for a new general aviation airport.
• HalifaxIndustrialCenter – Managed the development of a new industrial park, which involved land acquisition, design, infrastructure improvements and funding. Millions of dollars in grant funds were secured, allowing for the purchase of land, construction of an elevated water tank, road improvements and wastewater pretreatment plant construction. The infrastructure served the operational needs of Reeser’s Fine Foods, which was recruited to the county once park development was complete.
• HalifaxCountyIndustrialShellBuilding – Secured funding and managed the development of the shell building in Halifax Industrial Center, which is now occupied by PCB Piezotronics.
• HalifaxCountyWaterSystemExpansion – Managed the $15-million expansion of the county’s water system, including the passage of a general obligation bond referendum to fund improvements.
Experience 31 years
Education Master of Public Administration, East Carolina University
B.S., Political Science, East Carolina University
3231
Scott Hubley, P.E., CFMScott Hubley is experienced in the planning and design of stormwater infrastructure, including closed systems, open channels and detention facilities. He has experience with design of local roadway drainage, large box culvert storm drain systems that serve 400+ acre urban watersheds, bridge and culvert hydraulics, and bank stabilization repairs. He also has extensive experience with H&H modeling, including open-channel studies, closed-system analyses, flood damage analyses and watershed master plans. He is one of our firm’s foremost experts in 2-D dynamic modeling. His relevant project experience includes:
• TrinityRiverVisionUtilityRelocations,CityofFortWorth–AssistantProjectManager. Planning and design services for the relocation of municipal stormwater utilities associated with construction of the proposed Trinity River Vision Bypass Channel. Channel will be constructed north of Downtown Fort Worth, providing flood control and economic redevelopment opportunities.
• CentralArlingtonHeightsWatershedStudy,CityofFortWorth–ProjectManager. Study of flood control improvement alternatives for the Central Arlington Heights Watershed in Fort Worth. Converted previous hydrologic and hydraulic models that FNI developed in EPA-SWMM to InfoWorks SD/2D. Hydraulic models were developed for improvement alternatives for the watershed.
• CitywideStormwaterMasterPlan,CityofBryan–ProjectManager. Development of a sustainable stormwater master plan and capital improvement program (CIP) that can be maintained by City staff and applied to future CIP projects.
• StillCreekWatershedStudy,CityofBryan–ProjectManager. Development of a 2-D model using Infoworks SD to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the existing flooding problems in Still Creek that have affected almost a dozen homes. Proposed alternatives are focused on regional detention basins that solve the flooding problem without moving it downstream.
Experience 8 years
Education Master of Engineering, Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University
B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University
Registration Professional Engineer, North Carolina #040431
Professional Engineer, Texas #105025
Certified Floodplain Manager, TFMA
Trey Shanks, CFMTrey Shanks is a firm Associate managing a variety of environmental and stormwater projects for public and private sector clients. He was a member of the stakeholder committee for the development of the initial State of Texas Phase II MS4 stormwater quality permit and has helped numerous cities develop and implement stormwater quality management programs to meet the permit requirements. Mr. Shanks has implemented stormwater utility fees for large and small cities, in both vibrant and challenging economic conditions, and in locations where stormwater can be routine or rare. In addition, Mr. Shanks has extensive experience with air permitting, air and noise modeling/monitoring and wastewater permitting. His relevant project experience includes:
• StormwaterUtilityFeeServices,CitiesofLancaster,Lubbock,RichardsonandWeatherford,SanAngelo,andnumerousadditionalcities–ProjectManager. Development and implementation of a stormwater utility fees for multiple municipal clients, generating income ranging from $400,000 to $3 million annually to address long-standing operations and capital project needs. Mr. Shanks analyzed numerous fee structure options to identify the approach that best served each municipality’s objectives for a reasonable and equitable fee.
• MS4ComplianceAssistance,numerouscities–ProjectManager.Implementation of the stormwater management program to meet applicable Phase II MS4 permit requirements. Inventoried storm systems by identifying stormwater outfalls to creeks, rivers and ponds. Conducted inspections for illicit discharges and conducted municipal facility audits to identify areas of water quality concern. Completed annual compliance reports and represented clients with agency compliance inspections.
• IntegratedStormWaterManagement,NorthCentralTexasCouncilofGovernments–ProjectManager. Development of comprehensive drainage criteria and design manual for the region. This manual will integrate both stormwater quantity and quality issues, and will be utilized as a tool for municipalities and counties to be implemented at a local and regional level to assist in developing stormwater ordinances and practices.
Experience 19 years
Education M.S., Environmental Management, University of Houston
B.S., Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin
Registration Certified Floodplain Manager
OUR TEAM Stormwater Professionals
3433
Stephanie Coffman, G.I.T.Stephanie Coffman is a geologist specializing in fluvial geomorphology and hydrology with an emphasis on channel processes. She is adept in evaluating the erosion and stability streams and the engineering approaches utilized to stabilize, protect and restore degrading channels. She has focused on projects that involve stream geomorphic assessments, instream flow studies, sediment transport modeling and stable slope analyses, scour analyses and natural channel techniques and design. Ms. Coffman also is experienced in determining soil erodibility and submerged jet testing, geological mapping and subsurface investigations, sediment source assessments and sedimentation analysis, stream function assessments and soil profile mapping. Her relevant project experience includes:
• SciencePark(SA-14)PreliminaryDesignPhase,BexarCounty–FluvialGeomorphologist.Con-ducted a geomorphic assessment on 4,500 feet of Zarzamora Creek Tributary A and provided a natural channel design feasibility study.
• FishCreekandCottonwoodCreekGeomorphicStreamAssessments,CityofGrandPrairie–FluvialGeomorphologist. Conducted stream stability assessments along 23 miles of stream channel in the Fish Creek and Cottonwood Creek watersheds as part of the City’s Stormwater Master Plan. The field assessment included walking/floating surveys of the channels in the wa-tersheds noting bank instability issues, erosive conditions, threats to homes and infrastructure, and Channel Evolution Model evaluation.
• LowerMary’sCreekOpen-ChannelStudy,CityofFortWorth–FluvialGeomorphologist. Provided hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to reflect current conditions of existing floodplain and re-establish base flood elevations. Conducted a stream condition assessment for 8,000-foot reach of Mary’s Creek in Fort Worth, Texas.
• WolfPenCreekDrainageMasterPlan,CityofCollegeStation–FluvialGeomorphologist. As part of a citywide Drainage Master Plan, a channel erosion reconnaissance was conducted on 16.5 square miles with 80 creek crossings. Channel instability issues were documented, and sites were rated according to severity.
Experience 9 years
Education M.S., Geology, Baylor University
B.S., Geology, University of South Alabama
Registration Geologist-in-Training, Texas #GIT-49
40-Hour HAZWOPER
Kim Patak, P.E. (TX), CFM, CPESCKim Patak serves as a Project Manager and Project Engineer on a variety of water resources and municipal stormwater projects. She is experienced with sustainable approaches associated with stream restoration and mitigation projects. She has extensive knowledge in the areas of hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, storm drain analysis and design, stream assessments, fluvial geomorphology, bio-technical stabilization, natural channel design, detention analysis and design, water quality analysis and design, floodplain studies and CIP development. Her computer software experience includes HEC-RAS (steady and unsteady flow regimes), HEC-HMS, ArcGIS, HEC-2, HEC-1, SITES, TR-20, HMR-52, Culvert Master, StormCAD, Flowmaster and AutoCAD. Her relevant project experience includes:
• BeeCaveParkwayandFreitagCreekCrossing,CityofBeeCave–StormwaterTaskManager.This was a three-phase project, for which Ms. Patak served as the Engineer of Record on the design of a new storm sewer system, creek crossings, realignment of a creek, water quality features and a detention facility. The creek design applied natural channel design methods, including a meandering, staged channel rock drop structures and live fascines.
• LowerBoisd’ArcCreekReservoir,NorthTexasMunicipalWaterDistrict–ProjectEngineer. Rapid geomorphic assessment of the streams in support of the instream flow study. Ms. Patak completed field investigations and classified channel stability for more than 50 miles of stream.
• NolanCreekSiteRestoration,FortHoodDirectorateofPublicWorks–ProjectEngineer. Ms. Patak served as design engineer for the development of construction drawings on the channel restoration of Nolan Creek in Fort Hood, Texas. The design included the restoration of 1,000 linear feet of creek using natural design measures, protection of mammoth bones and improvements to existing infrastructure tying into the creek.
• ScienceParkSA-14,BexarCounty–ProjectEngineer. Natural channel design feasibility analysis, for which Ms. Patak served as the technical lead in the alternatives evaluation by using the results of the geomorphic assessment to evaluate the potential of the site.
• UpperWalnutCreekRegionalErosion/FloodControlFacility,CityofAustin–ProjectEngineer.Prepared construction documents for the regional stormwater facility. Ms. Patak also served as General Representative for the construction of the pond/dam and prepared a LOMR.
Experience 14 years
Education B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
Registration Professional Engineer, Texas #97367
Certified Floodplain Manager #0650-04N
Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control #6016
Rosgen I - IV Training
OUR TEAM Stormwater Professionals
3635
Stephanie Griffin, P.E. (TX), CFMStephanie Griffin is an experienced engineer and project manager who has extensive experience with water resources and stormwater projects. She is dedicated to finding funding to assist our clients in moving their studies and projects forward. Ms. Griffin specializes in the preparation of grant applications for stormwater projects. Recently, Ms. Griffin managed the property acquisition of 12 repetitive flood loss properties using FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. She also was heavily involved in the development of the Hazard Mitigation Action Plan for Arlington, Texas, which also relied FEMA funding. Ms. Griffin was instrumental in assisting two municipalities in obtaining FEMA funding to develop Hazard Mitigation Action Plans this past year. In addition, Ms. Griffin managed the 2009 update to the NCTCOG’s iSWM™ Criteria Manual and has established and updated stormwater utility fees for a number of municipalities. Her relevant project experience includes:
• StormwaterUtilityDevelopment,CitiesofLancaster,Richardson,Seagoville,TerrellandWestworthVillage,andTownsofLittleElm,ProsperandTrophyClub–ProjectManager/Engineer.Development and implementation of stormwater utilities for numerous municipalities. Assisted with the assessment of storm system costs, revenue assessments, fee-structure determinations and public outreach.
• StormwaterManagementProgram,FloodplainAdministrationandDevelopmentReviews,CityofLancaster–ProjectEngineer. Development of a stormwater management program, including development of the City’s stormwater design manual and flood damage reduction ordinance, stormwater utility fee, a citywide stormwater master plan and capital improvement plan, and ongoing floodplain administration services.
• FEMAHazardMitigationGrantProgramapplications,TownsofLittleElmandTrophyClub–ProjectManager/Engineer. Preparation of HMGP grant applications for the development of Hazard Mitigation Action Plans. Both clients received funding as a result of these applications. FNI is preparing these plans. Ms. Griffin is providing insight and answers to questions regarding the grant requirements.
Experience 16 years
Education M.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University
B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas Tech University
Registration Professional Engineer, Texas #88504
Certified Floodplain Manager #1831-10N
David CoffmanDavid Coffman is a geologist who specializes in fluvial geomorphology and hydrology, with an emphasis on stream bank erosion, channel process, and watershed sediment dynamics. Prior to joining FNI, Mr. Coffman was a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and conduced investigations for a range of projects that involved fluvial geomorphology, sediment and water quality. Mr. Coffman has experience evaluating the erosion, stability and channel evolution of streams in degraded channels. He is able to apply standard fluvial geomorphic methods to provide an understating of the complex problems encountered in streams and rivers. Mr. Coffman is experienced in use of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to model drainage basin and watershed characteristics such as water, sediment, and nutrient mass balances over annual to decadal time scales.
• SulphurRiverBasinwideFeasibilityStudy,U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers–FluvialGeomorphologist. The Sulphur River Basinwide Feasibility Study comprehensively addresses water resources problems and opportunities for basin residents, as well as entities outside the basin currently depending on existing or future water-resource development in the basin. SWAT is being used to analyze sediment loading throughout the 3,550 square mile Sulphur River watershed in northeast Texas.
• RoyalCreekChannelRepair,CityofFortWorth–FluvialGeomorphologist.Conducted a stream geomorphic assessment where the entire study reach was walked, documenting channel conditions such as areas of instability, existing infrastructure, knickpoints, bank failures and density of vegetation cover. Hydrology and hydraulics were modeled using HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS.
• RCP:DeliveryPipelineProject,SanAntonioWaterSystem–FluvialGeomorphologist. Performed a scour analysis for all channels intersected by the proposed Regional Carrizo Project Water Delivery Pipeline. The pipeline travels approximately 12 miles from the City of Schertz to the City of San Antonio through urban areas of Guadalupe, Comal and Bexar Counties in Texas. The analysis provided potential scour depths for the modeled future 100-year flow event at each crossing.
Experience 6 years
Education M.S., Geology, Baylor University
B.S., Environmental Science, Slippery Rock University
OUR TEAM Stormwater and Funding Professionals
3837
1,540 applicants through 2012
93 recipients through 2012
7 categories in Baldrige criteria
1 engineering/architecture fi rm received this honor: Freese and Nichols
National Quality Award
MALCOLM BALDRIGEIn November 2010, FNI was named a recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige Nati onal Quality Award, the fi rst and only engineering/architecture fi rm to receive this honor. The award provides affi rmati on of our 15-year quality journey to develop FNI into a Baldrige-class fi rm.
The Baldrige award is the highest presidenti al honor given to U.S. organizati ons for performance excellence. It was established in 1987 to enhance the competi ti veness of U.S. businesses in an ever-expanding, demanding global market. The Baldrige program promotes excellence in organizati onal performance, recognizes the achievements of U.S. organizati ons and publicizes successful performance strategies.
Baldrige bythe Numbers
Quality Control/Quality Assurance ProgramQuality ControlQuality Control (QC) at FNI involves technical review of all project components to determine accuracy and readability of studies, verify design calculati ons and details, and check constructability of constructi on documents. FNI considers QC to be the ongoing responsibility of each team member, but formal QC reviews will be led by the project-specifi c QC/QA Manager at key milestones throughout each project. The goal of a QC review is to check for sound technical principles and accuracy. Most reviews are multi -disciplinary, and those with constructi on adjuncts are also reviewed for constructability.
Quality AssuranceQuality Assurance (QA) at FNI is an overall project review to determine that an eff ecti ve approach is taken for a project, confi rm project objecti ves are carried out, detect conceptual problems early, and verify that coordinati on and the QC functi ons and reviews have been performed. The QC/QA Manager will take responsibility for administering the QA process by submitti ng the appropriate informati on and materials to a QA Leader, who will be assigned by FNI’s Offi ce of the President and be responsible for conducti ng a formal QA review aft er each formal QC review.
QUALITYOur QC/QA methodology
is supported by our internal Technical
Excellence Program and rooted in a system
of formal checklists, meticulous analysis, and
planning, design and construction excellence
to help produce quality deliverables for our
clients.
For more informati on, please contact:MikeWayts,P.E.,CFMDivisionManagerOffi ce: 919-582-5860
CharlesArcherAccountDirectorOffi ce: 919-582-5861
