Backsights and Foresights: 2022 Fall/Winter Newsletter

An Exciting Expansion!

Houston Engineering, Inc. Welcomes FYRA Engineering

Since our founding in 1968, Houston Engineering, Inc. (HEI) has expanded our capabilities, our staff, and the geographic area that we serve from a single office in Fargo, ND, to offices across the Upper Midwest. Our firm grows with the needs of our clients in mind, and one of the goals of HEI's strategic plan focuses on growth and geographic expansion to enable us to expand the services we provide into other geographic markets. On May 5th, 2022, we announced an exciting step in implementing this goal, the acquisition of Nebraska and Iowa-based FYRA Engineering (FYRA). FYRA specializes in providing water resources and environmental engineering services across Nebraska and Iowa, with offices in Omaha and Des Moines. With this acquisition, HEI broadens its market to offer services from ten offices in five states with more than 250 staff across those locations.

FYRA: Founding and Development

Founding

FYRA was founded in 2012 by four water resources engineers: Mike Sotak, Bob Gregalunas, Sara Mechtenberg, and Lindy Rogers, who wanted to better serve the communities that most of them had been working with since the beginning of their careers, both personally and professionally. The group felt strongly about delivering the level of service that their clients deserved and knew that the best way to provide that service, to increase their capacity to provide it to additional communities, and to target projects and areas they felt passionate about was by going about it on their own.

The four founders brought their experience and unique skills together to create FYRA, a name which is taken from the Swedish word for the number four and is synonymous with the launching of a rocket or the fourth gear of a race car. This name represents not just the four founders but also the quickness and responsiveness they strive to show their clients like a spacecraft launching from its pad towards the stars. Those unique skills brought their fledgling company immediate success which was bolstered by their hard work and dedication to ensuring their technical work and client responsiveness exceeded that of their competitors.

Expansion and Development

As FYRA’s workload began to grow, they began to grow their team as well, making strategic hires that aligned with the company’s expansion goals. Janel Kaufman joined the team and brought permitting efforts in-house, and Charles Ikenberry started their office in Des Moines, IA, and led FYRA's water quality discipline. Every hire along the way has become a member of the FYRA family and an integral part of the work they do. The emphasis that FYRA places on personal connections and relationships isn’t something that is limited to their client approach but has also served as an internal building block of the firm since the beginning.

According to Lindy, “the fact that we really enjoyed our friendships with each other and valued the importance [of] our families helped us develop the FYRA culture that still exists today", a culture that aligns well with HEI's. This is reflected in how FYRA has highly valued their student interns over the years, hiring nearly every one of them as full-time employees. Most of the staff hired since the start of FYRA joined the team fresh from graduation or very early in their careers; it has been “truly amazing to see each and every one of them develop into the engineers [and] scientists they are today!”, says Lindy.

Minot

HEI now offers services from ten offices across five states!

Big Elk Lake, Dam Site WP-7, in Sarpy County, NE.

Project Highlight:

Three Mile Lake Engineering Services

Union County, Southern Iowa

In September 2020, FYRA began working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on the Three Mile Lake Restoration project. The overall project involved developing engineering design plans for watershed best management practices (BMPs), which included retaining sediment and nutrients, improving shorelines, potential dredging, rehabilitating an existing in-lake sediment forebay, and in-lake habitat features. Three Mile Lake is a large, stateowned reservoir in southern Iowa that is a major recreational resource and the main drinking water supply for the City of Creston and the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association.

The Work of FYRA

As a water resources engineering firm, FYRA has built and repaired dams and levees, designed stormwater solutions, restored streams and lakes, analyzed floodplains, and prepared technical assessments and studies.

One of their most memorable projects is the Elkhorn River 240th Street Project in Sarpy County, NE. The project created a diversion channel in the upland to redirect flows away from residences and 240th Street, which had been recently threatened during high water events, with the goal of directing the Elkhorn River back to its past configuration to create a more stable channel. This project used 2D hydraulic modeling at a time when few other firms were using it to assist with the design and provide documentation necessary to receive project approvals from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Just a single week after construction was completed, a high-water event occurred and the flows filled the diversion channel as anticipated, protecting infrastructure and validating FYRA’s design.

FYRA’s services have included field/topographic survey, design, permitting, wetland and stream mitigation, and construction phase support. Construction of four watershed structures and stream mitigation is underway on the first phase of construction. Final design and permitting is nearly complete for phase two of the project. This includes several large sediment retention structures and the rehabilitation of the existing sediment forebay (which is largely silted-in and no longer preventing new sediment from entering the main lake) as well as the shoreline and in-lake habitat improvements.

resource and environmental engineering background serve to further enhance the experience and services that HEI’s clients already enjoy. In addition to this, FYRA has an extensive lake project resume and a proven track record when it comes to lake work, which is something that is crucial to many of our communities in the Upper Midwest.

An example of the 2D modeling technique FYRA utilized.

Bringing It Together

HEI’s acquisition of FYRA is an incredibly exciting opportunity, not just for the staff of both companies, but also for our clients. The move bolsters the experience, capacity, and services available to communities and provides them across a greater geographic area. For example, FYRA was well known for their design and planning work on flood control and lake/water quality projects in Nebraska and Iowa. FYRA's existing clients will appreciate the depth of experience that HEI brings on larger flood control projects such as the Fargo-Moorhead (F-M) Area Diversion Project and the Mouse River Flood Protection Projects in Minot, ND. HEI also brings additional expertise in projects such as numerous Minnesota One Watershed, One Plan (1W1P) completions, the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS), and the Minot Water Treatment Facilty project. HEI has extensive experience that FYRA clients can fully utilize to assist with their needs. Like HEI, FYRA has always been known for how they take on difficult and unique water resource projects and provide great, long-lasting solutions. FYRA’s extensive water

FYRA’s efficient resource and staff use enabled them to effectively compete with other larger firms, punching above their weight class if you will—something that we at HEI are extremely excited about. Combining that experience with our own will enable us to serve our communities and their needs even better.

The successful Elkhorn River/ 240th Street Project.

An aerial view of Three Mile Lake.

“It’s very exciting to be part of a group that shares our passion about water resources and to have others support our staff, clients, and projects."

– Lindy Rogers

Even prior to the acquisition, HEI and FYRA staff were working together to discuss teaming on projects, and later to determine ways to support each other and to further the mission and goals of HEI. The staff in FYRA offices have been working cross-office with staff throughout HEI, soliciting and providing multidisciplinary expertise, collaborating on submittals, and discussing further staff expansion in the Omaha and Des Moines offices to both expand their local services and to support HEI staff in other locations.

Our team is excited about the opportunities that this acquisition has opened for growth.

Being client-focused is one of HEI's core values and both HEI and FYRA are relationship-driven, focusing on responsiveness and understanding the needs of both their communities and staff. Both firms have not only understood the importance of doing so since their founding, they have actively made it a priority and a goal to do so, emphasizing tailored, personalized, and successful approaches to projects. Through our work we create more than excellent structures, plans, and drawings, but also relationships. This approach, combined with fantastic and knowledgeable staff, has led to the success of our companies as individuals in the past and will continue to do so, now and in the future as one company.

Learn more on our website:

• Mouse River: https://bit.ly/3lNrGIM

• 1W1P: https://bit.ly/3VIbUzF

• NAWS: http://bit.ly/33h277Y

of newsletter

Staff Member Snapshot

Mike Sotak, PE, D.WRE Senior Civil Engineer msotak@houstoneng.com

Mike Sotak has been a driving force in FYRA since before it even began. He spearheaded the discussions among the founders about starting their own engineering firm and was also fully responsible in guiding the group in getting the company started.

Mike is a professional engineer with more than 32 years of experience in water resource engineering and holds both a BS in civil engineering and an MBA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has served as a field and design engineer as well as project manager on several structural watershed improvement projects and has been involved with the design and construction of more than 100 dams. He has extensive experience in watershed planning, economic analyses, levee certification, dam design, and river restoration and bank stabilization. He also has an extensive grant writing and funding program identification background. Mike was recently recognized by the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers as a Diplomate of Water Resources (D.WRE) for his experience on dams across the Midwest.

"[I am] excited for the opportunity to work with HEI staff across the region and pursue larger and more complex projects with our combined experience and

significant strategic wins in South Dakota and Iowa are early proof that together, we can grow HEI’s presence as a major contender."

knowledge. Two

Rachel Schwarting Administrative Assistant

Mike Sotak, PE, D.WRE Senior Civil Engineer

Eric Suing, EI Civil Engineer

Ann Stratton Administrative Assistant

Anna Bakke, PE Civil Engineer Bob Gregalunas, PE Senior Civil Engineer

Jessie Dillon Scientist Chris Furman, EI Civil Engineer

Jacob Garder, EI Civil Engineer

Mark Jacobs, EIT, CFM Civil Engineer

Janel Kaufman, PE Civil Engineer

Charles Ikenberry, PE, CFM Senior Civil Engineer | Office Manager

Connor Kelley, PE Civil Engineer

Sara Mechtenberg, PE Civil Engineer

Ethan Miller, PE Civil Engineer

Dei RodriguezReverol Civil Engineer

Ryan Roenigk, PE Civil Engineer

Kyle Riley, PE, CFM Civil Engineer

Lindy Rogers, PE Senior Civil Engineer | Office Manager

Mike Van Hove, EI Civil Engineer

Carly Wagner, EIT Civil Engineer

Welcome FYRA Team Members to HEI's Team! cover story

Investing in Area Zoos

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Dakota Zoo

Bismarck, ND

Nic Cullen began his involvement with the Dakota Zoo in 1998 as a docent, or young volunteer. Nic helped with animal presentations, educational programs, bird counts in national parks, and trips to other zoos and continued volunteering during his college years. Post-college, Nic was offered a seat on the Board of Directors that he gladly accepted. He was then given the "Zoo Engineer" role and was placed on several committees, where he has been able to apply his engineering expertise to a variety of projects.

River Otter Exhibit

To create a new exhibit to house river otters at the Dakota Zoo, HEI completed the site design, permitting, and Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) for the new structure. The exhibit is currently under construction and is scheduled to be open to the public in 2023.

Dakota Zoo Projects:

• New Penguin Exhibit (opened 2021)

• New River Otter Exhibit (under construction)

• Petting Zoo Barn

• Train Pole Barn

• GIS Data Collection for Zoo Grounds

• Stormwater Master Plan for Zoo Grounds

• River Otter and Petting Zoo LOMAs

Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum

Sioux Falls, SD

HEI has provided landscape architecture and site design services for several projects at the Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum.

Black Bear Exhibit

HEI was initially asked to assist with a conceptual plan illustrating the renovation of the Black Bear Exhibit. The overall renovation included a new viewing structure, fencing for both animal and human scale, updated climbing structures, and building renovations to better accommodate the safety of the animal handlers and bears themselves as the existing facilities were outdated and greatly in need of improvements.

HEI was then retained for the next phase of construction documents to

Leading the Projects

Josh Johnson, PLA Landscape Architect

jjohnson@houstoneng.com

Nic Cullen, PE, CFM Civil Engineer ncullen@houstoneng.com

assist with fencing design/detailing and overall landscape design of the interior and exterior of the exhibit. The renovated exhibit opened in early July 2022 without any animals escaping to date!

Great Plains Zoo Projects:

• Black Bear Exhibit Renovations (re-opened July 2022)

• Dakota Skipper Pollinator Gardens (under construction)

• New Lion and Meerkat Exhibit (design in progress)

Construction of the new River Otter Exhibit at the Dakota Zoo.

Rendering (left) and the newly reconstructed (right) Black Bear Exhibit for the Great Plains Zoo.

In September 2021, the Dakota Zoo held a grand opening for its new Penguin Exhibit. HEI completed the site and utility design for this project as well as expansion for future projects.

Spring Flooding Causes Major Issues

HEI Rises to the Challenge

In the spring of 2022, areas of North Dakota experienced a severe mid-April snow event with accumulations reaching anywhere from 12 inches up to 30 inches. This snowfall rapidly melted due to spring rains and initiated major flooding, causing 10 flood control dams in the Tongue River Watershed to nearly reach capacity. In several instances, capacity was exceeded, and the auxiliary spillway, a secondary spillway in case of a large flood event, was activated.

In the Wake of the Storm

In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 1, 2022, HEI received a call requesting assistance in emergency response efforts to combat flooding in the community of Cavalier, ND. HEI's team sprung into action by advising the City on where to construct emergency flood control measures using hydraulic models previously developed by HEI for past projects. In addition to the models, our staff was on the ground surveying flood levels, providing in-the-field elevations to community leaders, and field checking modeling results.

NDNG using their Blackhawk helicopter to place one-ton sandbags.

Bourbanis Dam

After successfully assisting the City of Cavalier and thinking the "worst was over," the HEI team received word on Monday, May 2, that the Bourbanis Dam was starting to fail. The earthen auxiliary spillway had begun to erode, leaving a nearly 450-lineal-foot headcut near the crest of the spillway. HEI's staff promptly took action to assess the damage and remained on-site to monitor additional progression of the erosion.

A meeting with local, state, and federal officials was called that night and the decision was made to enter into Stage 3 of the emergency action plan (EAP), which required the evacuation of at-risk residents and the closure of ND Highway 5 downstream of the dam. In an effort to stabilize the erosion, the North Dakota National Guard (NDNG) was activated to deliver and place large sandbags by helicopter.

On May 3, HEI staff assisted the NDNG and their Blackhawk helicopters with placing one-ton sandbags to help stabilize the damaged area of the spillway.

The Issues Continue

Next, the drawdown of water in the dam's flood pool was extremely slow. Issues with the principal spillway were suspected as the cause of the slow drawdown. HEI collaborated with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), North Dakota state dam safety officials, and the Pembina

County Water Resource District (PCWRD) to develop a plan to add additional capacity to speed up the drawdown. Ultimately, the team decided that adding capacity through temporary pumping was the best option.

Thankfully, two large pumps were located in Minot, ND. However, another interesting challenge arose—getting the pumps to the site.

Access to the site was difficult due to terrain and wet conditions, creating a

MNNG using their Chinook helicopter to place a pump on top of the Bourbanis Dam.

The two pumps placed by the MNNG that were used to help draw down the water.

Emergency measures installed at Bourbanis Dam.

problem with transporting pumps onto the dam. In fact, the primary access to the dam was across the auxiliary spillway that had failed.

For a second time, the NDNG was requested to help place the pumps on the dam via helicopter. However, another unexpected challenge came up. The Blackhawk helicopters, used by the NDNG just two days prior to set the sandbags, could not carry the weight of the two pumps. Thankfully both North Dakota and Minnesota rose to the challenge. Chinook helicopters from the Minnesota National Guard (MNNG) were used to set the pumps and hoses on the top of the dam.

Two additional lighter, submersible tractor pumps were brought to a site on the opposite side of the dam, which added pumping capacity. Yet another challenge with these pumps was locating enough discharge line to safely convey discharges down the dam embankment. Luckily, 1,200 feet of discharge line was secured from a distributor in Winkler, Manitoba.

Go with the Flow

Once pumps were in place and operational, focus shifted to monitoring

the dam and ensuring all pumps remained operational. Discharge lines for the submersible pumps were pushed to their limit, and the on-site team constantly addressed issues associated with failing lines. Luckily, pumps remained operational through the critical periods of the runoff event.

In addition to pumps, the team investigated options to open a closed hatch on the top of the principal spillway tower, which was submerged under more than 40 feet of water. It was discovered that a cable attached to the hatch was laying on the embankment approximately half way up the slope. This meant that the end of that cable was under more than 20 feet of murky water and 50 feet out from the current waters edge. A diver was secured to find the cable, even with odds against him, the cable was located. However, when an excavator tried to use the cable to slide off the hatch cover, the cable snapped.

The HEI team provided 24-hour inspection from May 2 through May 8. The North Dakota Department of Water Resources installed a mobile telemetry unit so water levels could be monitored

Leading the Projects

Zach Herrmann, PE Project Manager

zherrmann@houstoneng.com

online in real time. By May 8, levels had receded below the auxiliary spillway elevation. For the next few weeks, the dam was closely monitored, until local, state, and federal authorities felt it was reasonable to lower the risk to Stage 2.

A New Course

After the emergency situation subsided, the team at HEI began developing mitigation plans to correct issues seen at Bourbanis Dam. While decommissioning was an option, everyone wanted to vet the risks before making that decision. HEI performed multiple modeling scenarios to evaluate breach risk and flood risk both with and without a dam. Ultimately, because of the condition of the principal spillway and the eroded condition of the auxiliary spillway, it was determined that decommissioning the dam was the only option.

HEI receives early morning notification of an emergency flood fight effort for the community of Cavalier, ND.

Bourbanis Dam experiences rapid erosion in the spillway. Stage 3 emergency response is activated; downstream residents are evacuated and ND Highway 5 is closed.

May 3, 2022

May 1, 2022 May 2, 2022 NDNG arrives to place sandbags and slow the erosion rate.

May 4, 2022

Water levels are not lowering. The team evaluates options to add ways to draw the water down.

May 5, 2022

MNNG brings in two large pumps and pumps are activated.

May 6, 2022

The partial decommission of Bourbanis Dam was fast-tracked for final plans, permitting, bidding, and construction starting in July 2022 with a target completion of December 2022. HEI provided technical services for design, state permitting, bidding, and construction administration to meet this timeline.

HEI is working with the PCWRD and NRCS to develop the best long-term solution to address future flood concerns within the Tongue River Watershed.

Additional pumps are added and a diver arrives to locate a submerged operational hatch for additional drawdown capacity.

May 7, 2022

Team installs a turf reinforcement mat and the flow over the auxiliary spillway stops.

May 10, 2022

Bourbanis Dam is lowered to Stage 2 of the EAP.

May October 2022 Decommissioning the dam is determined as the best mitigation strategy. Funding and final design is secured. Construction begins.

Little Big Town

Small Community, Big Possibilities

City of Alexander

The City of Alexander is in McKenzie County and is situated along US Highway 85 between Williston and Watford City in North Dakota. The original townsite and its county were named after a notable politician and innovator of the Dakota Territory, Alexander McKenzie. The city started to take shape in the early 1900s, with development and homesteaders flooding the newly established community. According to the 2020 census, Alexander now has a population of 319 residents, administers a public school with grades K-12, and is comprised of a variety of local businesses. Prior to 2021, the community contained mostly gravel roads along with unsound water and sewer mains that were installed several decades ago. The City's top priorities were to evolve, modernize, and safeguard the utilities and infrastructure for the area.

Revamping the Town

The modernization of the city began in 2017. The community had been dealing

with additional challenges such as not having a clean and adequate water supply, a lack of fire hydrants for safety, aged concrete water mains, and groundwater infiltration in the sewer system.

To resolve these issues, HEI completed replacement of 4,500 linear feet of sewer main, installed new water mains with accompanying hydrants and valves, and incorporated two larger and newer reverse osmosis systems to increase water supply and development for an additional 1,200 residents in the area. The engineering team worked diligently on these enhancements and also coordinated site design and construction observation to house the new water treatment equipment.

After the water treatment and sewer improvements were completed, Alexander needed to update its mostly gravel neighborhood streets. More than 14 city blocks of urban roadway design and stormwater infrastructure improvements were implemented. The town experienced a complete renovation and almost every road in Alexander was updated.

Collaboration and Innovation

HEI's Shawn Soehren has been instrumental in the advancement and progression of the City of Alexander. Shawn has served as the City Engineer and Project Manager, providing recommendations for improvements, coordinating project review, and furnishing valuable guidance on these monumental renovations and enhancements to the thriving westerly town.

HEI's Kory Schweitzer has also played a pivotal role in the city's transformation. Kory has provided crucial civil and construction engineering services and implemented fundamental designs throughout the infrastructure improvements spanning the community. The City of Alexander will continue to grow and prosper because of these collaborative efforts, HEI's skilled project team, and the aesthetic and functional improvements.

"We are extremely proud of our city's history and the heart of the community," said Kenny Willcox, Mayor of Alexander. "The new improvements and updates will benefit our residents, visitors, and overall standard of living for many generations to come."

Act's (ADA) accessibility compliance.

Newly paved roads in the city with curb ramps and pedestrian crossings following the Americans with Disabilities

Shawn Soehren, PE ssoehren@houstoneng.com

Kory Schweitzer kschweitzer@houstoneng.com

Leading the Project

G oing with the Flow

Featured Service Area: Lake Services

Our staff at HEI have a long history of working with conservation districts, watershed districts, state departments, lake improvement districts, and lake associations. This knowledge has allowed our team to create comprehensive, in-depth, and cost-effective solutions for managing communities' lakes and ponds. One example of this type of work is shown in the project highlighted below.

Lake of the Hills Restoration Scott County, IA

The West Lake Complex, which features Lake of the Hills, is located near Davenport, IA. Our Des Moines office has provided services to the Scott County Conservation Board, including planning, design, engineering, and permitting services for a variety of projects associated with the restoration of West Lake Park (Lake of the Hills, Bluegrass Lake, Railroad Lake, and Lambach Lake).

Overarching goals of the watershed and in-lake restoration included sediment and nutrient load reductions and water quality improvement, increased lake depth and fish habitat diversity, and improved shorelines to reduce erosion and increase angler access and success at the West Lake Complex.

The first phase of the project included a comprehensive study that evaluated solutions put forth in the watershed improvement plan and prioritized them based on water quality benefits and costs. A major study component was prioritization and design of potential watershed best management practices (BMPs) and in-lake improvements.

Staff evaluated multiple dredging locations and techniques, considered sediment handling of each option, and developed a sediment storage site/ basin to safely and efficiently store the dredged material. A cost-benefit analysis was used to determine which BMP locations and dredging options should be implemented in the final design.

During the design phase, staff provided wetland delineation and permitting concurrent with development of construction plans and specifications. This integrated approach helped expedite permit approval and minimize stream and wetland mitigation costs. Staff also provided detailed construction cost estimates for bidding and contractor selection and supported the Iowa DNR's field representative during construction oversight.

Our Services Include:

• Branding, Logo Design, and Communciation Strategy

• Construction Administration and Observation

• Design of Watershed BMPs

• Grant Writing

• In-Lake and Watershed Modeling

• In-Lake Treatment Guidance and Design

• Lake Management Plans

• Lake Outlet Design and Installation

• Pollutant Reduction Optimization

• Strategic Planning for Lake Associations and Lake Improvement Districts

Lake Services Leads

Mechtenberg, PE Environmental Engineer smechtenberg@houstoneng.com

Learn more about Moriya in a Lakes Appreciation Month video at: https://bit.ly/3VL8wnt

Moriya Rufer, CLM Scientist mrufer@houstoneng.com

Sara

"My passion is working to protect and enhance water resources."

- Moriya Rufer

"Understanding our environment and working to protect natural resources has proved to be a highly rewarding career path."

- Sara Mechtenberg

West Lake Park (Lake of the Hills), Scott County, IA.

Snapshots Project

We'd love to showcase all that we do at HEI, but we'd run out of pages! Here's a short overview of some recent project highlights.

The Prairie Nature Trail at Lewis and Clark State Park was in need of reconstruction. Even though it is a rugged, primitive-style gravel nature trail, the intent was to make the trail more user-friendly for park visitors where feasible. HEI provided surveying, civil engineering, landscape architecture design, and environmental permitting services to improve the one-mile-long trail.

Improvements included the following:

• Renovation of two sets of stairs

Lewis and Clark State Park Nature Trail Lake Redwood Reclamation

• Leveling out areas of the trail for safer use by visitors

• Re-establishment of the trail lost to wetlands

• Reconstruction of the boardwalk across wetlands to reconnect portions of the trail

Construction was completed this summer and is open to park visitors to enjoy when visiting western North Dakota. Learn more about the Lewis and Clark State Park: https://bit.ly/LewisClarkStateParkND

North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department (NDPRD) Williams County, ND Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area (RCRCA) Redwood Falls, MN Lake Redwood was created in 1902 by installing a dam structure on the Redwood River to provide recreational opportunities to the community. Over the next 80 years, the lake’s recreational benefits made it a staple for the City of Redwood Falls and surrounding communities. However, by the 1980s, this 65-acre man-made lake was almost entirely filled with accumulated sediment. The once vibrant lake could no longer support recreational activities.

To resolve this issue, the RCRCA hired HEI to complete the necessary design work and support to obtain required permit authorizations to hydraulically dredge the lake to increase the average depth from just 2.3 feet to 10 feet, with a maximum of 20 feet with the removal of nearly 657,329 cubic yards (cy) of accumulated sediment. Crews are working to remove an additional 25,000 cy beyond the contract amount, made possible by an earlier than anticipated project completion, before winter shutdown. This project will also improve the lake’s water quality by lowering its turbidity, resulting in a higher quality fishery and aquatic plant communities as well as enhancing the lake's recreational opportunities. Additionally, the project will increase water capacity for the City's hydroelectric power plant. The project is currently in Phase II, which consists of the lake dredging activities that are nearing completion. Learn more online: https://rcrca.com/lake-redwood-reclamation

Aerial view showing a section of the one-mile-long trail including the boardwalk.

In April 2022, HEI's team attended the Phase II/dredging kick-off ceremony with RCRCA.

The dredge boat "Micheal B." from J.F. Brennan Company Inc. with supporting barge equipment conducting dredging activities in Lake Redwood.

Aerial view of the confined disposal facility located approximately 3.5 miles north of Lake Redwood where HEI's team has been tracking the sediment accumulation since the beginning of active dredging operations.

The bridge after it collapsed in 2020.

The

Intersection

Improvements to South Washington and 36th Avenue South

City of Grand Forks Grand Forks, ND

HEI was hired by the City of Grand Forks to perform roadway, lighting, traffic signal, and fiber interconnect systems design at this intersection to improve safety for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. HEI partnered with SkySkopes, Inc. to showcase the capabilities of drone-based and mobile LiDAR to the City. HEI's team was able to survey the intersection more safely with less time spent in the field and also provided as-built survey and imagery for a connected section of roadway completed by the City in 2021. The plans and specifications were finished 6 weeks ahead of schedule and 25% under budget. Construction was completed in the summer of 2022.

Missouri River Federal Levees R-616-613/R-613

Federal Levee Systems R-613 and R-616-613 are located in Sarpy County near the confluence of the Platte and Missouri rivers. FYRA, now a part of HEI, completed the contract for the final design and permitting of levee improvements required for FEMA accreditation. The designed levee modifications included floodwall construction, closure section modifications, levee height increases, concrete pedestrian trail design, culvert/penetration modifications and replacement, and significant under-seepage mitigation in the form of seepage berms and relief wells. Coordination with federal, state, and local entities was imperative throughout this project.

Bridge Replacement Over Mouse River

Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Sarpy County, NE Ward County Highway Department Sawyer, ND

In late 2020, a steel bridge east of Sawyer collapsed unexpectedly. Ward County wanted design completed quickly for a replacement bridge. The project needed to be ready for bidding in November 2021. With a long detour route for area landowners, an expedited design schedule was required to minimize impacts to area farmers and landowners. HEI was on site just days following the collapse to perform inspection of the fallen structure prior to removal. Ward County then awarded HEI the contract for preliminary design services that included environmental reports and design for a replacement structure. Our hydraulic background for the area helped HEI meet a tight design schedule as well as saved the County costs through the design phase. The bridge was constructed in 2022 and now provides a safe crossing for area farmers and residents.

Aerial view of the intersection after completion.

Aerial view of a portion of the 18.2 miles of earthen levee systems that protect billions of dollars in local infrastructure and commerce.

new concrete bridge constructed in 2022.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS

Charles Ikenberry Getting to know

With more than 21 years of experience with water resources and water quality projects, Charles Ikenberry found his footing as the Iowa Market and Water Quality Discipline Lead while at FYRA Engineering. Now part of HEI, Charles leads our Des Moines office and continues to pursue important watershed management, lakes, and water quality projects in the region. His weeks often include marketing and business development, project management, if he's lucky some modeling and analysis… and a lot of emails and meetings.

Charles is married to his wife, Kristen, and has five wonderful but highly spirited kids, James (15), Walter (13), Joseph

Leopard dog named Griffin, and you can expect to find a busy

Q&A

Describe what you like about your job and being part of the HEI team. Like everyone, I work best when I’m able to spend time doing things I have an affinity and aptitude for. Those things include strategic thinking and analysis (both technical but also on efforts related to winning work and growing as a team and organization). I also really enjoy conveying information through technical writing and presentations. I think what I’ve enjoyed most about the HEI team so far is the opportunity to plan and strategize with a lot of really smart and collaborative people who are so willing to do what’s best for the team.

Tell us about the projects you are currently working on at HEI We are currently preparing the Polk County (Iowa) WFPO Watershed Plan, which should result in more than $30 million of stream restoration projects in the Des Moines metro area. We are also wrapping up several lake restoration design projects, including Otter Creek Lake and Three Mile Lake. We also have two water and nutrient mass balance modeling projects on oxbow lakes in Iowa and Nebraska. Our teams in Des Moines and Omaha collaborate on the majority of projects we do, so we frequently have folks working on projects in both Iowa and Nebraska.

What's a memorable story while working at HEI that would be fun to share?

While not funny at the time, the best story so far is my experience with an Enterprise rental for a trip to and from the Sioux Falls office. Long story, but I was downgraded to an economy Mitsuibishi Mirage (i.e., circus clown car…no offense to any proud Mirage owners out there). It broke down (i.e., dropped its guts) on I-80 about 90 minutes west of Des Moines on my trip home. To be fair, it had all of 8,640 miles on it, which is a lot for a couple of hamsters turning the drive train. I never bothered to learn what happened to the car, but there is still a spot where the fluids spilled out that I see every time I drive by mile marker 62 (see picture). I’ll be sad when salt and the elements erase the lasting bit of evidence from this fateful trip.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy about anything related to “homesteading,” and I’d take Pa Ingalls' skillset over Harry Potter’s any day. We raise bees, poultry (for meat and eggs), and as many fruit and nut trees as I can manage to plant and keep alive on our 10-acre homestead. I also enjoy bow hunting and fishing with my kids and need to do both more often.

What have you learned from your experience at HEI?

I’ve learned that I will never be done learning and that there are a lot of people in this company that have something to teach you. I’ve also learned that everyone’s role is really important and people here seem sincerely interested in making HEI a better place to work and a better firm for our clients.

(11), Eve (9), and Natalie (6). Throw in their Catahoula

household when you drop in for dinner!

Lindy Rogers Getting to know

Lindy Rogers is no stranger to running a tight ship as she leads our Omaha office and levee discipline efforts out that office. With more than 26 years of experience under her belt, she truly enjoys serving her clients─some she has worked with since graduating college! With her involvement in levee projects, Lindy often works on some of the largest projects that protect miles upon miles of property and infrastructure from flood damage.

But work isn't the only thing keeping Lindy busy. With a husband in the Air Force (28 years active service, now working as a civilian) and being active in her community, she knows how to keep a busy schedule on track! She enjoys spending time with her husband, Ryan, and kids Grayson (24), Campbell (21), and Schaefer (17) and two dogs, Mabel and Mosley. She also loves to paint, travel, spend time at her family's lake camper, and cook.

Q&A

What has been the most rewarding project you’ve worked on thus far at HEI? Why?

I would have to say that the most rewarding project I have worked on with HEI is the acquisition of FYRA and becoming part of the HEI team.It was amazing to work with Gregg, Jeff, Cody, and everyone in HEI to make the acquisition happen, and it has been equally as rewarding to see how everyone has welcomed our offices into the HEI culture and team. Our Omaha and Des Moines teams are already benefiting from being able to reach out to engineers and scientists with broad skill sets and experiences, having corporate groups in place that allow us to focus more on engineering work, cross office work share, and just being part of the HEI team in general.

What professional advice would you like to pass along to others?

Take time to build personal relationships with your clients and stay in front of them as often as you can.

Tell us about the projects you are currently working on at HEI Right now, I am finishing up managing the construction and FEMA accreditation of our Omaha office's largest project which includes modifications to Federal Levee Systems R-613 and R-616-613. These 19 miles of levee protect Offutt Air Force Base, a City of Omaha wastewater treatment plant, and major transportation corridors from Missouri River, Platte River, and Papillion Creek flooding. I am also working on several other levee projects that include rehabilitation/ replacement of degraded levee penetrations (stormwater culverts) and design of levee modifications for FEMA accreditation. Recently I have gotten involved with the Sioux Falls team on the Silverstar Carwash projects and have enjoyed getting back to my original roots in doing site development/design projects.

Are you involved in your community? If so, how?

I am on the Board of Directors for the Papillion LaVista Community Schools Foundation (PLCS) and the CHI Health

Midlands Hospital Foundation. I am currently working closely with the PLCS Foundation to kick off some capital campaigns that will support specific schools and groups within the district. I am also involved with the rest of our Omaha staff in Keep Omaha Beautiful and take part in community cleanup activities. I have also been a STEM mentor at the local high school for several years where I go into the classroom bi-weekly to work with students on their senior capstone projects that are evaluated by the Omaha Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) chapter.

Lindy's dogs Mabel and Mosley.

Jay Kulla, CST Senior Technician Survey Crew Chief

Jerry Bents, PE Senior Civil Engineer Vice President

Erik Jones, PE Senior Civil Engineer

Wade Opsahl Senior Technician

Kevin Cochran CAD Technician

Randi Askegaard CAD Technician

Bjorn Berg, PE Civil Engineer

Naomi Disrud Communications Manager

Jared Friedt, PLS Land Surveyor Survey Crew Chief

Dennis McAlpine, PE Senior Civil Engineer

Jacob Wognum, PE Civil Engineer

Gregg Thielman, PE, CFM President/CEO

Michael Gunsch, PE, CFM Senior Civil Engineer

Jeff Lansink, PE Senior Civil Engineer

Mike Love, PE Senior Civil Engineer

Kevin Martin, PE Senior Civil Engineer

Jim Schlieman, PLS Senior Project Manager - Land Surveying | Vice President

Adam Walker, PE Civil Engineer Sherwin Wanner, PE Senior Civil Engineer Office Manager Vice President

David Olson IT Support

Kiah Sagami, GISP GIS Analyst

Kory Alexander Technician Survey Crew Chief

Gabe Brien, PE Civil Engineer

Ryan David, PE Civil Engineer

Clay Jorgensen, EI Civil Engineer

Hope Krumm TechnicianSurvey

Cody Oltz, PE Civil Engineer

Nic Cullen graduated from the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC Leadership program. In addition, Nic was featured among the EDC's 20 Under 40 professionals.

Tony Nordby named the new Office Manager for HEI’s Thief River Falls, MN, office.

Wyatt Bonnell IT Support Specialist

Brian Ahrendt Civil Engineer

Tiffany DeMuth Senior Communications Specialist

Jeff Mehlhop Survey Crew Chief

Beau Sanford Civil Engineer

Jared Thell, EIT Civil Engineer

Vanessa Hove Accounting Specialist

Kyle Larson Survey Technician

Griffin McComas Civil Engineer

Cole McGough Civil Engineer

Remington Nohr Communications Assistant

Ben Pitkin Communications Specialist

Belle Reeve, EIT Civil Engineer

Eric Schneider, EI Civil Engineer

Katie Cassidy Scientist

Anthony Dargay Designer

Aaron Frankl Scientist

Cait Caswell, EIT Civil Engineer

Kessler Heilman, EI Civil Engineer

Rachel Copper Communications Assistant

Erik Hove, PE Civil Engineer

Welcome

to

A groundbreaking for the 30-mile channel portion of the F-M Area Diversion Project was held on August 9 near the Diversion Outlet into the Red River, which is located approximately 11 miles north of Fargo, ND.

Prairie Business magazine recognized HEI as one of its 50 Best Places to Work in its annual list for 2022. HEI is honored to have been on this list every year since it started in 2014!

On August 16, federal, state, and local officials hosted a public open house with HEI to discuss the Burleigh County floodplain map in North Dakota. This open house allowed citizens to view their preliminary floodplain maps, ask and provide comments, and learn more about the National Flood Insurance Program.

COMMUNITY AND CULTURE

From picnics and golf outings to volunteering, here's a quick glimpse of some of the community and office events our employees enjoyed this summer.