Texas civil engineer 2014 winter vol85 web

Winter 2014 | Volume 85| No. 1

Scoring a Win through Landfill Tr ansformation

Elm Fork Athletic Complex, Dallas

2014 CECON In Review 2014 Texas Section Honors and Awards 2014-2015 ASCE Texas Section Directory

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas PERMIT NO. 879

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Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

On the Cover: Dallas Cup participants at Elm Fork Complex, photo by FC Dallas.

TEXAS SECTION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Crespin Guzman PE OPERATIONS MANAGER: Elizabeth R. Greenwood COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER: Annemarie Gasser DATA MANAGER: Lauren Marcotte 1524 S. Interstate 35, Suite 180 Austin, Texas 78704 Phone: 512-472-8905 E-mail: office@texasce.org Website: www.texasce.org 2014–2015 OFFICERS PRESIDENT: Curtis B. Beitel PE PAST PRESIDENT: Tim C. Newton PE PRESIDENT ELECT: Audra N. Morse PhD, PE VP-EDUCATIONAL: Lawrence D. Goldberg PE VP-EDUCATIONAL ELECT: Brian D. Bresler PE VP-PROFESSIONAL: Roman D. Grijalva PE VP-PROFESSIONAL ELECT: M. Isabel Vasquez PE VP-TECHNICAL: Peter E. Falletta PE VP-TECHNICAL ELECT: Edward M. Penton PE TREASURER: Curtis R. Steger PE DIRECTORS AT LARGE SENIOR DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Christina L. Hickey PE SECOND YEAR DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Brad M. Hernandez PE FIRST YEAR DIRECTOR AT LARGE: Melanie D. Gavlik PE FIRST YEAR DIRECTOR AT LARGE: John A. Tyler PE SECTION DIRECTORS Travis S. Isaacson PE, Austin Branch Robert Lys Jr PE, Brazos Branch Russell R. Carter PE, Caprock Branch John A. Simcik PE, Central Texas Branch Anthony B. Gavlik PE, Corpus Christi Branch Chula B. Ellepola PE, Dallas Branch J. Gilberto Andujo PE, El Paso Branch Kimberly K. Cornett PE, Fort Worth Branch Martin D. Morris PE, High Plains Branch Paul A. Voiles PE, Houston Branch Russell W. Gibson PE, Northeast Texas Branch Alfonso A. Soto PE, Rio Grande Valley Branch Kara J. Heasley PE, San Antonio Branch Robert C. Hickman PE, Southeast Texas Branch Andrew L. Mellen PE, West Texas Branch ASCE - Region 6 Kenneth B. Morris PE Director and Board of Governors Chair 2014-2017 Ken A. Rainwater PhD PE Governor—Texas Section 2012–2015 Jeremy P. Stahle PE Governor—Oklahoma Section 2013-2016 Sean P. Merrell PE Governor—Appointed (Texas Section) 2013-2016 Daniel B. Hartman PE Governor—Texas Section 2014–2017 Jeanette Walther PE Governor—New Mexico Section 2015

In This Issue

Winter 2014 | Volume 85 | Number 1 Calendar of Events 4 CPD Opportunities 4 President’s Message 5 Message From the Executive Director

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Report From Region 6 7 Scoring a Win Through Landfill Transformation

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2015 Texas Civil Engineering Conference

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ASCE Life Members 2015 11 2014 In Memoriam 11 ASCE World Congress in Panama City

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Younger Members’ Corner 14 Meet Your Board Members

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ASCE Texas Section Directory

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Branch News 20 2014 CECON In Review 22 2014 Texas Section Honors and Awards

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Student’s Center 30 Newly Licensed Engineers 32 Legislative News 34 ASCE News 36 Old Highway 9 37 Business Directory 38

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Calendar of Events

CPD Opportunities

Texas Section Meetings

To enhance communications between ASCE and ASCE’s Regions, Sections, and Branches, Geographic Services is pleased to advise you of the following seminars scheduled in our area:

Executive Committee Meeting Houston

January 29, 2015

DiscoverE Week

February 22 - 28, 2015

Executive Committee Meeting Austin CECON 2015 - San Marcos

July 10, 2015

Executive Committee Meeting Austin

January 8, 2016

Sept. 29 - Oct. 2

Texas Civil Engineer Deadlines

Austin 2/4/2015 Dallas 1/15/2015 3/12/2015 Houston 2/5/2015 3/11/2015

GIS for Hydraulic and Hydrologic Modeling Using ArcGIS Desktop Leadership Development for the Engineer HEC-HMS Computer Workshop

Spring 2015 - Volume 85, No. 2 Load Rating of Highway Bridges February 20 Ad Insertion Deadline Structural-Vibration Analysis: February 6 Copy Submittal Deadline Design and Troubleshooting Summer 2015 - Volume 85, No. 3 Detailed descriptions of seminars are available at May 18 Ad Insertion Deadline www.asce.org/continuing_education/ May 4 Copy Submittal Deadline Fall 2015 - Volume 85, No. 4 August 24 Ad Insertion Deadline @TEXASCETweets August 10 Copy Submittal Deadline Find us on Facebook Badge

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CMYK / .eps

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

President’s Message It is going to be another great year for the Texas Section of ASCE! Our first-ever Texas Civil Engineering Conference (CECON) in Galveston was a great success and a lot of fun was had by all. Please join me in thanking our Conference Planning Committee for their tireless efforts to bring this vision to reality.

Texas’ voters made the right choice as they voted ‘yes’ on Proposition 1. As chair of our Public Relations and Professional Image Committee, Stephen Crawford PE led a strong Get Out The Vote campaign working with our partners Move Texas Forward and Texas Infrastructure Now - way to go Stephen! The high percentage passing rate of almost 80% shows our legislators that Texans are serious about funding our transportation infrastructure. The new dedicated portion of the state’s oil and gas collection will increase revenue to the State Highway Fund without harming the Rainy Day Fund. With this reliable funding stream, Texas will be able to make transportation infrastructure improvements and maintenance without new taxes, fees or debt in the years to come.

Other exciting Section events include EWRI’s Low Impact Development Conference in Houston on January 17-21, 2015, and ASCE’s Multi-Region Leadership Conference in Houston from January 30-31, 2015, hosted by the Houston Branch Younger Members. In addition to these events, we will continue the Section’s efforts to strengthen our Branches, Student Chapters and Institute Chapters.

Our monthly webinar series has been very well received, and will continue (let me know if you have any suggested topics). Last year President Tim C. Newton PE established the Section’s STEM Committee, and we will be working on ways to present civil engineering to middle school and high school students. Email me at the Section Office at president@texasce.org if you have any suggestions or want to get involved in these initiatives.

Together we will continue to strengthen our leadership and networking skills to grow into global leaders who build a better quality of life for all Texans.

Curtis B. Beitel PE, CFM, ENV SP Texas Section President

Congr atulations to These 2014 ASCE Award Winners Arthur Casagrande Professional Development Award Chadi Ell Mohtar D.Eng Shortridge Hardesty Award Todd Helwig PhD, PE James Laurie Prize Kara M.Kockelman PhD, PE Stephen D. Bechtel Pipeline Engineering Award David H. Marshall PE Raymond D. Mindlin Medal J.N. Reddy PhD Norman Medal Rani Jaafar PhD William H. Wisely American Civil Engineer Award Stephen W. Balint PE, D.OE

Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement Angela L. Matthews PE Brett A. Pope PE Columbia Medal Donald R. Pettit PhD

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Message From The Executive Director The Section office staff has eagerly begun the fiscal year with goals to deliver better services to the membership Crespin Guzman PE Executive Director through some office operation enhancements. We have gained experience from last year’s initiatives which will reflect improved product delivery and essentially, a greater value to you - the Member.

The communications arena will be the most visable as we strive to enhance your experience with the Texas Civil Engineer, the TexASCE Advisor, our webinar series, utilization of all the social media venues in place and the development and promotion of special projects throughout the year. One special project that has just begun is the development of a Career Center on our Section’s website. By the time you read this, we hope to have it in full swing and to provide the Executive Committee with a preliminary progress report during their meeting just prior to the Multi-Regional Leadership Conference (MRLC) in Houston, late January 2015.

CECON 2014 was one project that gave staff some great opportunities to learn from and improve future conferences. Another was the Section’s history book development and most recently, our participation in the Texas Book Fair at the Capitol, where we were able to promote the Section’s centennial history book and the civil engineering profession. The event gave us an opportunity to meet with the general public, show off our centennial banners and made us feel like part of the book publishing industry.

Marcos in September will bring our efforts full circle for the year.

Another continuing initiative is advocacy work with the Legislature on the recently approved statewide referendum, Proposition 1 for transportation funding. We look forward to continuing to influence the development of implementation that the Legislature will work out beginning in January 2015. Keep your eyes and ears open for updates and alerts on this and other legislative activity.

Our STEM initiative is also moving forward with the emphasis being on the Branches to engage their local communities with these activities. Additionally, with National Engineers Week coming up in February, I encourage our members to support STEM activities like going to a K-12 school and talking about your civil engineering experiences. YOU can make a difference in a youngster’s ultimate choice of a career!

So, if you are looking to make your mark on any of the these projects or activities, drop us a line at the Section office.

We look forward to hearing from You!

As we move through the year, we will have an opportunity to support the Student Symposium in April 2015 at Lamar University in Beaumont, followed by the 2015 EWRI World Congress in Austin in May where the Texas Section is the official section host for the event. Left to right Crespin Guzman, Lauren Marcotte, Elizabeth Greenwood, Annemarie Gasser CECON 2015 in San and Tim Newton at CECON 2014. Photo: Art Clendenin

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Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

report from region 6

Kenneth B. Morris PE, PTOE Region 6 Director

Region 6 represents three Sections (Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas), 19 Branches, and 22 Student Chapters. We are one of the largest regions in terms of populations, and we are definitely one of the most complex in terms of the number of geographic units represented.

The Global Engineering Conference (ASCE annual conference) was held in Panama City, Panama, October 8-11, 2014. The conference was well attended by civil engineers from around the world. This was a special meeting since it is the 100th Anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. There were several attendees from Region 6 including Texas Section Past President Tim C. Newton PE and Past Region 6 Governor Walter (Terry) Winn Jr. PE, D.WRE, F.ASCE. Many of the conference presentations focused on the history or construction of both the original and new Panama Canal. It was a significant engineering feat for the time period, being built between 1904 and 1914. There were also tours of the existing canal and the new Panama Canal construction. The pictures below depict the old Panama Canal in contrast to the new Panama Canal currently under construction. It is scheduled to open by 2016.

Kenneth Morris

The Board of Direction had a two day meeting before the conference.

Some items of interest were the 1. New website update 2. Global Strategic Initiative 3. Policies on Licensure and Continuing Kenneth Morris Education The new ASCE website launched in mid-November and continued additions will be made through the end of 2014. The new website will be more user friendly and easier to maneuver and search for items or articles. The ASCE staff is interested in any comments you may have. The Global Strategic Initiative continues to grow membership for ASCE outside the U.S. ASCE President Randall S.

(Randy) Over PE, F.ASCE and Executive Director Patrick J. Natale PE, CAE, F.ASCE, FASAE made visits to Costa Rica, Bolivia and Columbia this summer promoting ASCE. Some of these countries are making major improvements in their water and wastewater systems. Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is helping to provide these services and train students and younger engineer volunteers.

Civil engineers are definitely global leaders. And finally, the ASCE Board of Direction approved changes to policies regarding engineering licensure and continuing education. As you are probably aware, not all states require continuing education to maintain their Professional Engineer license. The ASCE Policy 425 suggests that all states require at least 15 hours of professional development per year. All of the Region 6 states, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico require continuing education. Mark Woodson PE, LS, F.ASCE from Flagstaff, AZ will be the President-Elect and Bob Stevens PhD, PE, AICP, F.ASCE from Fort Worth will be our new President of ASCE. The Region 6 Board of Governors will hold its next meeting at the Multi-Regional Leadership Conference (MRLC) in Houston on January 29, 2015, 7-9 p.m. The MRLC is a great opportunity for officers of a Section, Branch or Student Chapter to learn more about ASCE and the resources available to our civil engineering profession.

I hope to have a good turnout from Region 6 since we are hosting this event. At our meeting, we will consider candidates for the new Region 6 Governor from Texas.

Ken Rainwater will end his service as Governor next October and we appreciate all the work that Ken has done for the Board of Governors as Treasurer. Starting October 1 this year, Daniel B. Hartman PE, F.ASCE is your new Region 6 Governor replacing Nancy Cline PE. We also appreciate Nancy’s service on the Board of Governors for the past three years. If you have any items that you would like the Region 6 Board of Governors to consider please let me know. Information about the MRLC can be obtained from Nancy Berson (nberson@ asce.org) at ASCE Headquarters.

Sincerely, Kenneth B. Morris, P.E., PTOE Region 6 Director Civil Engineers are Global Leaders building a better quality of life.ďƒł

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Scoring a Win through Landfill Tr a nsfor m ation

Freese and Nichols

turf selection, building materials, lighting, paving, landscaping and irrigation to address environmental hazards on land, air and water. Initial remediation steps included:

The Genesis of a Major Reclamation Project • Initiating legal action to stop illegal dumping and Tricia H. Hatley PE, ENV SP, LEED AP BD+C Vice President/Principal - Urban Planning + Design Freese and Nichols, Inc.

In 2000, Freese and Nichols, a Texas-based architectural and engineering firm, was hired by the City of Dallas, Texas to conduct a flood plain management study of the Elm Fork area of the Trinity River. A component of the plan focused on recreational opportunities and, in conjunction with the Park and Recreation Department finishing up its long-term master plan known as “A Renaissance Plan,” the collective groups identified a compelling need for tournament-level soccer fields and increased green spaces.

The city worked to identify available land and, after careful consideration, selected a former landfill (and illegal dumping site) in the Interstate 35-Walnut Hill area of northwest Dallas as the new spot for the athletic complex. The city focused on creating a sustainable recreational area that could serve as an example of successful reclamation and environmental stewardship for other cities across the country and around the world.

The Environmental C h a l l e n g e : Converting a Dump into Fields of Dreams The ability to effectively remediate a former landfill site was the largest unknown factor. Ultimately, the site would prove to be challenging and require extensive planning in the areas of drainage, foundation,

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remove the stockpile of materials • Providing soil stability and a landfill cap, using 250,000 cubic yards of free dirt from an interstate highway reconstruction project in Dallas County (IH635/IH 35), resulting in a cost savings of $1 million • Working with Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) to specify the use of double-walled water pipes as the main conduit to move water across the landfill, preventing cross-contamination of the potable water supply, and • Cutting special trenches during construction to contain all of the uncovered solid waste and leachate, which was eventually reburied onsite and capped; this resulted in a $200,000 savings on transportation and landfill costs.

Protecting the Natur al Resources: A Case Study in Sustainability Beyond the soccer fields being developed, the city hoped to provide opportunities for a variety of other recreational activities as well. Future plans for trails, picnic areas and nature areas were put in place in order to enhance the urban landscape that had previously had very few trails, minimal parks and virtually no open space. A variety of sustainable design features were also built into the large-scale project to help overcome a number of environmental challenges, as well as help to reduce maintenance as landscaping and additional facilities were added in the future.

Some of the sustainable design features of the complex included: • Bioswales underlying drainage areas to capture and filter storm water

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

• A provision to use non-potable water sources for irrigation when future infrastructure is installed • Sustainable building practices for structures based on LEED principles, including using concrete that incorporates fly ash (a byproduct of coal-fired electrical power plants) to construct building facilities • Use of recycled materials for the pavement and parking areas throughout the complex • Use of drought-resistant and drought-tolerant landscaping that minimizes the need for water resources • Operational guidelines focused on organic methods, limiting the use of chemicals to maintain athletic fields and other landscaped areas • Installation of a hybrid sports turf that is a durable variety and, when planted in a special soil mix, allows the fields to dry quickly • Tree and vegetation placement to shade parking areas, buildings and facility users • Development of an irrigation pond to reuse captured rain water and minimize the use of municipal water supplies.

Building Partnerships for Financial Sustainability As the 18-month-long construction project progressed, the team identified the need for an outside partner to support the long-term financial sustainability of the project. The city turned to the private sector as a source of funding for ongoing maintenance and operating expenses, ultimately selecting Major League Soccer team FC Dallas/Hunt Sports Group to become the official operator of the complex effective January 1, 2014.

Freese and Nichols

Freese and Nichols

The management team expects to host more than one million visitors annually for local, regional and international tournaments, league play and other sports activities. Generating an estimated $6 million in gross economic impact from the annual Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup alone, this municipal asset has a myriad of revenuegenerating opportunities that will support its continued financial sustainability.

What began as an identified community need and subsequent vision for world-class tournament-level playing fields became a reality for the City of Dallas and its partners. The Elm Fork Athletic Complex, a $31 million project with a total of 140 acres including 27 acres of playing fields and 28 acres of nature preserve, is a prime example of the incredible power of public-private partnerships in successfully balancing a community’s needs with the commitment to environmental and financial stewardship and sustainability. 

Freese and Nichols

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2015 TEXAS CIVIL ENGINEERING CONFERENCE CALL FOR TOPICS and SPEAKERS What do you think are the important topics and challenges of our profession? Let us know! CECON 2015 proposals will be accepted on these conference themes: TRANSPORTATION, WATER RESOURCES, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

SUSTAINABILITY

The CECON 2015 program agenda will include sessions that exemplify civil engineers and civil engineering projects as:  Master Builders  Stewards of the Environment  Innovators  Managers of Risk  Leaders in Public Policy

WATER RESOURCES

Submissions for CECON 2015 topics and speakers will be accepted through January 31, 2015. Submissions received after January 31, 2015 will be considered for future speaking opportunities.

TRANSPORTATION

Submit your ideas to programs@texascecon.org

or fill out the form at

www.texasce.org/page/CECON2015Topics/?

9/29 - 10/2 2015 San Marcos Embassy Suites 1001 E McCarty Ln San Marcos, TX 78666

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Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

ASCE Life Members 2015 ASCE Life Members are at least 65 years old, have paid dues for at least 35 years and have had ten years of continuous membership immediately preceding the attainment of Life Member. Congratulations!

Austin Branch Dallas Branch Houston Branch Sam O. Brooks PE Tracy L. Hill PE Michael R. Monnig PE G. Nicholas Textor PE, D.WRE, F.ASCE Harold L. Von Quintus PE

Brazos Branch

Bill Batchelor PhD, PE Jean-Louis Briaud PhD, PE, D.GE, Dist. M.ASCE Ralph A. Wurbs PhD, PE, D.WRE, F.ASCE

Central Texas Branch Michael R. McBay PE

Corpus Christi Branch Ajmer S. Kular PE Michael Kupferman PE

John T. Davis PE, PLS, LS, F.ASCE Clyde C. Ding PE Sal M. Gazioglu PE Bartley D. Gill PE Lewis L. Kadleck PE, PLS Robert J. Kleineck PE Gerald E. Monk PE Ivan F. Nicodemus PE Ronald Reed PE Dwayne C. Stubblefield PE CFM, HG, CAE John F. Stull PE, LS

El Paso Branch Angel Ramierez PE

Fort Worth Branch

Richard W. Albin PE, RLS William L. Boomer PE, LS J. Theron Darr PE Charles M. Jackson PE, F.ASCE Ronnie Lemons PE, LS, D.WRE, F.ASCE Ricky D. Lunsford PE Stanford W. Lynch PE Davis G. Parsons PE, RA Stephen L. Patterson Thomas R. Sadler PE John P. Wier PE, LS

James R. Ainsworth PE Mark Berman PE John D. Carrara Peter C. Crossland Paul J. Derkowski PE, F.ASCE Ahmad J. Durrani PhD, PE, F.ASCE James V. Hall PE Francis S. Key PE Ngok W. Lai PE, D.OE Gary W. Lemley PE James F. Moore PE Nelson B. Nuckles PE Peter A. Polk PE Gerardo Quiros PE William S. St. John PE, F. ASCE Robert F. Stevens PE, F. ASCE Edward A. Wiley PE

Northeast Texas Branch

R. Reeves Hayter PE, LS Michael L. Marler PE Phillip W. McGough PE Walter T. (Terry) Winn PE, D.WRE, F.ASCE

San Antonio Branch Peter C. Crossland Michael W. Cude PE, LS Karl J. Dreher PE, D.WRE Alan D. Lindskog PE, PLS W. Henry Waggy PE

2014 In Memoriam John R. Collins Jr. Houston Branch Thomas M. Daniel Dallas Branch Elvidio Diniz Northern Branch (New Mexico) Morgan I. Doyne Austin Branch Harvey Hawkins Brazos Branch

David Helpenstell Corpus Christi Branch JaMES R. (Bob) King Jr. Fort Worth Branch Alan B. Matejowsky Austin Branch A. P. Tony Wenzel Jr. Houston Branch

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ASCE World Congress in Panama City Julie Jones PE, CFM | Conference Co-Chair | 2014 Global ASCE and EWB Conference I am a member of the Dallas Branch and I was the Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) delegate to the Planning Committee of the 2014 Global ASCE and EWB Conference in Panama. I was also on the education and planning committees for EWB-USA for the Design Global Engineer Local Course and I was a leader/ teacher in the water supply and distribution pathway in The Design Global Engineer Local course.

Design Global Engineer Local is a one-week fast-paced course about engineering’s role in sustainable development. This brought together 154 students and professionals from nine countries around the world.

The attendees learned and applied concepts of sustainable engineering for projects in the United States as well as countries around the world.

The course was offered as a joint partnership between Engineers Without Borders USA, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the University of Colorado Boulder.

The course covered all aspects of beginning a project including the assessment, project initiation, and community appraisal. The data from the appraisal was used to identify and rank community problems to determine what needs to be done first as well as what portions of the project have the best probability of succeeding. We then discussed capacity, vulnerability, and risk analysis to determine how nontechnical issues influence technical decisions related to design. There are many factors that can determine when a project is successful but this must be considered to show the effectiveness of a project. There is then a point to where all of the projects have been addressed or when the scope of the project is unfeasible for that chapter or group and one needs to discuss when and how to end or leave a project. This will include handing off a functional project to a community that knows how to operate and maintain the system. After three days of coursework the participants joined ASCE for the Global Conference.

The participants learned how these projects in developing countries discussed in the course had some of the same aspects as the large-scale projects that were examined at the ASCE/EWB sessions.

A difficult topic that was covered and encouraged in the EWB and ASCE sessions, was learning from past project mistakes or things that one could improve. I think that this is a necessary and hard part of the engineering process, to discuss why some projects fail and what lessons can be learned from them.

At the end of the ASCE/EWB sessions on Friday, participants and

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leaders went on a tour of the existing Panama Canal Miraflores locks and then went to the construction site of the new locks. The scale of this project is something that I have never seen before. We were standing at a construction site which, in a short time, would be flooded with water and have ships passing over.

On the last day of the course, we divided into groups and went on site assessments to various communities around Panama. This took us to a vastly different landscape; from seeing skyscrapers in the city to indigenous communities in rural areas. The community I visited was conducting a survey to count the number of people in the village and how they obtained the water they used. This information will be used

by EWB-Panama to design a water source, distribution, and supply project. The need in the community was overwhelming and the desire for change was great. We also went to a neighboring community where EWB-Panama just completed a similar system to see the completed project of what we started that morning.

Through this process I learned many things that can be applied to projects I work on in Texas, as well as on projects for EWB-USA North Texas Professional Chapter. I also learned what goes into organizing a conference on this scale. At the conference and on the many hours of conference calls leading up to the conference, I had the opportunity to meet and get to know many people in the civil engineering profession that I would not ordinarily have a chance to get to know. I am proud to have helped put on such a successful course and conference.ďƒł

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

Julie A. Jones

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Younger Members’ Corner

Fabian A. Herrera PE Younger Member Chair

Towards the end of September and the Major League Baseball regular season, despite an unsuccessful year for the Rangers baseball team, the Dallas ASCE Younger Member Forum was able to collaborate with 5 other Young Professional groups from around the DFW area at a successful joint outing to watch the Rangers face the Houston Astros.

The joint Rangers outing was organized through a series of conference calls by leaders from ASCE, Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE), Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

Defining the success of this event, the 54 attendees represented a broad spectrum of the community. Age groups ranged between young EITs to an 83-year-old SAME fellow member who was a big time Rangers fan and was proud to admit that he was at the game where Nolan Ryan pitched his 5,000th strikeout. The event

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prompted engineers from all different facets to come together with their friends and family. Several recruiters also came out to share career opportunities with our members.

The outing began at Blue Mesa Grill in Arlington for a happy hour and some food where people had a chance to meet and network, and then took shuttles provided by the restaurant to the ballpark to watch the game.

All the organizations had a blast with this event and hope to make this an annual occurrence.ďƒł

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

The World’s Largest Equipment Exhibition and Technical Congress Dedicated to the Deep Foundations Industry

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.

March 17-21 2015

PDHs Available

◆ Indoor and Outdoor Geo-Industry Equipment and Displays

◆ Over 150 Exhibitors and 35 Hours of Exhibit Time

◆ 5K Fun Run/Walk

◆ Student Competition

◆ Extensive Technical Program

◆ Panel Discussions and Short Courses

◆ Internationally Acclaimed Presenters

Registration Now Open at www.ifcee2015.com texasce.org

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Meet Your Board Members The Texas Section ASCE Board Members were asked to fill out a questionnaire so that the Section’s members might get to know them a little better on a more personal level. The series will run in each of the 4 editions of the TCE and each edition will highlight a couple of the Board Members with the goal that by the end of the year each Board Member has been introduced.

President Elect: Audr a Morse, PhD, PE Audra Morse works at Texas Tech University as the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. It is therefore, no wonder Audra Morse standing next to Tex- that she listed any Red as Tech concrete canoe ready to Raider sports team as cheer on her team the team she was a fanatic of.

Q: What is your top love in the civil engineering profession?

A: “I love that civil engineering surrounds us every day and is something I can proudly point out to my two sons.

I especially love that I can answer where water comes from and who builds roads and buildings. I always tell the boys that engineers design the world around them.”

Q: Have you completed any physical challenges?

A: “Ran through DFW airport in heels to catch my flight.”

Q: What do you do to de-stress?

A: “Walk my dogs early in the morning to get an early start on the day, which allows me to plan to get ahead of the stress. At the end of the day, a great margarita or glass of red wine.”

Q: How would you describe your family?

A: “My husband and best friend is Stephen Morse who is an accomplished civil engineer in his own right. We are blessed with two amazing sons, Braden and Orin, who still think their mom is great. Our family includes three fury friends (Shiner, Nutmeg and Lady Gray) and a tank full of fish.”

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VP-Educational: Larry Goldberg PE Larry currently works at LANDEV Engineers Inc. and is serving his second year on the Board.

Q: What concept in civil engineering have you found especially hard to grasp?

A: “Obtaining agency approval, just when you Larry and his wife, Rhoda, in Portugal think you have the attending their daughter’s wedding system down, the rules of the game change.”

Q: Have you completed any physical challenges?

A: “I have completed a three bridge running series: a 10K run over the Kemah Bridge, 10K run over the Galveston Causeway, and a half marathon over the Fred Hartman Bridge between La Porte and Baytown.” – now that is an answer from a true civil engineer!

Q: What previous vacation should be a must for everyone?

A: “My oldest daughter was recently married in Porto, Portugal. I would highly recommend to anyone to vacation in Portugal. Porto is located in the northwest portion of the country and is bordered on one side by the Duro River, and another by the Atlantic Ocean. You get the best that a river scenery and ocean scenery can offer.”

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have received?

A: “Happy Wife, Happy Life…”

VP-Educational Elect: Brian BResler PE Serving the first of a two year term, Brian currently works for Freese and Nichols in their Corpus Christi office.

Q: What do you do to de-stress?

A: “Spend time with family…surf…fish…hunt. In that order.”

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

Christina L. Hickey PE Senior Director at Large

Treasurer: Curtis Steger PE Curtis works at Steger & Bizzell Engineering in Georgetown, Texas.

Q: Were you the former winner of any previous competition?

A: “I guessed the number of hockey pucks in a plexiglass box to win season tickets to the Austin Ice Bats back in 1997. My wife also won season tickets to Kyle field to watch the Aggies win every home game that year (oh, the good ‘ole days).” – sounds like a pretty amazing prize to get to watch the Aggies all season!

Brian and his two sons at Natural Bridge Caverns

Q: How did you decide to become a civil engineer?

A: “I was driving down the road one day, spilling my drink from all the potholes, and I thought, “Wow, whoever gets paid for fixing all these roads has a gold mine!”

Q: Other interesting fact?

A: “Civil engineering is my second profession after a decade in secondary education. True to form, since I did not have a degree in math, they had me teach high school math, and after doing that for a while, I finally felt confident enough in math to try engineering. From this experience, I know that there are many highly motivated and highly skilled Texas high school students that are not pursuing civil engineering in college, not because they can’t, but because we have not done a good enough job connecting them to the opportunities available in the profession of civil engineering.

We must do a better job as professionals to connect with talented local kids, who are already invested in the success of our local infrastructure, to become partners in this critical profession that does so much to provide a stable platform for modern society to flourish. Our obligation as professionals is to create opportunities for those under us and to provide the professional ranks with a steady supply of talented and motivated individuals in order to carry the profession forward.”

Q: How would you describe your family?

A: “I am blessed to have been married to my wife for 21 years. We have 2 children that are active in sports and church. My son is a 6’6” tall 16-year old junior who plays varsity basketball for East View High School in Georgetown and my daughter is a 5’10” tall 13-year old freshman who plays freshman volleyball and basketball for East View High School.”

Q: What is your biggest achievement?

A: “My family was one of the first on the scene of a very serious motorcycle accident late one night on a very dark road. My son, an Eagle Scout, ran from our car to tie a make-shift tourniquet on the victim. He used his basketball jersey, which made it difficult to tie a tight tourniquet, so I used my shirt and tied a second tourniquet. We were successful in stopping the bleeding and getting the victim to regain consciousness. He survived the accident and is fulfilling his duties as a husband and father of 3 (including twins).”

Curtis with his father, Les Steger, fishing in Matagorda Bay

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ASCE Texas Section 2014 - 2015 Directory TEXAS SECTION OFFICE Executive Director Crespin Guzman PE cguzman@texasce.org Operations Manager/ Secretary Elizabeth R. Greenwood egreenwood@texasce.org Communications Manager Annemarie Gasser agasser@texasce.org Administrative Assistant/ Data Manager Lauren Marcotte lmarcotte@texasce.org

2014 - 2015 OFFICERS President Curtis B. Beitel PE HDR Inc. curtis.beitel@hdrinc.com Past President Tim C. Newton PE KBR tim.newton@kbr.com President Elect Audra N. Morse PhD PE Texas Tech University audra.n.morse@ttu.edu VP-Educational Lawrence D. Goldberg PE LANDEV Engineers Inc. lgoldberg@landevengineers.com

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VP-Professional Elect M. Isabel Vasquez PE Huitt-Zollars, Inc ivasquez@huitt-zollars.com VP-Technical Peter E. Falletta PE Terracon pefalletta@terracon.com VP-Technical Elect Edward M. Penton PE Jacobs Engineering Group ed.penton@jacobs.com

ASCE Texas Section 1524 S. Interstate 35, Ste. 180 Austin, TX 78704 Phone: 512-472-8905 texasce.org office@texasce.org

VP-Educational Elect Brian D. Bresler PE Freese and Nichols bdb@freese.com

VP-Professional Roman D. Grijalva PE Brown & Gay Engineers, Inc. rgrijalva@browngay.com

section directors Austin Branch (2014-2016) Travis S. Isaacson PE TBE Group travis.isaacson@cardnotbe.com Brazos Branch (2013-2015) Robert Lys Jr. PE Tricon Precast Limited blys@triconprecast.com Caprock Branch (2013-2015) Russell R. Carter PE Carter Consulting & Engineering LLC russell.carter@ttu.edu

Treasurer Curtis R. Steger PE Steger & Bizzell Engineering curtis.steger@stegerbizzell.com

Central Texas Branch (2014-2016) John A. Simcik PE Kasberg Patrick & Associates LLP jsimcik@kpaengineers.com

Directors At Large Senior Director at Large Christina L. Hickey PE City of McAllen clhickey@mcallen.net

Corpus Christi Branch (2014-2016) Anthony B. Gavlik PE HDR Engineering Inc. anthony.gavlik@hdrinc.com

Second Year Director at Large Brad M. Hernandez PE URS brad.hernandez@urs.com

Dallas Branch (2013-2015) Chula B. Ellepola PE Terra Testing Inc. chula.ellepola@terra-eng.com

First Year Director at Large Melanie D. Gavlik PE Naismith Engineering Inc mgavlik@naismith-engineering.com First Year Director at Large John A. Tyler PE Pape Dawson Engineers Inc. jtyler@pape-dawson.com

El Paso Branch (2013-2015) Gilberto Andujo PE City of El Paso andujojg@elpasotexas.gov Fort Worth Branch (2013-2015) Kimberly K. Cornett PE Brown & Gay Engineers, Inc. kcornett@browngay.com

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

ASCE Texas Section 2014 - 2015 Directory High Plains Branch (2014-2016) Martin D. Morris PE Amarillo Testing & Engineering Inc. mmorris@amarillotesting.com Houston Branch (2014-2016) Paul A. Voiles PE Binkley & Barfield Inc. pvoiles@binkleybarfield.com Northeast Texas Branch (2014-2016) Russell W. Gibson PE ETTL Engineers & Consultants Inc rgibson@ettlinc.com Rio Grande Valley Branch (2013-2015) Alfonso A. Soto PE Terracon aasoto@terracon.com San Antonio Branch (2014-2016) Kara J. Heasley PE Vickerey & Associates Inc kheasley@vickreynet.com Southeast Texas Branch (2013-2015) Robert C. Hickman PE LJA Engineering Inc. rhickman@LJAengineering.com West Texas Branch (2013-2015) Andrew L. Mellen PE Maverick Engineering LLC amellen@maverickentities.com Region 6 Board of Governors Director/Chair, 2013-2016 Kenneth B. Morris PE, PTOE kmorris12@cox.net Governor, 2014-2017 Daniel B. Hartman PE, F.ASCE dbhartman25@gmail.com

Governor (Appointed), 2013-2016 Sean P Merrell PE, PTOE smerrell@browngay.com

Dallas Branch Angela L. Matthews PE Hayden Consultants, Inc. amatthews@haydenconsultants.com

Governor, 2012-2015 (Texas Section) Kenneth A. Rainwater PhD, PE D.WRE (Texas Section) ken.rainwater@ttu.edu

El Paso Branch Wendy M. Arredondo EIT Quantum Engineering wbarron@qeceng.com

Governor, 2013-2017 (Oklahoma Section) Jeremy P Stahle PE jeremy.stahle@connectcec.com

Fort Worth Branch Samantha W. Clark PE City of Arlington Public Works Transportation mandy.clark@arlingtontx.gov

Governor, 2013-2014 (New Mexico Section) Jeanette Walther PE, PTOE jwalther@bhinc.com

High Plains Branch Rodolfo O. Mireles EIT Amarillo Testing & Engineering rmireles@amarillotesting.com

Governor, 2015-2018 (New Mexico Section) Jerry B. Paz PE jpaz@molzencorbin.com

Houston Branch Jason P. Ellison PE Brown & Gay Engineers Inc. president@ascehouston.org

2014 - 2015 Branch Presidents Austin Branch Dave Lubitz PE Aguirre & Fields LP dave.lubitz@aguirre-fields.com

Northeast Texas Branch Arun S. Kortikere PE City of Longview akortikere@gmail.com

Brazos Branch Jeremy N. Peters PE Gessner Engineering LLP jpeters@gessnerengineering.com Caprock Branch Travis S. Barnett EIT Parkhill, Smith, & Cooper, Inc. tbarnett@team-psc.com Central Texas Branch Taylor Blanchard EIT Walker Partners tblanchard@walkerpartners.com Corpus Christi Branch Michelle A. Patton PE Maverick Engineering Inc mpatton@maveng.com

Rio Grande Valley Branch Marlen Gonzalez EIT marlen.gonzalez12@gmail.com San Antonio Branch Geoffrey T. Turner PE Unintech Inc. tturner@unintech.com Southeast Texas Branch Robert C. Hickman PE (acting) LJA Engineering Inc rhickman@LJAengineering.com West Texas Branch Brady Stanford EIT Parkhill, Smith & Cooper bstanford@team-psc.com

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Branch News

Brad Hernandez PE Second Year Director at Large

The weather is not the only thing changing across the State of Texas. The Branch leaders across the State are also changing. In the fall 2014, the Branches installed their 2014-2015 officers/Board Members. This is an exciting time for each branch as they continue to uphold and build upon the vision, mission and goals of ASCE. Please help me congratulate the new Branch officers serving as leaders for this great organization.

Austin Br anch

President: Dave Lubitz PE Past President: Reem Zoun PE President-Elect: Jane-Ellen M. Carter EIT Vice President-Programs: Stephen R. Zobal PE Secretary: J. Brandon Klenzendorf PhD, PE Treasurer: Glenn A. Goldstein PE Treasurer-Elect: Joe F. Goessling PE Communication Director: Juan Carlos Araiza PhD, PE Younger Member Director: Lindsey O’Leary PE Texas Section Director: Travis S. Isaacson PE

Br azos Br anch

President: Jeremy N. Peters PE Past President: Alfred A. Paine PE Vice President: Sean Ray PE Secretary: Christopher Surface EIT Treasurer: Joshua D. Norton PE Texas Section Director: Robert Lys Jr PE

Caprock Br anch

President: Travis S. Barnett EIT Vice President: Kelli Friar Secretary: Kendra Hanfeld Treasurer: Matthew S. Laverty PE Texas Section Director: Russell R. Carter PE

Centr al Texas Br anch

President: Taylor Blanchard EIT Past President: John A. Simcik PE, CFM Vice President: Allen B. Nash EIT Secretary: Kyle A. Stanislav EIT Treasurer: Brian J. Geiger EIT

Corpus Christi Br anch

President: Michelle A. Patton PE Past President: John D. McMullan PE Vice President: Gabrielle Escamilla PE Secretary: Joshua Smith EIT Treasurer: Michael C. York EIT Texas Section Director: Anthony Gavlik PE

Dallas Br anch

President: Angela L. Matthews PE Past President: Kristin D. Green PE President-Elect: Brad M. Hernandez PE Vice President: Lena Peter PE Secretary: Anthony Luce PE Treasurer: Frank E. Pugsley PE Technical Director: Mark Roberts PE Branch Director: Fabian Herrera PE Texas Section Director: Chula B. Ellepola PE

2014-2015 Corpus Christi Branch Officers with Texas Section President Curtis B. Beitel PE, CFM, ENV SP

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Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

2014-2015 Dallas Branch Officers with Region 6 Governor Sean Merrell PE.

El Paso Br anch

President: Wendy M. Arredondo EIT Past President: Yvonne C. Conde-Curry PE President-Elect: Marvin H. Gomez PE, CFM, PTOE Treasurer: Roxanne Rivera-Medina PE Section Director: J. Gilberto Andujo PE Branch Director (2014-2016): Thomas M. Vick PE Branch Director (2014-2016): Jesse Valles EIT Branch Director (2013-2015): Sergio R. Mendez EIT Branch Director (2013-2015): R. Shane Brooks EIT

Fort Worth Br anch

President: Samantha W. Clark PE Past President: Leah M. Hodge PE Vice President/Treasurer: Travis N. Attanasio PE Secretary/Asst. Treasurer: Clinton Hoover PE Texas Section Director: Kimberly Cornett PE Branch Director: Scott F. Berman PE Branch Director: Brett A. Schock PE Branch Director: James P. Sappington IV PE

High Plains Br anch

President: Rodolfo O. Mireles EIT Past President: Eliot L. Fisher PE Vice President: Michael T. Krusing PE Secretary – Treasurer: Andrew Sry EIT Texas Section Director: Martin D. Morris PE

Houston Br anch

President: Jason P. Ellison PE Past President: Lane M. Lease PE President-Elect: Brent Baldwin Secretary: Natalie M. Weiershausen PE, ENV SP Treasurer: Heather Guillen PE Branch Director: Jason Brock PE VP Administration: Scott A. Marr VP Education: Saud A. Memon PE VP Technical: Anwar S. Akhtar PE Texas Section Director: Paul A. Voiles PE

Northeast Texas Br anch

President: Arun S. Kortikere PE Past President: Joshua W. Barton EIT Vice President: Owen Sanderson EIT Secretary - Treasurer: David D. Stanley EIT

Rio Gr ande Valley Br anch President: Marlen Gonzales EIT Past President: Eugene Palacios PE Vice President: Robert L. Canterbury PE Secretary: Dora E. Marin-Robles EIT Treasurer: Carlos Garza PE Texas Section Director: Alfonso A. Soto PE

San Antonio Br anch

President: Geoffrey T. Turner PE Past President: Steven A. Gonzales PE President-Elect: Curt G. Campbell PE VP Programs: Amy M. Stone PE VP Membership: Deepa Thankavel PE Secretary: Ryan R. Plagens PE Treasurer: Luke J. Reed PE Texas Section Director: Kara J. Heasley PE

Southeast Texas Br anch Section Director: Robert C. Hickman PE

West Texas Br anch

President: Brady Stanford EIT Past President: Joshua C. Ferguson EIT Treasurer: Adrian Frias EIT Secretary: Jared A. Squyres EIT Newsletter Editor/Membership: Larry H. Walker PE Webmaster: Jeffrey H. Cohen PE Texas Section Director: Andrew L. Mellen PE

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2014 CECON In Review The Texas Section of ASCE held its first annual conference, CECON, at the San Luis Resort, Spa and Conference Center in Galveston, Texas September 17 through 19, 2014. The planning committee was co-chaired by LeAnne Napolillo PE, F. ASCE and Ron Reichert. The theme of the conference was The Future of ‌ Ports, Transportation and Energy. The conference included three days of presentations and conversations regarding the future of Texas infrastructure, with specific focuses on rail, highways and space travel. The conference committee experimented with new formats for presentations, including a lightning round presentation format. During the conference, keynote presentations were made

by Kelvin L. Solco, PE, MBA, FES - FAA, Regional

Audra N. Morse PhD, PE President Elect

one annual conference instead of a separate concrete canoe competition and steel bridge competition. The new format will begin in Spring 2016 in Lubbock.

Moreover, the Board discussed attainment of the Texas Section Strategic Priorities for 2012-2016, which include 1) communication, 2) organizational support 3) community involvement, 4) Student Chapters and Younger Members, 5) continuing education, and 6) annual meetings (CECON).

ASCE Global President-elect Robert D. Stevens PhD, PE, AICP, F. ASCE attended the conference and installed the following officers who comprise the ASCE Texas Section Board of Direction for the 2014-2015 fiscal year along with the Section Directors representing each Branch: President Curtis B. Beitel PE, CFM, ENV SP (Fort Worth) President Elect Audra N. Morse PhD, PE (Lubbock) Vice President-Educational Lawrence D. Goldberg PE (Houston) Vice President-Educational Elect Brian D. Bresler PE (Corpus Christi) Vice President-Professional Roman D. Grijalva PE (Austin) Vice President-Professional Elect M. Isabel Vasquez PE (El Paso) Vice President-Technical Peter E. Falletta PE (Houston) Vice President-Technical Elect Edward M. Penton PE (Dallas)

Kelvin Solco speaks at CECON. Art Clendenin

Administrator, Southwest Region Airports Division , John J. Drobny, Director of Security Projects (retired), Port of New York and New Jersey, and Bob Harvey, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership. Other honored guests included David Alexander, Director of the Rice Space Institute and Michael W. Alford PE, Texas Department of Transportation, Houston District.

During the conference, the Texas Section-ASCE Board of Direction met to discuss Section business including Get Out the Vote for Proposition 1, a change in the format of student competitions to combining them to

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Treasurer Curtis R. Steger PE (Georgetown) Senior Director at Large Christina L. Hickey PE (McAllen) Second Year Director at Large Brad M. Hernandez PE (Dallas) First Year Director at Large Melanie D. Gavlik PE (Corpus Christi) First Year Director at Large John A. Tyler PE (San Antonio)

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

Rich Patrick dances at the luau. Art Clendenin

During the Wednesday night luau and awards ceremony, the following projects and individuals were honored for their contributions to advancing the civil engineering profession through technical or service activities - read more about them starting on page 25.

2014 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award: Ward County Water Supply Project, Colorado River Municipal Water Authority, Freese and Nichols, Inc. 2014 Outstanding Civil Engineering Award of Merit: Birnamwood Drive Extension, Harris County Public Infrastructure Department, Klotz Associates

Regulatory Compliance NEPA  Wetlands  Archeology Endangered Species  Geology TxDOT Categorical Exclusion SWPPP/Erosion Control Reservoir Permitting

Excellence in Journalism Award: Gary Jacobson, Dallas Morning News “When it comes to concrete, they’re set” Award of Honor: Richard L. Patrick PE John A. Focht, Jr. Citizen Engineer Award: LeAnne M. Napolillo PE Government Civil Engineer Award: Carol E. Haddock PE History and Heritage Award: Betsy Tyson Professional Service Award: Donald J. Anderson PE and Travis N. Attanasio PE Professional Service to Students Award: Natalie M. Weiershausen, PE Service to People Award: Frank C. Brogan PE

Over 200 people from many of the branches attended the inaugural annual conference and the Texas Section wants to see this event grow into the civil engineering conference of Texas. So, please mark your calendars and bring a friend to the second CECON at the Embassy Suites in San Marcos, September 29 to October 2, 2015. 

Specializing in Infrastructure Projects Water/Wastewater  Roadway Schools  Parks & Recreation Oil & Gas  Electric Utility Flood Control  Wind Power Waste Management

Agency Coordination US Army Corps of Engineers  US Fish & Wildlife Service Texas Historical Commission  Texas Parks & Wildlife  FEMA  TxDOT TCEQ  TWDB  County and Municipal

Certified HUB-DBE-WBE-SBE 1507 South IH 35, Austin, TX  (512) 328-2430  Serving Texas and Beyond Since 1987 www.horizon-esi.com

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I’m At Home GettInG CertIfIed As A dIplomAte. “Being certified by ACopne as a diplomate in Coastal engineering recognizes my specialized expertise, experience, and leadership in the field. the ACopne certification distinguishes those with the credentials to practice in specialized engineering disciplines - such as coastal engineering — from individuals without such credentials.”

Christopher J. Bender, P.E., D.CE, M.ASCE senior engineer, taylor engineering, Inc.

“Cdm smith is a strong proponent of specialty certifications for their technical staff and it was a natural next step in my career... After obtaining a masters degree, pursue certification for your professional engineer (pe) license and specialty certification (such as the AAWre) as soon as you are eligible.”

Lena Rivera, P.E., D.WRE, M.ASCE senior Water resources engineer, Cdm smith

I’m HOME At AsCe. Stand out from your peers by obtaining the credential that shows you’ve reached the highest level of recognition in your field.

The Diplomate credential stands for mastery in your specialty, commitment to professionalism through ethics and continuing professional development, and your support of ASCE’s mission to elevate the standards in civil engineering.

If you are a professional engineer with 10 years of experience, and have a post-undergraduate degree, apply now to become an ASCE Board Certified Diplomate in: Coastal Engineering, n Geotechnical Engineering, n Navigational Engineering, n Ocean Engineering, n Port Engineering, and n Water Resources Engineering. n

Distinguish yourself and find the certification that’s right for you by visiting www.asce.org/certification.

“looking at the list of the previous inductees, it was a great honor for me to be considered as a diplomate. We are living in a world that specialization is not a luxury anymore. this new certification will provide an avenue to the engineering community to readily recognize the specialist who are sanctioned by their peers through AGp.” Soheil Nazarian, Ph.D., P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE professor, University of texas at el paso

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The home for civil engineers and the civil engineering profession

www.asce.org

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

2014 Texas Section honors and Awards 2014 Outstanding Civil Engineering Acheivement Award Ward County Water Supply Project

OWNER: Colorado River Municipal Water Authority – Cole Walker ENGINEER: Freese and Nichols, Inc.

The Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD)’s Ward County Water Supply Project, implemented after the record drought of 2010-2011, supplies 30 million gallons of water a day to Odessa, Midland, San Angelo, Big Spring, Snyder and other water supply customers. Freese and Nichols, Inc. engineered the collection and water transmission system, which includes 21 groundwater wells, 66 miles of pipeline, four pump stations and other facilities. Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM) acted as civil engineering consultant for the well field expansion.

Four construction firms were contracted for the project, including Garney Construction (Kansas City, MO), who acted as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR); S.J. Louis Construction of Texas Ltd (Mansfield, TX); Oscar Renda Contracting (Roanoke, TX); and Hydro Resources (Sugar Land, TX). Because of emergency water needs, several innovative concepts were utilized in order to expedite the total project time line, including resource scheduling, modular construction, CMAR delivery method, simplified equipment specifications and use of locally available materials. The project was designed and constructed in less than 18 months, and completed two weeks ahead of schedule and $25 million (20%) under budget. Concurrent with one of the largest oil booms in decades, the timely completion of this water supply project was of critical importance to the vitality of West Texas and the nation’s economy.

2014 Outstanding Civil Engineering Acheivement Award of Merit Birnamwood Drive Extension

OWNER: Harris County Public Infrastructure Department ENGINEER: Klotz Associates

Harris County Public Infrastructure Department (HCPID)’s Birnamwood Drive Extension was engineered by Klotz Associates, Inc. to incorporate low-impact development (LID) principles, becoming the first public roadway in the Houston region to do so as well as a benchmark for the Harris County Low-Impact Development and Green Infrastructure Design Criteria for Storm Water Management (2011). The extension comprises a northsouth four-lane roadway just under a mile long, which relieves congestion associated with access to Pundt Park and improves storm water quality through a median bioswale of native vegetation which mixes natural and engineered elements to provide on-site detention, utilizing underground rain tanks that collect and slowly release filtered water at outfall locations. Architect – Knudson, LP (Houston, TX) – designed the streetscape.

The general contract for the construction of the extension was awarded jointly to D&W Contractors, Inc (Channelview, TX) and BIO Landscape and Maintenance (Houston, TX), who built the roadway and installed the ideal low-maintenance solution for vegetated areas respectively. Sustainable construction methods were utilized such as the reuse and recycling of materials.

The project is a model of sustainability – a successful implementation of a more environmentally respectful approach to roadway construction which is also less costly to build and maintain, paving the way for roadway projects to run 15% below cost of traditional methods.

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ASCE Texas Section Honors Presented Excellence In Journalism Award

Gary Jacobson, is a reporter on the Business News staff of The Dallas Morning News. He joined the newspaper in 1986 and has worked as a sports writer, projects writer, executive business editor and Sunday editor. He served as publisher and editor of the Arlington Morning News, a start-up daily newspaper owned by The News, from 1996 to 2001. He has also worked at the Times-Union in Rochester, New York, and at USA Today, where he was deputy managing editor for the Money section. Gary has co-authored two books with John Hillkirk of USA Today: Xerox: American Samurai (Macmillan, 1986) and Grit, Guts and Genius (Houghton Mifflin, 1990).

A native of North Dakota, Gary has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. He lives in Dallas with his wife, Sherry, who is also a reporter at The News.

Gary’s article, “When it comes to concrete, they’re set”, was selected because of its excellent explanation of a very technical subject to the public.

Government Civil Engineer Award

Carol E. Haddock PE, has been serving the community over 15 years through her work at the City of Houston and Harris County Flood Control District. She is currently the Senior Assistant Director of the Infrastructure Planning Branch for the City of Houston. She is responsible for long-range planning efforts that lead to development of specific infrastructure projects for programming in future Capital Improvement Plans (CIP) and for preengineering leading to project development. She developed a process and criteria to identify and prioritize infrastructure needs across the water, wastewater, storm drainage and street & traffic control categories. Carol serves on Department steering committee for ReBuild Houston implementation. Prior to joining HCFCD, Carol was the ASCE/AAAS Congressional Fellow and served on the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. She was responsible for helping evaluate project and study requests, drafting policies and setting up the structural organization for the proposed Water Resources Development Act planned for reauthorization in 2004.

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She coordinated closely with bipartisan Committee staff on day-to-day activities of the Committee, including hearings, mark-ups and floor debates. Carol has served at the Society, state and local levels of ASCE through various committee and leadership positions. She also served on the Timbergrove Manor Civic Club.

Professional Service to Students Award

Natalie M. Weiershausen PE, ENV SP currently works as a Project Engineer with Klotz Associates, Inc. in Houston, Texas as a licensed professional engineer and certified sustainability professional. In her six years of total work experience, she has participated in a variety of projects ranging from water and wastewater planning, utility relocation/design, site design, flood plain analysis, roadway design, and general civil design. Natalie has been a very active member of ASCE and currently serves as the Houston Branch Vice President of Education. She has previously participated in special committees as well as serving as the Younger Member Forum Chair and Community Services Chair. Her current ASCE endeavors include heading up the start of a civil engineering club at a local high school and co-chairing the 2015 CRYMC Conference in Houston. In 2013, she received the ASCE Central Region award for Outstanding Younger Member in Community Services and in 2014 was honored as an ASCE National New Face of Civil Engineering, as the Central Region’s Outstanding Young Civil Engineer in the Private Sector and with the Houston Branch’s Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award. Natalie is a 2008 graduate from the University of Texas with a civil engineering degree that focused in the hydraulic/hydrology and transportation fields. Natalie loves to run, practice yoga, play volleyball, and spend time with her husband, a small business owner in Houston.

Service to People Award

Lee C. Lennard PE, F. SAME, serves as President and CEO of Brown & Gay Engineers, Inc. Lee has 25 years of consulting engineering experience covering the full range of project development from master planning through construction management. Lee holds a B.S. in civil engineering from Texas A&M University.

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

at the 2014 texas Civil Engineering Conference Lee’s service to people is evidenced in his leadership in the local engineering community and exemplified in his service to the broader global community. Locally, Lee is an active volunteer of his time, leadership, and technical expertise to benefit the health, safety, and welfare of the general public through his professional involvement. Lee firmly believes that it is in service to others where we find our greatest joy and purpose. Lee serves on the Board of Apostles in Action, a non-profit board that raises funds and awareness to combat the debilitating effects of poverty throughout the world. Lee’s direction on the Board includes oversight of the provision and distribution of medical supplies and mosquito nets to impoverished rural communities in Uganda. Lee is an active volunteer with Living Water International, bringing safe water supplies to communities throughout the world. He has traveled to Guatemala each of the past three years as part of a mission team to drill water wells in communities along the coast and in the highland areas of the country.

Lee, his wife Kate, and their children have served the poor in colonias in Nuevo Laredo for many years. Until recent drug violence erupted, they would regularly travel across the border to distribute basic food and medical supplies to thousands in need. Lee and Kate continue to sponsor 20 children in Nuevo Laredo, funding their education as an avenue to a better future for them and their community.

Lee and Kate have a heart for orphans. Over the past 10 years, they have adopted four children locally.

Professional Awards

Donald J. Anderson Jr. PE, is Vice President of the Houston Office of TD International, a strategic consulting firm that specializes in risk management.

As Vice President, Donald works to provide clients intelligence consulting services directed at risk identification, management, and mitigation as it relates to corporate strategy, geopolitics, compliance, market dynamics, asset security, and transactional due diligence.

Donald received a B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering from Louisiana State University, an MBA from the Jones

School of Business at Rice University. He is also a recipient of the Jones School Citizenship Award and the Michael Wright Award for Leadership. Donald has been on the Board of Directors of several professional organizations including the ASCE Houston Branch. He has worked on several national committees and developed articles to support legislative initiatives promoting infrastructure policies. He has received national recognition for his leadership and professional endeavors, including being recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 by Building, Design + Construction Magazine and recognition for his writings on professional ethics. Donald was named a Young Leader by ASFE and has worked with other recognized ASFE Young Leaders to broaden membership participation from younger members. Donald has served as an ASFE Professional Practice Committee Member on a national level and has worked as one of the lead committee members that updated the ASFE Geotechnical Engineer of Record Guidelines. He has presented technical papers to the Louisiana Engineering Society, the Texas and Louisiana ASCE Sections and to the National Transportation Research Board conferences.

He is equally passionate about his family and is unselfish in giving time to his church and other professional/ charitable organizations.

For Travis N. Attanasio, PE, CFM, protecting public safety has always been a theme in his life. At the age of 15 he joined his late father as a volunteer Service firefighter for Inter Canyon Fire/ Visit: Rescue in Morrison, Colorado. While Tex ASCE.org > doing this Travis began to focus on his future career Organization choice of civil engineering, obtaining a degree from the Colorado School > Awards and of Mines in Golden, CO in 2002 where he was an active member of Honors for the ASCE student chapter. Following college, Travis moved to Texas to a list of past begin his career as an engineer, and in 2005 began to realize the recipients or benefits of becoming a more active nom ination member ASCE. Since joining the Fort Worth Branch, Travis has volunteered procedures for nearly every position, from the meeting set-up position to currently serving as Vice-President/Treasurer,

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he has viewed ASCE as an opportunity to meet fellow members and to be recognized on a regular basis - not only in meetings but in everyday life. Travis’s efforts are supported by his company, A.N.A. Consultants, LLC, in Colleyville, TX. Travis has worked for A.N.A. since 2005 as a Senior Project Manager, specializing in drainage and floodplain studies. Travis is supported at home by a loving family who joke that they are going to buy a stamp and tag every project that Travis drives by and says “I designed that.”

Service to People Award

Frank C. Brogan PE, RPLS, is the Managing Director for the Port of Corpus Christi Authority and is responsible for daily operation of the Port. He directly supervises the Operations, Engineering, Finance, IT, Business Development, Human Resources and Police Departments. Frank Brogan is a Registered Professional Engineer and Surveyor. He received his BSCE with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and Masters in Engineering from Texas A&I in Kingsville. A resident of Corpus Christi since 1974, Frank has been with the Port since September 1987. Frank directed the Mary Rhodes Water Pipeline Project, a $130 million emergency water supply project for the region. Prior to joining the staff at the Port, Frank was a consulting engineer in the Corpus Christi area for thirteen years, specializing in the design of industrial and marine facilities. He is active in the local community, has served on various boards, and is a Past President of the Kiwanis Club of Corpus Christi and the Corpus Christi Branch ASCE. In 2003, he achieved the designation as a Professional Port Manager (PPM) from the American Association of Port Authorities and is the 47th person to receive this national designation. Frank recently completed six years of service as a member of the Board of the Flour Bluff Independent School District. On November 30, 2011, he was appointed by the Nueces County Commissioners Court to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Christus Spohn Health System.

Currently, he is the chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities PPM Committee. Mr. Brogan was born and raised in San Antonio. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Deedie for 40 years, and they have a 27-year-old daughter named Sarah who is in graduate school.

Download our rates & media kit here: Texasce.org/advertising Questions? Contact Lori Brix tce@silentpartners.com

History and Heritage Award

Betsy Tyson loves to read, write, and research history. She admires a welltold tale whether in print or on film and enjoys diving into new subjects, knowing there are good stories and engaging people to be found. This made “Engineering A Better Texas” such a great project.

She is a third-generation Texan, born in Fort Worth and raised in Fort Stockton. Her parents and Tyson grandparents were teachers, and her second job after graduating from Texas Tech followed in those footsteps.

Her first paid writing assignments were for the Texas Tech alumni magazine during graduate school in journalism.

This opened the door to jobs in Fort Worth; Dallas; Washington, D. C.; San Francisco; and Austin. She has written for two public utilities, electric and telephone; two federal agencies, the U. S. Forest Service and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; a member of Congress; the Texas Public Utility Commission; and the Texas Medical Association, where she currently researches and curates its museum exhibits. Betsy lives in South Austin. She’s a member of the Austin Film Society; Austin Museum Partnership; Harry Ransom Center, where she volunteers, Mystery Writers of America; and The Writers’ League of Texas.

Art Clendenin

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Reach thousands of civil engineers in Texas!

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Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

John A. Focht, Jr. Citizen Engineer Award

LeAnne M. Napolillo PE has been an active member of ASCE since college, where she served multiple leadership positions, including Student Chapter President. During her tenure at the Houston Branch, she has served as Branch President, Vice President-Administration, Treasurer, Secretary, Infrastructure Day Co-Chair, and currently serves on the Branch SAGE committee. She has also served on multiple branch committees over the years.

At the Texas Section level, LeAnne has served as VicePresident Education and Section Director. During her VP-Education term, she coordinated and facilitated the Texas Section Centennial Webinar series. Additionally, she co-chaired the Fall 2004 and Fall 2009 Texas Section meetings, chaired the Section Meetings Planning Committee, and currently is co-chairing the 2015 Civil Engineering Conference. Nationally, LeAnne served as Zone III Representative to the Committee on Younger Members, served on the Task Committee on Committee Restructuring, and participated in the planning committee for the 2001 National Convention. She participated in the 2010 Legislative Fly-In and is a Key Contact member. She currently serves as governor on the Construction Institute Board of Governors. LeAnne is an ASCE Fellow, was awarded the Houston Branch Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award in 2002, the National Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award in 2005, and the Houston Branch Award of Honor in 2012. Since 2010, LeAnne has served as treasurer for HobbyFest, a festival celebrating the Hobby Airport employees and surrounding community, with proceeds benefiting the Allen T. Johnson Memorial scholarship fund. Since its inception in 2010, HobbyFest has given away $12,000 in scholarships to students interested in the field of aviation. LeAnne and her family are active members of St. Ignatius Loyola Church and have participated in multiple capital campaigns, participated as volunteers and donors in the annual Fall Fest, and have participated in SandwichMakers since 2002. She served as president of the Young Adults Group in 1996.

LeAnne served on the WindRose Community Association Board from 2004-2006, overseeing development of the WindRose website. LeAnne has also served as a Big Brother/Big Sister Volunteer, served as an elementary school mentor, and volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.

Art Clendenin

Award of Honor

Richard L. Patrick PE, graduated from Texas Tech in 1971, joined TxDOT and gained valuable transportation experience designing highways in the Dallas area. In 1976, Rich moved to Houston and joined a consulting engineering firm, LJA, and gained valuable residential development experience designing streets and utilities for subdivisions and municipal utility districts. In 1984, LJA began a transportation practice and Rich led a design team which designed two sections of the Sam Houston Toll Road. From 1988 to 1995, Rich gained valuable public works experience with LJA designing streets and utilities for public works clients. From 1996 to the present, Rich “shifted gears” in his career by focusing more on business development responsibilities and less on technical responsibilities for consulting engineering firms, the current of which is PSI. During this career of varied experiences with both public and private clients, Rich began to serve the Houston Branch and the Texas Section in various roles. In the Branch as: Transportation Committee Chair, Chair of Technical Committees, Chair of 1993 SAGE Committee, Vice President Technical, Vice President Administrative, President-Elect, President, Past President, Branch Section Director, Chair of 2003 SAGE Committee, & Chair of 2014 SAGE Committee. In the Section as: Chair of Publicity Committee for 1987 Section Meeting, Chair of Transportation Committee, Chair of Transportation Committee for 1992 Section Meeting, Treasurer of 1997 & 2001 Section Meetings, Chair Membership Committee, Vice President ProfessionalElect, Vice President Professional, & Chair of Sponsorship Committee for 2014 Section Meeting. Rich has received the following awards: Texas Section Professional Service Award in 2002, Induction into the Texas Tech Civil Engineering Academy in 2003, and the Houston Branch Award of Honor in 2003. 

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Student’s Center One of the most valuable assets ASCE brings future engineers is developing leadership skills and exposing students to professional mentors which may be unavailable outside the organization. Below are two examples of flourishing Student Chapters providing these benefits to their members.

Each Chapter maintains a strong group of leaders which are developing lifelong professional traits to assist them in their careers. The University of Texas at El Paso Student Chapter approached the upcoming year by planning ahead and developing a list of goals to accomplish, then prepared a strategy to accomplish these goals. The Texas A&M Student Chapter provided their membership the unique opportunity to listen to the Deputy Executive Director of Texas Department of Transportaion (TxDOT).

The Student Chapters are truly benefiting their fellow peers and providing their leaders lifelong skills.

Texas A & M Student Chapter Khataw Hamzah, President The Texas A&M Student Chapter of ASCE has had a busy semester. I am proud to announce that both our Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge teams competed in their respective national competitions! We have excellent support from the department as well as several corporate sponsors that allow us to remain competitive in both competitions each year.

This semester we were honored to have Mr. John Barton PE, Deputy Executive Director of TxDOT, present at one of our meetings. He gave a tremendous presentation and enabled us to schedule a technical tour of the Grand Parkway Expansion in Houston. Thank you to Mr. Barton and TxDOT for allowing us to provide our members with this opportunity.

One of our most successful programs this semester has been our Freshman Aspiring to be Civil Engineers (FACE) Program. The goals of the FACE program are to introduce freshmen to the civil engineering profession, help with the transition into college, and provide a support system for them prior to declaring civil engineering as their major. So far, the response has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic!

The freshmen are eager to learn about the civil engineering family. Accordingly, this program will provide a foundation upon which they can build their professional network.

Lastly, I would like to congratulate Chelsea Hickey who will be taking over as President when I graduate in December.

Chelsea has been involved in ASCE for 3 years now and will provide excellent leadership for us moving forward.

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John A. Tyler PE, RAS First Year Director at Large

Adam McCreary

University of Texas at El Paso Student Chapter Andrea Gutierrez , President The ASCE Student Chapter at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) started the fall semester of 2014 with a mission of establishing goals, increasing membership and providing students with more opportunities for professional development. The ASCE Student Chapter at UTEP put this in motion by organizing and carrying out several recruiting strategies during the first several weeks of the semester. One major success was the first ASCE Open House Fair where new and returning members were encouraged to join the organization during the two-day event featuring food and games. A showcase displayed the Chapter’s purpose, as well as their role in the Steel Bridge and Concrete Canoe competitions.

About 80 percent of the total membership was gained during the event.

Adam McCreary

With respect to the second goal of providing more opportunities for professional development, UTEP’s ASCE Chapter began partnering with the local civil engineering firms and entities to organize tours for its members. Recently, a group of about 20 to 30 students took a tour of the Fred Hervey Water Reclamation plant in northeast El Paso. Students learned about

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

Fred Hervey Water Reclamation Plant. El Paso Water Utilities

wastewater and drinking water plant processes as well as the beneficial impact of water reclamation in the area. Currently, the ASCE officer team is working with Job Materials, a local supplier of concrete, asphalt and other construction materials, to tour their concrete research lab.

This was a dynamic semester for the UTEP ASCE Student Chapter.

The chapter was awarded an endowment of $30,000 from two very generous donors and former members of the ASCE chapter at UTEP, Gerry and Margarita Licon. The Licons own a successful engineering firm, Licon Engineering Co. Their generosity was Adam McCreary celebrated by the ASCE Student Chapter, UTEP’s College of Engineering and board members from the ASCE El Paso Branch in a ceremony where the Dean of the College of Engineering, Richard Schoephoerster PhD, and the chair of the Department of Civil Engineering, Cesar Carrasco PhD, also were in attendance.

Students observing tank. Andrea Gutierrez

The fall semester is wrapping up and the UTEP ASCE Student Chapter had many other activities planned for such as the AIM High STEM Conference for Girls in November, as well as the upcoming Texas-Mexico Regional Steel Bridge Competition in January. It is a great year to be a part of the ASCE Student Chapter at UTEP!ďƒł

Left to right: donors - Gerry and Margarita Licon. Dean Richard Schoephoerster PhD, & UTEP Civil Engineering Department Chair Cesar Carrasco PhD. Adam McCreary

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Newly Licensed Engineers

Travis N. Attanasio PE Membership Chair

The following members have passed their PE exams and include civil, geotechnical, and structural specialties. Congratulations, newly licensed engineers!

Syed A. Ahmed Bryan J. Alldredge Grady S. Atkinson Saul Balderas Travis R. Barbier Benjamin J. Bialas Gregory J. Blank Dawit S. Bogale John D. Bosley David R. Broyles Travis H. Bryant Lorena M. Carter Clayton M. Caruthers Nicholas A. Clark Nathan Ray Cobler Renee E. Cousins Eric A. Cowey Eric M. Cox Eric Davila Jason R. Davis John N. DeLisle Jonathan W. Dwight Christopher E. Edwards Robin E. Ernstrom Carlos Flores Xiuyu Gao David C. Garcia Jose I. Garcia Ezequiel F. Garcia Jeremy P. Garcia David A. Garcia Jose I Garcia Ezequiel F. Garcia 32

Daniel Garret John E. Garza John D. Garza Vinay Goel Philip M. Goertz Johanna M. Guerrero Ranjiv Gupta Christopher W. Haeckler Craig A. Hajovsky Micah L. Hargrave Randal J. Hartsfield Tyler G. Henneke Claire K. Heumann Emmett T. Hill Donald E. Hodges Erin M. Holmes Erin Holmes Clinton L. Hoover Christopher B. Howard Roel E. Huerta Joseph Z. Huff Syed A. Jaffery Joaquin Ubaldo Jaramillo Brandie K. Johnson John G. Johnston John A. Johnston John W. Johnston Sanjay P. Joshi David Juan Ryan D. Kalina Lufthansa R. Kanta P.T. Kolitha N. Karunaratne Stacey S. Keim

Jason K. Kelliher Jodi L. Kostecki Mathew K. Koziol Cole G. Lange Jose F. Leal Everett A. Lenhart Charles A. Lewis Tyler W. Lewis David A. Mackenzie Thomas J. Mander Robert C. Marbut Javier Martinez Anastasia K. Matschinsky Bulent Mercan Worku Y. Mergia Heath H. Michel Karlena F. Montgomery Robert T. Morgan Robert H. Morgan Taraka R. S. Mullapudi Greg B. Munden Rebecca E. Musk Andres Palma Wade P. Parks Matthew A. Pavelchak Wilson P. Peppard Vanessa Perez Johan C. Petterson Michael R. Pettijohn Jacob M. Reinig Jordan M. Rey Mark W. Robertson Patrick N. Rodgers

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

James S. Roman Ranjith S. Rosenberk Sanjay S. Sahasrabudhe Mohammad M. Salama Manuel A. Salas William H. Saour Kyle D. Schulze Sujan M. Shakya Mohammadreza Sharafbayani Gabriel A. Shelton Sahas Shrestha Kelly M. Skoviera Corey W. Smith Corey A. Smith Frank L. Snell Joshua Solis Genevieve F. T. Sollenberger Tonya S. Sonsteng Tonya Sonsteng Thomas E. Starr Thomas R. Starr Brandon J. Stephens Kathleen E. Strain Kathleen Strain Lucas W. Suelflow Tecky Surawijaya Paul E. Szempruch Arnaud B. Thibonnier Bernardino D. Tristan Andrew L. Trull Jeffrey N. Tyson Jeffrey D. Van Pelt Douglas W. Weaver Thornchaya Wejrungsikul Mason A. Welch Bria A. Whitmire Michael S. Wilson Michael F. Wilson

Joseph A. With Janet E. Wolf Jisuk Yoon Yurianto Yurianto

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Legislative News

Roman D. Grijalva PE VP-Professional

Get Out The Vote 2014 Was a Huge Success!

ASCE’s 2014 “Get Out the Vote” Campaign was a success! The Texas Transportation Funding Amendment, Proposition 1, which will generate approximately $1.4 Billion per year for Texas’ Highway Fund, passed overwhelmingly by Texas voters by nearly 80% of the vote.

The amendment authorizes annual disbursements from the state’s oil and gas production tax collections to the State Highway Fund. ASCE’s GOTV campaign included several statewide editorials, campaigning via the issuance of the latest ASCE Texas Infrastructure Report Card, and media partnerships with organizations such as Move Texas Forward and Texas Infrastructure Now. The resulting passage authorizes additional Texas transportation funding – without new taxes, tolls or fees – that can only be used for construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and acquisition of right-of-way for public roads. These funds cannot be used for toll roads. House Bill 1, which was passed by the Texas Legislature in 2013, put these requirements in place. Additionally, under HB 1, the Texas Department of Transportation must identify $100 Million worth of savings within the department to apply towards its debt.

Special thanks go out to Stephen Crawford PE, Section Representative to the ASCE Government Relations Committee, for his exhaustive work serving on the Public Relations & Professional Image Committee and spearheading our GOTV effort.

Water Plan Funding Update

As you may recall, the Texas State Water Fund Amendment, Proposition 6 (also known as the Rainy Day Fund Amendment), overwhelmingly passed in November of 2013 to fund projects in the state water plan. The original investment in the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) of $2 Billion will be leveraged by the accompanying Revenue Fund (SWIRFT) to fund close to $27 Billion in water supply projects over the next 50 years.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) recently developed rules to implement the program, including a prioritized point system that allows interested entities to apply for funds. The 16 regional water planning groups originally prioritized projects in their 2011

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regional water plans and final regional prioritizations were submitted to TWDB on September 1, 2014. The legislation specified that no less than 10% of the funds go to projects serving rural communities and agricultural conservation projects, and no less than 20% of the funds go to water conservation and reuse projects. The application period opened on November 6, 2014 and abridged applications are due to the TWDB by February 3, 2015. For more information visit http://www.twdb. texas.gov/financial/programs/swift .

2015 Texas Legislative Session

The 84th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature convenes on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 and ends on June 21, 2015. Now that current funding shortfalls in water and transportation have been addressed, ASCE will be working in 2015 with sister organizations to lobby the state legislature on issues of importance to the practicing civil engineering community, including: the local governmental use of design-build, qualification based services selections, and closing the unmet need of long term transportation funding.

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

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News Congratulations to the Dallas Br anch!

The Dallas Branch won the 2014 Outstanding Section and Branch Web Site Award in the large Section and Branch membership category: (1,001-2500 members).

This award will be presented at the 2015 Regions 3, 6, and 7 Multi-Region Leadership Conference on Saturday, January 31, at 2:20 pm at the Omni Houston Galleria Hotel.

Complete the ASCE Professional Interest Inventory

As ASCE strives to better tailor services to members’ needs, your help is needed to build a database of members’ current specialties and interests. The Professional Interest Inventory will guide the Society in setting priorities. In less than five minutes, you can tell ASCE which areas you care most about. Visit asce.org/interests and be sure to have your ASCE website login handy.

2015 Multi-Region Leadership Conference (MRLC)

January 30 & 31, 2015 | Houston, TX With the MRLC being held in our own backyard this year, the Texas Section is offering a grant to all 15 branches to reimburse the workshop registration fee for one member in a position of branch leadership AND one younger member to encourage participation by Section members. This grant is for the conference fee only and does not cover travel or lodging, which is eligible for reimbursement by ASCE. Registration Fee Reimbursement One member in a position of leadership and one younger member from each branch will be eligible for reimbursement of their registration fee by the Texas Section. Once the registration form is completed, the Branch president must notify the Section secretary (egreenwood@texasce. org) indicating who are the branch’s delegates. After the conference has concluded, the official branch delegates will be asked to send proof of attendance (e.g. a scan of the conference brochure or notes from a workshop) along with a copy of their registration receipt to the Section of-

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fice. Reimbursement checks will be issued within 30 days of receipt of these documents. Registration starts at $200.

In order to obtain our group discount price, the delegate must also make reservations with the hotel before December 31, 2014, by calling 713-871-8181. Please identify yourself as an attendee of the ASCE Leadership Conference. The sleeping room rate is $129.00 per night for single or double occupancy.

Society Level Committee Participation

Society members in good standing are encouraged to apply for open positions on one of the five Society-Level Committees or one of the three Strategic Initiative Committees. An online application for service on a Society-level committee will open on January 1, 2015, and remain open through March 15, 2015. Applications will also be used to identify candidates for service on a number of constituent committees. Approval of committee appointments is required by the ASCE Board of Direction in July, and terms will begin at the ASCE Annual Business Meeting in October. For more information, contact Patty Jones (pjones@asce.org) ASCE’s Director of Executive and Board Operations.

A aron Roberts PE, has joined LJA as a Project Manager in the Houston Tr ansportation Division

Aaron has over 11 years of civil and environmental engineering experience. His background includes transportation and drainage studies, preliminary engineering reports, specifications, bid documents and drawings. His environmental experience includes environmental site assessments, Environmental Assessments, categorical exclusions, wetland delineations, and Section 404 Wetland Permitting.

As Project Manager, Aaron will be responsible for managing various aspects of the schematic design of transportation projects such as drainage, environmental services, utilities, public involvement, and traffic engineering as well as assisting in preparing contract documents. 

Texas Civil Engineer | Volume 85, No. 1 - Winter 2014

Old Highway 9

Melinda Luna PE History and Heritage Committee Chair

Old Highway 9 was one of the first 26 Texas highways proposed in 1917. The original route follows much of the present day U.S. Highway 87 from Amarillo, through Canyon, Plainview, Lubbock, Big Spring, San Angelo, Brady, Mason, Fredericksburg, into San Antonio. From San Antonio, it follows U.S. Highway 181 to Sinton and terminates in Corpus Christi. A few parts of Highway 9 exist in its original condition. One of those segments starts in Kendall County off of F.M. 473. The highway also travels along some of the Old San Antonio Road, also known as El Camino Real - one of the most historic roadways in Texas. The road consists of highways that follow paths of buffalo and Indian trails. Traveling the road heading north, you will find a few points of interest that include a series of low water crossings, culverts and a bridge – all mostly built around 1936. This map and link show points of interest along the roadway. http:// bit.ly/10fjGDO

Old Tunnel State Park

The most interesting point along the road is the Old Tunnel State Park. The tunnel was built in 1913 by engineer Foster Crane who helped develop the Medina Dam. His previous experience included Sugarloaf Dam and digging canals for irrigation of the Wood River Project from the Magic Reservoir, both in Idaho. Crane’s partner, Temple Smith, set out to build a rail line between Fredericksburg and Comfort known as the San Antonio Aransas Pass or SAP. The route of the rail line passed through a 300 foot increase in elevation which was mitigated by the building of a 300 foot long tunnel. Dynamite was used to blast out the tunnel at the cost of $134,000 dollars (3 million dollars in today’s money).

The tunnel was a financial setback and also had numerous maintenance issues.

The train would have to stop before entering the tunnel so that crew members could check to see if large rocks had fallen on the track. Passengers could hear smaller rocks falling on top of the train as they traveled through the tunnel. The railroad went bankrupt in 1943. The rails were ripped up to be sold to the War Production Board for use as tracks in other parts of the country.

With no trains running through it on a daily basis, Brazilian free-tail bats moved into the tunnel. In 1991, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department turned it into a state park attraction for wildlife enthusiasts.

Low Water Crossings

With the high number of low water crossings during times of rainfall, travel along Old Highway 9 must have been more difficult than roads of today. But compared to caliche and mud roads in early Texas history, Old Highway 9 was a better road and made travel easier. If you want to get a glimpse of what travel was like in the early days of automobile travel, take Old Highway 9 between Fredericksburg and Comfort.

Train tunnel at Old Tunnel State Park. Earl Nottingham, Chief Photographer, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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