Dave Cook Delves into Ecology’s Affordable Housing Cleanup Grant Program at MTCA Law Seminar

Senior Principal Geologist Dave Cook, LG, CPG, will be a part of a seminar on Thursday, December 7 focused on the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). First adopted by the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) in 1991, MTCA is now in its 33rd year regulating cleanup of contaminated sites in our state.

The site of the future Maddux North building being readied for redevelopment in 2020. The property formerly housed a dry cleaner, which left contamination in the surrounding soils. Cleanup of the site followed regulations per MTCA.

Dave and Ali Furmall, LHG, Brownfield Program Lead at Ecology, will present “Community Investment: Overview of Affordable Housing Cleanup Grant Program and Other Brownfield Program Resources.” Their talk will give an overview of Ecology’s Affordable Housing Cleanup Grant Program, which helps organizations purchase and remediate sites across Washington to build affordable housing.

Since the program’s start in 2016, Dave and Aspect have actively collaborated with Ecology, real estate developers, legal teams, and nonprofit housing groups to get projects funded and properties ready for cleanup. Our work now spans Bellingham, Ellensburg, and several sites in Seattle, including the launch pilot-project Mt. Baker Housing Association’s Maddux development. The project built two buildings with 203 total units on the site of a former dry cleaner and gas station/auto repair shop.

Maddux North, funded in part by the Affordable Housing Cleanup Grant program, welcomed residents in March 2023.

The day-long seminar hosted by Law Seminars International will spotlight other aspects of MTCA, including an overview of the recent updates—the first major updates in over 20 years—covering new decision-making criteria and other requirements that will impact future cleanup projects.

For the full seminar agenda and information how to register, visit the Law Seminars International website.

Dave Cook Honored as Volunteer of the Year at Northern Arizona University

Senior Principal Geologist Dave Cook returned to his alma mater, Northern Arizona University (NAU), in Flagstaff on Friday, October 27, to attend the 2023 Honored Alumni & Hall of Fame Ceremony. He was honored with their 2023 Jeff Ferris Volunteer of the Year Award, which “is presented to an NAU alumna or alumnus who has demonstrated sustained interest and loyalty to the NAU Alumni Association or the University as a whole.” The ceremony and Dave’s acceptance speech are available on the NAU Advancement | Foundation YouTube page.

I was given an incredible opportunity at NAU to learn from world-class geologists while completing a dream research project in the Grand Canyon. The place, people, and environment were game changers for my development. It’s important to me to mentor and give back to the place and people that helped put me in a position for an amazing career – hoping that they’ll have similar successes.
— Dave Cook on what drives him to give back to NAU.

Dave outside the NAU Geology building

Dave’s service to the university started shortly after he graduated with a master’s degree in geology in 1991. Over the years, he has spoken at various lectures and seminars and acted as a reviewer and commenter for NAU’s Annual Science Symposium. He has contributed to alumni-funded scholarships and was one of the launch funders for the Parnell Water Research fund, named after Dave’s master’s advisor Rod Parnell, in 2019. In 2022, he co-led a geology department alumni committee to envision new curricula. He is currently an affiliate professor for the School of Earth and Sustainability and serves on its Board of Advisors. Dave has also had three student mentors through NAU’s Thrive Externship program, two of which have traveled to Seattle to shadow Dave and meet Aspect staff to learn more about environmental consulting.

Dave on campus with past NAU mentees (left to right) Karen Vera, Natalie Pierson, and Caitlin Brogan in May 2023

Congratulations to Dave on his award and for his years of contributions to NAU.

Bellingham Bay Estuary Awakens as Restoration Project Nears Completion

At Little Squalicum Park along the Bellingham waterfront, bicyclists and dog walkers are rolling and strolling on new trails and over a new pedestrian bridge spanning Little Squalicum Creek. Under the bridge, the creek is now flowing freely into Bellingham Bay, mingling with the salt water as tides ebb and flow. These improvements are part of this City of Bellingham (City) restoration project that has created a new intertidal estuary to expand habitat for salmonids and other species.

According to a recent story in The Bellingham Herald, the $5.7 million restoration project removed a culvert that restricted creek flow and blocked fish passage, re-routed the creek, added trails and the pedestrian bridge, and created needed habitat along this stretch of the waterfront.

Construction of the new estuary at Little Squalicum Park, January 2023

Aspect worked closely with the City and as a subconsultant to Coastal Geologic Services, who designed the estuary and new route for the creek. Our focus was identifying and characterizing contamination that had migrated from the adjacent Oeser Company wood-treatment facility Superfund site onto the area. Principal Hydrogeologist Steve Germiat led Aspect’s team, working with Project Geologist Matthew von der Ahe to characterize the chemical quality of the future estuary sediment surface, which was over 10 feet below the original grade, and the soil to be excavated to reroute the creek channel to the bay. Once the site characterization was complete, they wrote the contaminated material management plan and construction specifications for managing excavated material and water produced during dewatering of the large excavation. During excavation for the estuary and rerouted creek, Staff Scientist Bo Ward oversaw screening and sampling of the excavated soil and Project Engineer Matthew Eddy helped profile and arrange final disposition of the materials.

Construction of the elements of the park and estuary are ongoing and scheduled to be completed in October 2023. Learn more about the project history on the City of Bellingham’s project site.

Aspect Teams with Ecology on Innovative Conservation Effort

In a recent post, the Department of Ecology celebrated a successful pilot project with the Auvil Fruit Company in Vantage, WA. The project created two water banks and helped the orchard reduce their water demand by 50%. Aspect partnered with Ecology on the water rights permitting as well as the bank development efforts, but it was an innovative strategy developed by Auvil that led to this water-saving achievement.

Shade cloth installed at Auvil Fruit Company.

The solution was to cover Auvil’s orchards with shade cloth, which has multiple water savings, worker safety, and fruit quality benefits. Aspect and Ecology used two high-tech weather stations to monitor water loss: one in the area of the orchard covered by shade cloth, and one in an adjacent, uncovered area. According to Ecology, the effectiveness of the shade cloth was striking:

We found that shade cloth improved a number of growing conditions. The coverage greatly increased relative humidity, drastically reduced wind speed, stabilized soil moisture, and cooled the air temperature. Combined, all these changes now help Auvil use much less water to produce fruit. 

A weather station positioned beneath shade cloth at Auvil Fruit Company. 

The shade cloth was so effective that Auvil was able to remove windbreaks made of water-hungry poplar trees. The study also led to other water-saving strategies, such as installing soil moisture monitors and replacing overhead sprinklers with a drip system that delivers water directly to the root zone of the trees. Both of these systems communicate with one another to regulate water in real time. Water savings from the project are being used to reduce drought risk on Auvil’s interruptible water rights, and for instream flow benefit for fish. Auvil continues to be a leader and innovator in irrigation practices and Aspect’s permitting and technical skillset is making the most of these water savings.

For more details, check out Ecology’s website!

Aspect’s Geologists Converge in Portland for AEG 2023

Aspect’s Infrastructure Practice will be well represented at the annual meeting of Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG), taking place September 20-22 in Portland. Here’s a roundup of our staff who will present over the course of the meeting.

Technical Sessions

Site Explorations on the Swinomish Bluffs

Chip Barnett, LEG, and Aaron Fitts, LEG’s presentation Application of Sea Level Rise Estimates to Slope Stability Evaluation of Marine Bluffs, Swinomish Indian Reservation, La Conner Washington covers Aspect’s collaboration with Blue Coast Engineering and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community to assess and understand geologic and slope conditions on over 100 residential lots on tribal land impacted by localized landslide failures. The project focuses on identifying the cause and mode of the failures, assessing coastal erosion, determining how those hazards will be worsened by rising sea levels, and prioritizing areas for monitoring and mitigation to protect the slopes and homes.

Aerial view of Swift Creek area

Aaron will also present on Managing Naturally Occurring Asbestos in Landslide Sediments and Debris Flows – Swift Creek, Whatcom County, Washington. Aaron is the lead geologist on this project for Whatcom County Public Works to address chronic sedimentation issues from landslide material containing naturally occurring asbestos within Swift Creek in rural Whatcom County.

Rock & Gravel quarry in the Wenatchee Mountains

Alec Melone, GIT, will also discuss naturally occurring asbestos in his presentation, Preliminary Naturally Occurring Asbestos Screening for Quarry Expansion: Field and Structural Studies in the Ingalls Ophiolite Complex, Central Cascades, Washington. Alec will share Aspect’s approach for assessing the contaminant and structural hazards within the Ingalls Tectonic Complex to support a 50-acre quarry expansion in the central Cascades’ Wenatchee Mountains.


Poster Presentations

Studying trees at Rialto Beach

Chelsea Bush, LG, and Monica Hill, GIT, are part of a group presenting a poster on the Landslides, Tectonic Uplift, and Coastal Erosion of the Past Several Hundred Years at Rialto Beach, Washington: Geologic Evidence and Implications for Geohazards along the Northwest Coast. The poster delves into some of the mysteries the group is trying to solve on this stretch of beach. When the project began in 2017, the main focus was the origin of a rapidly eroding terrace on the back beach, several feet above the modern beach surface, and whether it may have been formed during the 1700 Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. Part of that work centered on determining the age of Sitka spruces on the terrace. When they learned the trees were much younger than they expected, things got interesting. Their ongoing work will help geologists determine how shoreline forests react to and recover from large-scale storms and seismic events.

Chelsea and Monica both got involved with the project as part of their master’s studies at the University of Washington. Chelsea started in 2017, focusing on landslide mapping and carbon dating of wood in the beach and landslide deposits. Later, Monica joined the group to conduct shoreline change assessment as they studied the effect that a nearby jetty/dike system at the mouth of the Quillayute River has on the rapidly eroding terrace. The poster will present an overview of the work they and many other UW Ph.D. and masters’ students have contributed to the study.

Stabilization measures in place at Washington Boulevard

Chelsea also has a poster on Aspect’s Washington Boulevard Landslide Stabilization Project with Kitsap County Public Works. Aspect worked with the County for over a decade to assess, monitor, and ultimately stabilize a roadway—and sole access to services for over 22 homes— traversing a dead-seated landslide complex along a steep coastal bluff in Kingston, Washington. The project won the American Public Works Association’s 2022 Project of the Year Award in the Disaster or Emergency Construction Repair (less than $5 million) category.


Associate Engineering Geologist Mark Swank, CEG, LEG, is the AEG Secretary, a member of their Executive Council, and a co-chair of this year’s meeting. Chip Barnett was recently elected to the AEG Board of Directors for the Pacific region and coordinated the poster sessions as part of the meeting’s planning committee. Aspect is proud to sponsor technical sessions on Collecting Geologic Data for Assessment of Potential Hazards Using Multiple Surface and Subsurface Methods Symposium, the Young at Heart Student/Young Professional Event, and the all-important All Day Coffee on Tuesday.

Aspect’s Dan Haller Weighs in on Water for Washington’s French-Fry Boomtown

Aspect’s Dan Haller was recently quoted in a Washington Post story about Othello, central Washington’s self-proclaimed french-fry “boomtown.” As climate change has impacted the potato business in other parts of the country, Othello has become an industry leader, but the key to sustaining this success going forward will be water.

Groundwater supply concerns have been in the news this summer (notably in this comprehensive New York Times article). Only a few years ago, Othello’s water future seemed in doubt, as the city faced decreasing yields from its wells. Aspect was brought in to evaluate the City’s well yield and determine the causes of declining groundwater supplies. Working with the City, the Washington State Department of Ecology, Office of Columbia River, and the US Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), Aspect helped develop an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) program that would support long-term growth and provide stable water supplies. The ASR program, which was first tested in 2021, operates by diverting and treating canal water to drinking water standards, then introducing (recharging) that water to the declining aquifer using existing wells. This artificially recharged and stored water combats the declining groundwater issues and can be later recovered by the City for municipal supply.

This work has been vital to Othello’s success, but as Dan points out in the Post article, the well system that farmers rely on was only ever supposed to be a temporary solution. Othello’s use of BOR canal supplies is a step towards the original vision for primary water use in the region: transitioning away from groundwater and connecting to the Columbia Basin Project, a government-funded program that stores Snake and Columbia river supplies. As Othello’s wells begin to run dry, this water will be critical to the town’s survival. The good news is there’s plenty of supply to be had; according to the Post article, the Columbia has only been tapped for 3 percent of its available water flow. Building out this infrastructure will be essential for Othello’s continued reign at the top of the french-fry world.

Physical Challenges and Reflections on Allyship on the AIDS Lifecyle Bike Ride

Aspect has a rich biking culture – from epic Bike to Work Month challenges complete with branded bike jerseys to impromptu meetups to cruise the neighborhoods and trails around our offices. Principal Geotechnical Engineer Henry H. Haselton, a longtime bike commuter himself, took that enthusiasm to new lengths on AIDS Lifecycle Ride (ALC; www.aidslifecycle.org) a 545-mile cycling journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The ride raises money for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center and their mission to improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. Over seven hard-fought days in June, Henry rode with nearly 2,000 participants, largely from the LGBTQ+ community, who collectively raised $12M for the cause. Here, Henry shares the physical challenges and social realizations he experienced on the journey.

A candlelight vigil held on Ventura Beach for friends, family, and neighbors lost to AIDS

Gearing Up

After several years of slowly declining fitness, I decided in December 2022 to kickstart my way back into shape. In the spring of 2022, I traveled to Berkeley, California, to celebrate my old college roommate’s 60th birthday, and he told me he was doing the ALC ride that summer and encouraged me to do it this year for my 60th birthday. That planted the seed, and I decided that would be my motivation.

I developed a training program that included shorter mid-week rides and longer weekend rides. I largely used my bike commute to Aspect in Seattle as my mid-week rides (these could range from about 16 miles to 40 miles round trip depending on my chosen route). Weekend rides started at about 40 miles and peaked at 90 miles when I rode from my home on Vashon Island to Seattle and made a loop all the way around Lake Washington. The long Saturday ride was always followed by a shorter ride on Sunday to get my body used to daily cycling, which I needed to do for 7 straight days on the actual ALC ride.

I expected this to be a grueling physical challenge and I took my training seriously, which paid off because I finished strong! The physical challenge was real, but I didn’t anticipate the opportunity I would have for some learning moments along the way.

On the Road

With my riding buddies just before departing from the Cow Palace in San Francisco. John (on right) was my college roommate and inspired me to take on this challenge. Maryan (left) is a mutual friend who sadly crashed-out on Day 2.

The ride immersed me in a largely LGBTQ+ community 24/7 for a solid week, which is something I hadn’t experienced before. As someone who identifies as a white heterosexual male—with all the privileges that come with that—it was notably unusual for me to be a minority for this trip, and I got a small taste of what that feels like.

My riding partners both left on the second day (one crashed and the other one hadn’t fully prepared, so he didn’t finish), so I was left solo and positioned to go out and meet all sorts of folks. I had my meals, biked, snacked, partied (in a social way… it is a dry event!) and tented with the community every day and night.

Each night, the ALC staff and volunteers presented a program that summarized the day and got us ready for the next while mixing in testimonials of people’s experiences with AIDS that were inspirational and educational. Their talks described how the funds we had raised provide resources for prevention, care to those affected, and efforts to destigmatize the disease. They also celebrated the queer community through storytelling, sharing successes in overcoming stigmas, dealing with AIDS in a positive way, and performing hilarious and heartwarming accounts of their personal experiences on the ALC ride.

Typical scene at one of the rest stops, that were spaced roughly every 20 miles along the way

Our gear was moved from campsite to campsite in moving vans, and a new “tent city” created every day. There was a huge meal tent with nourishing food, a medical tent, a massage/chiro/acupuncture tent, a technology/charging tent and full-service bike mechanics at every stop and campsite. This tent city sunset is in Santa Maria.

“Outed”

Me (center) sporting one of many Aspect bike jerseys during a stop in Santa Barbara, where the LGBTQ+ community treated us to excellent ice cream, coffee, and treats as a thanks for the support that the ALC ride provides. These are a couple riders from Seattle--there were about 40 of us from this area.

On the fourth night, there was a talent show. The context of one of the performances led to the emcee asking “the straight guys” in the audience to raise their hand. I raised my hand and I was joined by only 2 or 3 others—out of almost 2,000 participants. This was surprising, and in the moment made me feel very much like an outsider. This gave me a small glimpse of what it’s like to be different from the “norm”—not a feeling that a straight white guy has very often.

Some of my tablemates reassured me—they said there were probably more of “my kind” in the crowd, and I was one of the few who had the courage to identify myself. Maybe so… but it really got me thinking, and I seized the opportunity to reflect on the experience.

Sure, it was a little uncomfortable to out myself as a straight guy in this mostly queer crowd, but what I came to realize is that even under those circumstances, my privilege still allowed me to feel safe. That and the incredibly warm and supportive people I was with. That’s a far cry from what it was like for my contemporaries to come out as queer when I was young (that was a long time ago…) and it is still so today.

I’ve honestly thought of this moment just about every day since—this eye-dropper full of discomfort has given me a much broader perspective. It also helped me understand my privilege more clearly, knowing that even with that temporary feeling of being an outsider, I’m not having to worry about potentially negative biases toward me on a regular basis.

Reflections at the Finish Line

I was honored to get an “ussie” with the executive director, Tracy Evans (a truly remarkable person!), at the finish line in Santa Monica.

As I rolled into the finish area in Santa Monica, I was greeted by a crowd of supportive people cheering me on. I came out of the experience proud of my physical accomplishment, but more so energized by the experience I had with this community, the things I learned, the vulnerability I embraced, the good times we shared, and the better understanding  of my privilege. I am more physically fit than I was before I started training, and – I hope – a stronger ally to my queer family members, friends, and neighbors. I will bring this strengthened allyship into my work at Aspect as we continue our efforts to build a more inclusive workplace.

Meet Stephen Bartlett

Aspect recently welcomed Stephen Bartlett to our Yakima office. Here are Five Questions we asked to get to know him better.

Stephen Bartlett, GIT, Staff Geologist

1. Where are you from? If you’re not from the Pacific Northwest, what brought you here?

I am from Pierce County, Washington. I have lived in Florida, Hawaii, Colorado, and am now back here. I was brought back to Washington to be close to family and interesting opportunities.

2. What inspired you to pursue hydrogeology? What made you curious about it?

I was inspired to pursue working with groundwater and surface water after taking a hydrogeology course. I then attended a meeting in Colorado about the water issues in the Rio Grande and the San Luis Valley aquifer. I was curious about the availability of water in the areas and the water rights involved in the situations, and how the changing climate and increasing population will affect the way things work out in the future.

3. What do you like best about your area of expertise? What excites you and keeps you motivated?

I would say I do not yet have an area of expertise. However, what excites me and keeps me motivated is the opportunity to learn.

4. What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

I have many hobbies. Some of them are season dependent. I like to travel, garden, grow plants, read, and ski. I design and build things, such as reptile cages, bed frames, tables, or anything else that is needed or just pops into my head as a fun project. I also enjoy fermenting anything that is fermentable, mainly drinks (beer, wine, kombucha) and bread but also other foods. I am also looking for new, low-cost hobbies.

5. Where in the world would you like to travel next?

The next place I would like to travel to is Australia.

Removing a Dam and Building Back Habitat and Water Supply on the Hoquiam River

Over the last 20 years, the City of Hoquiam has worked towards both removing their West Fork Hoquiam River Dam (used as a surface water diversion for City water supply) and replacing the City’s water supply with groundwater wells. The City and other local stakeholders want this nearly 70-year-old dam removed for a number of reasons – it’s aging past its design life, it blocks salmon habitat, and replacing the City’s water supply with groundwater wells will improve the water supply and water quality for the City’s customers. In 2023, predesign and feasibility is underway -- with help from a $1.2 million grant from NOAA -- and actual dam removal anticipated within the next five years.

Dive deeper into the exciting progress in the accompanying Story Map for this project.

Meet Emily Rusen and Kevin Ross

Aspect recently welcomed Emily Rusen to our Seattle office and Kevin Ross to our Bellingham office. Here are Five Questions we asked to get to know them better.

Emily on the Skyline Loop trail at Mt. Rainier.

Emily Rusen, EIT, Staff Environmental Scientist

1. Where are you from? If you’re not from the Pacific Northwest, what brought you here?

I’m originally from Morristown, New Jersey, and spent a couple years in Troy, New York, while I was doing my bachelor’s degree. After I graduated, I moved out to Seattle for a job and have been slowly falling in love with the Pacific Northwest ever since.

2. What inspired you to pursue environmental engineering? What made you curious about it?

I think I’ve always been interested in learning more about how humans impact the environment. Hearing about the looming implications of climate change while growing up drove me towards the environmental field. I knew I made the right decision when I got to college and saw how passionate the professors in the environmental engineering department were about their research, plus they seemed a lot cooler than the other engineering professors (no offense, other engineers!). I think I was drawn to consulting because it provides exposure to a wide variety of projects and lets me feel like I’m positively contributing to communities around me.

3. What do you like best about your area of expertise? What excites you and keeps you motivated?

There’s so much change going on with emerging contaminants and remediation technologies, which keeps work interesting. I’m motivated by getting the chance to problem solve in the field and seeing sites slowly get cleaned up. It’s been pretty cool to have a job where you are consistently challenged and encouraged to learn with each new project.

4. What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

Most of my afterwork hours during the summertime are spent running or paddleboarding. I’m currently training for the Chicago Marathon coming up this October! I love alpine skiing during the winter, and I am hoping to get more into backcountry skiing as I spend more time in Washington.

5. If you had to choose a superpower, what would it be?

I would hands down choose teleportation as my superpower. I think it would be super beneficial for traveling long distances: avoiding time spent in the TSA line during holidays, cutting out time spent getting to the airport, increasing efficiency getting across the globe, and eliminating the carbon footprint I would have by traveling via planes. I can’t see a need for me to be able to lift super heavy things unless I suddenly transitioned to a life of crime fighting, so I’ll stick with teleportation.

Kevin Ross, Staff Engineer

1. Where are you from? If you’re not from the Pacific Northwest, what brought you here?

I grew up in southeast Pennsylvania, then moved to the front range of Colorado for school and fun; that was where I spent my adulthood until Aspect brought me here to Bellingham. Bellingham is a place I’ve visited in the past and always found enjoyable.

2. What inspired you to pursue engineering geology? What made you curious about it?

My sister and I spent loads of time outside exploring the woods of Pennsylvania, climbing rocks and trees, building rafts for our backyard creek, forts, and snowbank tunnels. I recall being particularly curious about these large boulders at one of our favorite local spots, Ringing Rocks Park, which led to an interest in geology. That interest expanded in high school, taking a geology class, and finding out that rock climbing was a real activity. I then pursued an undergraduate degree in Geology at the University of Colorado, switching to Geological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, because engineering fulfilled my practical and analytical brain.

3. What do you like best about your area of expertise? What excites you and keeps you motivated?

The best part of engineering geology is that no two projects are the same. Geology is forever evolving, and each project brings its own unique challenges. What excites me is seeing geologists with 20 years of experience be just as thrilled to explore a new site as someone with 5 years. The drive to apply a wealth of knowledge to a new geologic and geomorphic setting—it’s fascinating!

4. What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

Generally, any outdoor recreational activity, but top of the list is mountain biking, (it was no accident that I pursued Bellingham as a place to call home) tennis, eating substantial amounts of food, making my swanky pour over coffee (and talking grind settings and brew ratios), and apparently collecting dogs as my partner and I have 3.

5. Where in the world would you like to travel next?

Finale Ligure, Italy, to satisfy most of the things discussed in Question 4.

The Path to Professional License: Chelsea Bush, LG

In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.

We’re telling those stories here. Aspect’s professionals are writing a series of articles that capture the trials and successes of studying for and receiving these career-defining milestones.

Chelsea Bush, Licensed Geologist (LG)

Date you took the test: March 17, 2023

Date Awarded: May 4, 2023

Chelsea working at Rialto Beach.

Where did you start with your test prep?

I find that studying with a good friend is the best way to learn and retain information. I chose my bestie Mary Alice, who was taking the test at the same time, and we met up at a restaurant/bar every weekend for 3 months. Good food and a beer helped us relax and enjoy our study time, instead of dreading it.

Together, we went over the practice tests and graded each other, and we taught each other all of the different sections outlined in the Reg Review study materials. We decided that we should prepare our “lessons” on the material we are least familiar with, then go over our findings together.

What should a person gearing up to do this know about the mental, physical, and social challenges of test prep?

Studying for the test is stressful—at first it is very overwhelming and it seems like you will never get through all the study materials. But if you break down the sections and consider your comfort level with each subject, it helps put the test in perspective.

I focused heavily on hydrogeology and engineering geology review, and spent a day on each of the subjects (like economic geology, which I have no background in) reading through all of the material and attempting study questions. I suggest learning basic hydro equations, how to calculate weighted averages, and review your three-point problems (applicable to both structural and hydro questions). Don’t freak out if you don’t know some things! You only need a 70 percent grade to pass.

Chelsea with her cat, Elvira.

Walk us through the Big Test Day…

I was really nervous! To prepare for the exam I ate a solid breakfast, drank a lot of water, and took a few deep breaths.

When I got to the testing center in Mountlake Terrace, I ran into Bodie McCosby from Aspect and recognized a few other people, which made me feel less stressed out.

It is important to follow the instructions given by ASBOG (the National Association of State Boards of Geology) and make sure you have all required documentation and identification before entering the testing center. It is a little odd, but they use a metal detector and pat you down before you enter the testing area to ensure you aren’t cheating, so be prepared to feel like you are going to board an airplane.

How did you feel when you got the results?

Because this was the first year that the test was given online, we had a lot of questions about how the results would come out, and when. I know all of us were obsessively checking our emails. It took about 45 days to receive our test results, a slightly longer wait than previous years with the written test. When I got the email that I passed, I was at home after work—I was really excited and relieved! The first thing I did was call my mom and dad to share the news, and that evening my husband took me out to dinner to celebrate.

What lessons did you learn that you’d want others to know?

I think the best thing to do is study in a way that helps you—not everyone studies well with a friend and a cheeseburger like me. I reflected on the best methods I used during grad school, and relied on those. Reaching out to others who have taken the test and experienced it is also very helpful for understanding the level of effort you should take.

King County and the City of Kent Celebrate the Lower Russell Levee Setback

One of the new picnic shelters in use.

King County recently held a celebration to mark the end of the Lower Russell Levee Setback Project and the reopening of City of Kent’s Van Doren’s Landing Park. Principal Geotechnical Engineer Henry H. Haselton, who served as Aspect’s project manager on the project, was in attendance at the culminating event.

At $58M, the Lower Russell Levee Setback Project is one of the largest multi-benefit flood control/ecosystem restoration projects in Washington. It replaced an aging flood control system along an approximately 1.4-mile corridor of the Green River in Kent with a new levee and river revetment system. This new system meets current US Army Corps of Engineers standards, is FEMA certifiable, and strengthens flood protection for nearby homes and businesses. Fish and other river dwellers benefit from the increased water conveyance and shallow, slow water areas created by the new levee setback, engineered log jams, and off-channel embayment, while those on land can enjoy enhancements to the adjacent park, including new play structures, picnic shelters, and a wildlife lookout tower.

New observation tower on the bank of the Green River.

New Mt. Rainier play structure at Van Doren’s Landing Park.

Henry led Aspect’s geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, and hydrogeologic services as part of a multidisciplinary design team led by HDR. Our work spanned from reviewing existing site data and mapping in April 2014 through developing levee design alternatives to overseeing geotechnical aspects of construction in late 2022. During that time, our team:

  • Conducted two round of subsurface explorations to supplement existing site data and mapping 

  • Collaborated with the design team to identify and address geotechnical project cost drivers, such as reuse of on-site soils and construction dewatering strategies

  • Developed geotechnical design and construction recommendations for the new setback levee and flood walls

  • Collaborated with Northwest Hydraulic Consultants to design log jams and other aquatic restoration features

  • Provided geotechnical design criteria to the Berger Partnership for new park facilities

  • Evaluated stormwater infiltration feasibility for the park via large-scale pilot infiltration tests

The project’s success is the result of years of close collaboration between King County’s Water and Land Resources Division, the City of Kent, the Muckleshoot Tribe, and the design team. Congratulations to all who contributed to this project with multiple benefits for the environment and community.

Aspect Consulting Joins the Geosyntec Family of Companies, Supporting Client Service in the Pacific Northwest and Beyond

Aspect Consulting (Aspect) has joined the Geosyntec family of companies. This transformative partnership will advance a shared vision between Aspect and Geosyntec for growing water supply and resilience, environmental, and geotechnical practice areas in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Geosyntec has been serving clients from offices in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington offices for more than 20 years, and our combined capabilities and delivery capacity will enrich and enlarge our combined market presence in the Pacific Northwest and accelerate many strategic initiatives in the western United States and beyond.

With a combined staff exceeding 1,900 engineers, scientists, and related technical and project support personnel, Geosyntec serves clients from more than 90 offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia.

Tim Flynn, LHG, CGWP, CEO of Aspect, said, “Combining Aspect and Geosyntec’s earth and water expertise and geographic reach will enhance our ability to offer innovative and sustainable approaches towards solving today’s consequential water supply, water-related, and environmental issues. We are excited to join our new Geosyntec colleagues in providing advisory consulting services that positively impact our communities and help our clients achieve their goals.”

Peter Zeeb, PhD, PG, President and CEO of Geosyntec, characterized the acquisition as follows: “Joining forces with Aspect will dramatically advance our collective capacity for delivering integrated, multidiscipline expertise targeted at some of the most complex and critical environmental and water-related challenges facing our clients in the Pacific Northwest, arid Southwest, and other markets. We are excited about what we will accomplish together.”

AEC Advisors (www.aecadvisors.com) initiated the transaction and advised Aspect Consulting.

Learn More

Geosyntec: www.geosyntec.com

Why a Record-Breaking Winter Doesn’t Solve Western Water Issues

Did this year’s record-breaking snowpack officially end the megadrought? (Spoiler alert: it did not.) What solutions exist to face the challenges of western water management?

 Animas River in Durango, Colorado flowing in May 2023

A Record-breaking Winter in Western US

It’s no secret that winter 2022/2023 was exceptionally snowy, and - quite literally - record-breaking in the western US. Throughout the winter we read news headlines that quickly progressed from “epic snow year” to “potentially record-shattering” and finally to “largest-ever snowpack”. These bold headlines in the media were validated by the US National Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) SNOTEL network, which revealed that  snow water equivalent (SWE) values sky-rocketed well above normal in nearly all western US basins. This positive outlook continues through late spring for southern states in the west — the snapshot from late May shows an above-normal snowpack for many basins in Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado.

Western US Snow Water Equivalent values are above normal for southern states in the West and below normal for northern states.

Digging Out From a Big Hole

This prodigious snowpack couldn’t have come at a more desperate time. Last summer, drought conditions across the western US reached all-time severity with numerous regions reaching D3 (Extreme) and D4 (Exceptional) drought stages. Many states experienced major losses to crops and pastures, and numerous water shortages and restrictions were put into place. With winter 2023 in the rear view mirror and summer just ahead, it’s difficult to imagine that, in just a few months’ time, much of the western US will return to a dry, drought-stricken landscape, but unfortunately, that’s the reality we face. Even a record-breaking snowpack cannot make up for numerous years of back-to-back drought conditions.

The tension created between the ongoing drought and this year’s snowfall demonstrates the challenges of western water management and how one good snow year can create an illusion of water security.

The Endless Winter Fights Back

While this extraordinary winter won’t completely erase the megadrought, the short-term drought outlook has improved significantly.  A drought summary posted by the National Drought Mitigation Center on May 23, 2023 shows a dramatic improvement for most of the western US over the last year, with most area’s drought classifications downgraded by one or more classes.

Changes in drought classifications across the US.

But as welcome as this improvement is, it’s going to take more than one good snow year to dig ourselves out from the deep hole we are in. Much of the US is still categorized as either D0 (Abnormally Dry) or D1 (Moderate Drought) with some select regions continuing to worsen, even after this winter. The following two images show recorded drought conditions almost exactly one year apart.

Drought conditions comparing May 2022 to May 2023.

The New and Fragile Normal for Water Supply

Water managers rely on forecasts to predict the volume of available water supply for the upcoming spring and summer months. Generally, a bigger snow year means a better forecast and more water availability. But total snowfall is only one piece of the water supply puzzle, and other factors, mainly brought about by a more volatile climate and our changing society, can create additional challenges.

Some of the challenges today’s water managers face include:

  • Higher overall demand for water and more consumptive uses brought about by population growth.

  • Difficulty with the management of the timing of runoff (earlier melting) – warmer-than-average spring temps and more dust-on-snow events (which expedites melting) are causing severe flooding and other adverse impacts. Overall, severe runoff is less beneficial for water supplies as it overwhelms water storage infrastructure and is difficult to capture (something stormwater experts are grappling with as they look to design infrastructure for a changing climate).  

  • Thirsty soils – already dry soils take up less water than saturated soils, leading to more runoff and less water supply capture.

  • Previously depleted groundwater resources and surface water reservoirs – “digging out of a hole”.

Water Managers Look to Variety of Strategies to Harness Retimed and Excess Water

These challenges, combined with a volatile climate, mean that one wet winter won’t be enough, and leave water managers facing a difficult task.

Fortunately, solutions such as water banking, watershed planning, and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR), can be deployed to combat these challenges and capitalize on the periods of excess runoff water. And thanks to the unprecedented volume of available funding opportunities for water sustainability, conservation, and efficiency projects, these solutions are becoming more widespread and are proving to have effective implementation.

Aspect is heavily involved in water banking, watershed planning, and ASR, helping western clients with short-term and long-term water supply projects. Additional detail about Aspect’s past and current involvement with these strategies can be found below:

Estelita’s Library Receives Grant to Move Forward with New Community

May 7-13 is Affordable Housing Week, championed by the Housing Development Consortium to highlight the role affordable housing plays in stabilizing our communities. See a recent affordable housing story below and more of Aspect’s Affordable Housing work here.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell recently announced $13.5 million in grant funding awards though the City of Seattle’s Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) to help community groups among Seattle’s diverse cultural communities purchase properties in neighborhoods where they are at high risk for displacement due to gentrification and redevelopment. The funds are designated “for site acquisition and major capital projects, as well as capacity-building support to organizations that are still developing their plans for permanent spaces in Seattle.”

Among the recipients is Estelita’s Library, a local nonprofit that will receive $2,375,000 to complete purchase of a property to expand their community hub. 

“Estelita’s Library is a social justice library, bookstore, and cultural hub focused on uplifting our most marginalized communities,” said Edwin Lindo, co-founder of Estelita’s Library, in the City’s press release. “It has been serving South Seattle through literature, space for communities to organize and build, and fighting gentrification through culture. With this support, Estelita’s Library will be able to fulfill its commitment to acquire property in Beacon Hill; expand its services, space, and library; and ultimately fulfill its vision and commitment of building affordable housing that is grounded in and uplifts community.” 

Aspect’s environmental team, led by Associate Geologist Ali Cochrane and Principal Geologist Dave Cook, assisted Estelita’s Library with purchase negotiations and environmental due diligence to assess property conditions. Soil and groundwater at the site is contaminated with petroleum from the property’s decades-long use as gas stations and auto repair shops.  

Drill rig installs a monitoring well at the property Estelita’s Library is looking to purchase for their new community space. Aspect will sample these wells to gauge the level and extent of contamination in site groundwater.

Our team helped Estelita’s Library procure over $125k in planning grants from Ecology’s Brownfields Grant program to fund these efforts. We will support them through the upcoming application process for a grant from Ecology’s Affordable Housing Cleanup Grant program, which will fund the planning and design phases of the cleanup in concert with property redevelopment.

Groundbreaking Celebrates the Start of Affordable Housing Along the Bellingham Waterfront

May 7-13 is Affordable Housing Week, championed by the Housing Development Consortium to highlight the role affordable housing plays in stabilizing our communities. See a recent affordable housing story below and more of Aspect’s Affordable Housing work here.

Staff from Aspect’s Bellingham and Seattle offices were on hand for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the first phase of the Millworks development, which will bring affordable housing to the Bellingham waterfront.

Banners at the construction site announcing both Phases of the Millworks redevelopment

Millworks is a partnership between the Port of Bellingham, Whatcom Community Foundation, and Mercy Housing Northwest (Mercy). Phase 1 of Mercy’s development includes 83 units of workforce and family rental housing plus a YMCA early learning center. The development should be ready to welcome residents next year.

Mercy Housing Northwest’s project manager Ellen Lohe (left) emceed the groundbreaking event, and Port Commissioner Michael Shepard (right) delivered remarks.

The Millworks development sits on 2.3 acres at the corner of the larger 67-acre Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site. Once home to a pulp and tissue mill, the site has undergone massive cleanup and redevelopment over the last decade, including the City of Bellingham’s popular Waypoint Park. Aspect’s environmental, geotechnical, and stormwater teams have worked extensively within the former mill’s footprint.

The building’s foundation is in place with framing starting, only 4 months after cleanup completion. Photo courtesy of Mercy Housing NW.

For the Millworks project, Aspect completed a pre-design investigation, developed a cleanup action plan, oversaw a formal public comment period, authored the engineering design report, executed an excavation compliance monitoring plan, reviewed construction plans/specs, and provided bid support. We provided oversight on the soil removal project, which also accomplished the substantial grading and site prep needed to start work on the new building. All of this occurred within a highly expedited 12-month schedule to meet Mercy’s funding requirements.

Principal Hydrogeologist Steve Germiat, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, managed Aspect’s project team, which includes Adam Griffin, Jane Gregg, Matt Eddy, Nikolai Carroll, and Baxter Call. They worked in close coordination with the Port, RMC Architects, and the rest of the Mercy team, as well as the Washington State Department of Ecology, to reach this key milestone.

Whatcom Community Foundation’s planned Phase 2 development will include more affordable housing units and a local food campus featuring a commercial kitchen for use by food trucks and nonprofits like Meals on Wheels. Phase 2 construction is expected to begin in 2025.

Meet Shelby Cutter

Aspect recently welcomed Shelby Cutter to our Seattle office. Here are Five Questions we asked to get to know her better.

1. Where are you from? If you’re not from the Pacific Northwest, what brought you here?

I was born and raised in Bend, Oregon, and have spent most of my life in the Pacific Northwest, other than a short stint in Santa Cruz, California. I’ve lived in Walla Walla and Longmire, but came up to Seattle to get my master’s degree from University of Washington in Geotechnical Engineering.

2. What inspired you to pursue Geotechnical Engineering? What made you curious about it?

I started out getting my bachelor's degree in geology from Whitman College. After that, I was lucky enough to work at Mt. Rainier National Park as a geomorphology intern and completed a risk assessment of the Nisqually River but my work didn’t include any actual mitigation work, nor did I have the background to do any such thing—that left me unsatisfied. After working at a geotechnical engineering firm in the Bay Area, I knew I wanted to pursue a master's degree in geotech. I love identifying possible geological risks but I want to also find ways to fix/mitigate them as well.

3. What do you like best about your area of expertise? What excites you and keeps you motivated?

Geotechnical engineering is always changing. New technologies and techniques are being put into practice all the time, and while it might be hard to keep up with, it keeps things interesting.

4. What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

In the months from December to May, you can find me alpine skiing at Stevens, Crystal, Whistler, Mt. Bachelor, or in the backcountry. Outside of skiing, I also love to powerlift and find new/wild flavors of beer, and I just recently got into downhill mountain biking.

5. Where in the world would you like to travel next?

I would love to visit Norway, specifically the Lyngen Alps and Tromsø. I would go backcountry skiing and to the floating saunas on the water, and I would love to see both the midnight sun in the summer and the Northern Lights/eternal night in the winter.

 

Kitsap County’s Washington Boulevard Landslide Stabilization Project Honored at AWPA’s Spring Conference

Aspect joined staff from Kitsap County Public Works (County) at the American Public Works Association (APWA) Spring Conference in Tacoma to celebrate the County’s Washington Boulevard Landslide Stabilization project, which earned the APWA’s 2022 Public Works Project of the Year award in the Disaster or Emergency Construction Repair (less than $5 million) category.

Members of the Washington Boulevard Stabilization team accepting their award (from left to right): Andrew Nelson, Kitsap Public Works Director; Tina Nelson, Kitsap Senior Program Manager; Joe Rutan, Kitsap County Engineer; Tim Beachy, Kitsap Project Manager; David Dinkuhn, Parametrix Civil Engineer; Andrew Holmson, Aspect Consulting; Steve Nichols, Kitsap Construction Manager; Tom Abplanalp, Sound Pacific Construction; Phil Struck, Struck Environmental; Paije Abplanalp, Sound Pacific Construction.

Washington Boulevard traverses a steep coastal bluff along the eastern Puget Sound shoreline in Kingston, Washington, leading into the town center and regional ferry terminal. Part of the road crosses a large deep-seated landslide complex that for decades suffered failures after heavy rains, frequently cutting off the sole access to the town and emergency services for 22 homes along the road. The Washington Boulevard Landslide Stabilization project constructed a horizontal drain system, stormwater improvements, and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) slope to stabilize the roadway and provide a reliable path to the town and services for residents.

Roadway damaged after slope movement in 2011.

Temporary roadway protection measures in place.

In the winter of 2006, a period of extreme rainfall triggered significant landslide movement and damage to the roadway. Kitsap County engaged Aspect to complete detailed geologic investigations to characterize the nature of the landslide, conduct emergency monitoring, help the County decision-makers understand the risks the landslide posed to the roadway, and to develop viable stabilization alternatives. After over a decade of active monitoring and management, the increasingly frequent road closures and need for repairs due to landslide movement prompted County decision-makers to start design and construction of the preferred stabilization alternative.

Horizontal Drain Drilling (HDD) near the steep bluff.

Aspect led design of the horizontal drain system to dewater the body of the landslide, roadway stormwater improvements to enhance collection and conveyance of stormwater on/near the roadway, and a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) slope to achieve grade transitions at the landslide headscarp and support the roadway embankment. This solution struck an elegant balance between effective stabilization targeting the root cause of instability (elevated groundwater), an environmentally permittable, sustainable, and beneficial design, and cost.

Roadside Drainage Improvements and Roadway Base Preparation.

Final paving of road reconstruction with guardrail.

Aspect and the County worked in close collaboration with Parametrix for civil design and Struck Environmental for environmental permitting to deliver a pragmatic design meeting the project objectives, schedule, and budget. The project was successfully constructed by Sound Pacific Construction with key support from Jensen Drilling, Inc.

Senior Associate Geotechnical Engineer Andrew Holmson, PE, who has worked on the project since 2008 alongside over a dozen Aspect geologists and engineers, joined Tim Beachy, Tina Nelson, Andrew Nelson, and Joe Rutan from Kitsap County; David Dinkuhn from Parametrix; Phil Struck from Struck Environmental; and Tom and Paije Abplanalp from Sound Pacific Construction for the awards ceremony.

The full list of this year’s APWA Washington Project of the Year winners and project photos are available on their website.