Dan Haller to Present on Water Right Mitigation at Seattle Law Seminar on November 6

Aspect’s Dan Haller will speak on a panel to discuss water rights mitigation at the 8th Annual Water Rights Transfers Seminar in Seattle.

Mitigation—i.e., offsetting impacts from a new water right by either trading water (in kind mitigation) or providing habitat improvement or investment (out of kind mitigation)—is THE topic in Washington water circles because of the Washington State Supreme Court’s recent Foster vs. Ecology decision. This groundbreaking ruling overturned Ecology’s permit approval, thus cancelling the City of Yelm’s water right permit. This timely panel discussion will discuss recent case law and what it means for future water right permitting strategy.

Learn more or register for the conference HERE.

Duwamish Alive!

Last Saturday morning, a small fleet of kayaks gathered on the shore at Seattle’s Terminal 107 Park, slipped into the Duwamish River, and spread out in search of garbage. Aspect’s Mark Bruce and Steve Germiat were aboard two of them as part of the Duwamish Alive! biannual restoration and cleanup event.

Mark, Steve, and other volunteers plucked 286 pounds of litter and debris from the river itself. A total of over 400 volunteers on land at other sites along the river cleared blackberry, knotweed, nightshade, and other invasive weeds from 18,870 square feet of restoration area and planted 40 plants, including 12 trees.

The cleanup was led by the Duwamish Alive Coalition, a collaboration between local nonprofits, municipalities, and businesses within the Duwamish River Watershed that work to preserve and enhance its ecological health. This was the 10th anniversary of the Duwamish Alive! restoration events. Aspect staff have participated since 2012.

We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Port

The Port of Tacoma is preparing to berth some of the biggest ships in the world. Container ships are quickly outgrowing the U.S. ports that serve them – a trend that shows no sign of slowing down. These enormous container ships enable liners, shippers, and cargo owners to ship more goods at a lower unit cost. The newest of these ultra-large container ships carry more than 18,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit containers), significantly exceeding Panamax dimensions (i.e., the largest ones that can pass through the Panama Canal, about 4,000 TEUs in 1985 and about 12,500 TEUs planned in 2015). These ultra-large container ships currently serve only the Asia-Europe trade routes, and exceed the capacity of U.S. ports. The average size ship calling on U.S. ports is still below 6,000 TEUs, but California ports have begun berthing 12,000 to 14,000 TEU ships. The increasing size of these ships puts pressure on ports to remodel, and fast, or else lose business to a competing port. Ports need to modify their channels and piers to accommodate these behemoths and upgrade their infrastructure to quickly unload, stage, and transport these containers to the hinterlands. See the trend in Vessel size over time in the graphic below. 

Source: Sisson, M. (2013). “Impact and Opportunities from Global Change.” Presented at AAPA Facilities Engineering Seminar on November 6, 2013

The Port of Tacoma is redeveloping the Husky Terminal to allow the simultaneous berthing of two 18,000 TEU ultra-large container ships, which are about 1,300 feet long and 205 feet wide. This project involves the reconfiguration and construction of Pier 4 to align with Pier 3, creating a 2,954 feet long pier that can accommodate up to six 100-foot cranes capable of loading ships that are 24 containers wide. The project enables the Port of Tacoma to be one the first U.S. ports capable of berthing these ultra-large container ships, allowing the port to remain an economic engine for the Pacific Northwest.

Although a natural deep water port, this project involves the dredging of approximately 500,000 cubic yards of sediment, including about 45,000 cubic yards of tributyltin (TBT) contaminated sediment that will be dredged during Phase I of the project. TBT is a marine biocide that was commonly used in ship paint to kill mollusks, but is now globally banned. Aspect engineers Alan Noell and Tom Atkins worked with lead-engineering firm KPFF to evaluate TBT treatment technologies and to design a water treatment system capable of treating millions of gallons of TBT-contaminated dredge return water. Phase I of the project is currently underway with scheduled completion by April 2016, and soon after, the Port will move towards completing Phase II and begin berthing these ultra-large container ships. 

Tim Flynn Sits on Scientific Risk Management Panel at the 24th Annual Water Law in Washington Conference

In late July 2015, the Washington Water Law Conference brought together water law practitioners, water users, and other experts to discuss current issues in Washington State’s water law. Aspect president and principal hydrogeologist Tim Flynn participated in a joint panel presentation on “Science vs. the Precautionary Principle: In what areas can more study lead to different decision making?” The presentations explored the technical and regulatory policy implications of reduced data collection and basic science in a resource constrained era on water right decisions.  The precautionary principal was illustrated through case studies of established instream flow rules and the challenges associated with limited stream flow data particularly in snow-pack driven watersheds such as the Methow River Basin.  Topics covered by other panelists included integrated water resource management issues and Ecology’s water right decision framework.

Aspect in the DJC: Weighing Ecology’s New Cleanup Guidance for Petroleum Sites

In a guest article in the Daily Journal of Commerce, Aspect’s Steve Germiat weighs in on the vision and the reality of the Washington State Department of Ecology’s new “model remedies” guidance for cleaning up petroleum-contaminated sites. This guidance proposes a kind of “pre-approved” shortcut to site cleanup. Steve goes into both the vision and the reality of this new (to Washington State) cleanup concept and its implications for site owners and developers. 

READ IT HERE.

Dan Haller to Speak at the October 2015 Osoyoos Lake Water Science Forum

Aspect’s Dan Haller will join other water experts on a panel to talk about British Columbia versus Washington water supply and management. The Forum will focus attention on sustaining the ecological health of Osoyoos Lake, along with the related well-being of the Okanagan Basin on both sides of the border. Learn more about the Water Science Forum HERE.

Aspect on the Radio

Geologic Issues for Developers and Homeowners

Dave McCormack, Aspect’s Senior Associate Engineering Geologist, was a recent guest on Alternative Talk 1150AM KKNW’s Condo & HOA Buzz. Hosts Duncan Kirk and Marshall Johnson quizzed Dave on the role an engineering geologist plays in building construction, development, and assessment to advise design teams on the best method for construction. They explored a number of geologic issues that can cause hassles for condo and Homeowner Association (HOA) dwellers—like eroding slopes, cracked foundations, seeping stormwater, and, of course, earthquakes—and how they can be addressed.

Listen to the full show in the Condo & HOA Buzz archives (select the August 5, 2015 show, the interview starts at the 5 minute 30 seconds mark).

 

 

Our Growing Yakima and Wenatchee Presence

Aspect continues to build our Yakima and Wenatchee team with the additions of new hires Meghan O’Brien, Project Scientist, and Taylor Dayton, Staff Engineer. We are excited to welcome Meghan and Taylor to Aspect and increase our engineering and water resources capabilities for our Eastern Washington clients.

Meghan O'Brien

Meghan O'Brien

Taylor Dayton

Taylor Dayton

Working from our Yakima office, Meghan will join Aspect’s statewide-recognized water rights team to help our agricultural, municipal, and business clients manage and preserve their water. Meghan brings nearly 10 years of water right permitting experience, as well as relationships with many Washington clients and stakeholders Aspect works with every day.  With prior experience working for the Washington State Department of Ecology, Meghan has valuable insight into the regulatory framework and permitting process that is key to successful water rights management. When not focused on water rights Meghan enjoys gardening, hiking and spending time with her family.

From Aspect’s Wenatchee office, Taylor will strengthen Aspect’s engineering capabilities for the planning and design of water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. Taylor supports her recently completed MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering with research experience at NASA. Taylor is an avid outdoor sports enthusiast relocating from the east coast to central Washington. Having only lived in the Mid Atlantic area she is looking to explore all the fantastic mountains and waterways that Washington has to offer.

A Geologist's Thoughts on the Pacific Northwest Mega-Quake Story

As the aftershocks of Kathryn Schulz’s article The Really Big One in The New Yorker continue to reverberate across western Washington, Aspect is fielding questions from concerned family members, friends, and clients. Will everything west of I-5 really be “toast”? Should I be worried about a landslide on the hill in my backyard? Is my house going to hold up against a 9.0 quake?

Read More

Geology Field Trip!

More than 30 members of Aspect’s technical staff participated in a regional geology workshop. The workshop was led by Puget Lowland geology guru Kathy Troost of the University of Washington and Troost Geosciences.  Friday morning was devoted to lectures and discussion of the geology of the area, and in the afternoon participants got their hands dirty practicing identifying and classifying samples of local soils. Saturday, Ms. Troost led the group to the classic field locations for regional geology: Alki Point, Mee-Kwa-Mooks Park,  Herrings’s House Park on the Duwamish, Discovery Park, and ended with an overview at Kerry Park on Queen Anne. 

The Threatened Bull Trout: Potential Impact of High Flow Events and Temperature on Spawning Habitat

Jared Bean – a Senior Staff Hydrogeologist with Aspect – along with co-authors from the University of Montana and the USGS, recently published a study, “Multi-scale hydrogeomorphic influences on bull trout (Salvelinus conluentus) spawning habitat,” in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Read more about Jared’s study and the importance of protecting and enhancing existing high quality bull trout habitat HERE.

Ecology's Effort to Update Its Water Quality Assessment - The Aspect Perspective

Owen Reese, an Associate Water Resources Engineer with Aspect, authored a guest post for the Miller Nash Graham & Dunn blog, Science Law and the Environment. Click below to see what Ecology’s efforts to update the Water Quality Assessment for Fresh Water means for NPDES permit holders. 

Read the Blog Post

Inspiring the Next Generation of Environmental Consultants

For an interdisciplinary WWU course focused on the Science and Management of Contaminated sites (SMoCS), Aspect’s Steve Germiat gave budding environmental consultants a “real life” experience in the MTCA cleanup process.

Steve first joined the class and Ecology staff on a rainy Saturday morning at an industrial waterfront site, viewing and discussing Aspect’s K-C Everett Mill RI/FS project that the class is using as a case study.  The following month, dry in a warm classroom, Steve walked the students through the MTCA cleanup process in general, while introducing soil and groundwater sampling methods, data analysis/presentation, and remedial technology options.

In addition to the exciting scientific and technological challenges of environmental remediation, Steve addressed the more mundane nuts and bolts of a consultant’s role and the skills and attributes that enable a consultant to excel. 

About SMoCS

In collaboration with Washington State Department of Ecology Toxics Cleanup Program, WWU’s Huxley College of the Environment (Huxley) offers undergraduate students a course series in the Science and Management of Contaminated sites (SMoCS). The SMoCS series includes three courses that build knowledge of the contaminated site cleanup process in Washington State with an emphasis on how scientific investigations are conducted, use of the technical documents associated with cleanups, the roles of different parties in cleanup decisions, and enhanced professional skills.  For more information on the program visit http://faculty.wwu.edu/harperr3/SMoCS.shtml.

Tim Flynn Advises Proposed ASR Legislation

As hydrogeologists, we understand the variable and sometimes finite nature of groundwater sources and importance to promote water storage opportunities in the State. We study storage alternatives – including Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) – to help our clients meet municipal and industrial water supply needs. In assessing the feasibility of ASR with Washington clients, we have experienced firsthand the challenges and uncertainties in designing, permitting, and funding projects.

Casual conversation after an OCR advisory group meeting led Senator Jim Honeyford, (R-Sunnyside), to turn to Aspect’s Tim Flynn for technical insight in drafting a senate bill designed to help streamline the ASR permitting process.  Tim testified to Committee on behalf of SB5018 in late January. He has since been collaborating with the Department of Ecology to clarify the technical and regulatory issues and streamline the ASR permitting process.

Read a Yakima Herald article about Sen Honeyford’s bill and Tim’s support of the legislation.

 

Dan Haller to Speak on Water Rights

Aspect’s Dan Haller will join state Ecology and Fish and Wildlife folks in a panel discussion on mitigation strategies at an upcoming Water Rights Transfers Seminar. Designed to provide practical information of vital interest to most water right holders, the annual seminar is being held November 13 and 14 in Seattle.  For the complete agenda and registration information see http://www.theseminargroup.net/seminar.lasso?seminar=14.wamWA

Meet Aspect's Newest! Project Scientist Jason McCormick

Aspect welcomes project scientist Jason McCormick to our Yakima Office team!

Bringing a wealth of water rights and project management experience from his most recent position with Washington Water Trust (WWT), Jason’s water rights knowledge will further deepen our growing water practice.

Prior to WWT, Jason worked with Dan Haller at Ecology in the Office of Columbia River where he was involved in the Kennewick Irrigation District pump exchange, City of Roslyn, Quad Cities, permit writing, and GIS mapping of approximately 1,200 Columbia River surface and ground water rights.

Jason is a native of eastern Washington with roots in the towns of Brewster, Tonasket, Yakima, and Zillah. He graduated cum laude from CWU with a BA in Geography and Land Studies and a focus on water resources and physical geography.

A true Northwesterner, Jason spends his off hours pursuing steelhead and salmon with a fishing rod in hand, hunting, hiking, and backpacking with his family.

Water Rights Ready for Certification?

Moving a water right from permit to certificate is the final step in the water right permitting process. Certification secures the water right for a needed water supply. With increasing demand for limited water resources, the surety certification provides can be critical.

To make the process quicker and more efficient, the Washington State Department of Ecology established the Certified Water Right Examiners (CWRE) program. Beginning August 2013, CWRE are authorized to conduct proof examinations for water users to support Ecology decision-making on issuance of water rights certificates.

Four Aspect staff were among the first to be certified as CWRE by Ecology.  With CWREs in our Seattle, Wenatchee and Yakima locations, Aspect is available to support water right permittees across the state.

For more information on Ecology’s CWRE program visit:

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/rights/cwre.html

Dan Haller Speaks at Washington Water Law Conference

Aspect’s Dan Haller spoke at the Water Law in Washington conference on August 27 in Seattle, WA.

In a session on New Tools in Water Resource Management, Dan discussed how the Washington State Department of Ecology uses the Washington Irrigation Guide to determine water duty and extent and validity of irrigation water rights.