Construction Specifications

Construction Specifications

I am not a big fan of reinventing the wheel, but I have been burned enough in my career by “cutting and pasting” that I make it a habit to start from scratch as often as I can when writing a proposal, memo, scope, and, especially, project specifications. As civil...
Our Changing Hydrology

Our Changing Hydrology

The EPA reported the following statement on August 1 of this year: “In recent years, a larger percentage of precipitation has come in the form of intense single-day events,” which has occurred since 1996 (EPA “Climate Change Indicators: Heavy Precipitation, August 1,...
Flooding in a Drought Period

Flooding in a Drought Period

It seems counterintuitive to be concerned about flooding almost anywhere in California since we live in the longest drought period in recorded history. However, as you may have noticed, drought does not mean rain. It simply means less rain than usual for the region...
Healing the Built Environment

Healing the Built Environment

Usually, when I write articles about civil design and improving the existing conditions, I include sustainable measures, such as designing rain gardens, using permeable pavement, or designing and building plantable retaining walls. However, sometimes you need to...
Residential Projects in the Tahoe Basin

Residential Projects in the Tahoe Basin

The Lake Tahoe basin is arguably one of the most beautiful places on Earth. For me, especially when I describe it to others, its beauty comes from its random geographic position; surrounded by flat, dry valleys on two sides; covered with green forests; and the...