Author Archives: Paul Rudwick

February Meeting Annoucement

DATE:    Wednesday, February 28th
PLACE:  Hawthorne Lucky Lab Brew Pub, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd
TIME:     11:30 a.m. Networking, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
TOPIC: City of Gresham Pollution Prevention Partnership with PPRC
SPEAKER: Keri Handaly, Stormwater Permit Coordinator and Mitchell Frister, Oregon Manager Pacific NW Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC)

Gresham Watershed staff have pursued innovative collaborations to reduce commercial/industrial sector stormwater pollutants.The Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center, a non-profit, is contracted to augment Gresham’s business inspection program.  Their services focus on the automotive and landscaping industries and provide audits and free technical assistance to enhance their use, management, cleanup, and education related to their indoor and outdoor operations.  Businesses that go above and beyond get certified and receive free advertising.  Ecobiz audits have significant benefits beyond standard code inspections for stormwater and wastewater because they address chemical substitutions to reduce toxicity, bulk systems to reduce waste and prevent spills, energy efficient lighting, etc. Gresham also developed a stormdrain cleaning program that reduces the cost to businesses to incentivize annual cleaning and utilized local interns to inspect and GPS all private drains.  Gresham staff then require unmaintained drains to be cleaned.  Interns were also trained to report unkempt/dirty outdoor storage areas that staff could follow up and enforce.  This approach of having a few carrots and a code enforcement stick has resulted in many cleanup and maintenance success stories.

Keri started in the pollution prevention field 20 years ago at Oregon DEQ.  She has been working in the Gresham Water Resources Division as the Stormwater Permit Coordinator and Toxics Reduction Educator for the past 15 years and has expertise in the social marketing theory of behavior change.  She holds degrees from the University of GA, BS Environmental Science and Universty of WA, MPA, Environmental Policy and she loves bulldogs and hiking all over Oregon.

As Oregon Manager, Mitch oversees business outreach and technical assistance programs for local government partners including Clean Water Services, Clackamas County, and the City of Gresham. Each of these programs aims to eliminate pollution generated from commercial businesses and reduce the use of toxic chemicals. He also manages EcoBiz, an environmental certification for automotive and landscaping business, as well as public agencies, who go above and beyond compliance.Prior to his work at PPRC, Mitch studied Community Development at Portland State University. As a student, he helped to develop innovative recycling systems for the Port of Portland and provided sustainability outreach to hundreds of businesses throughout the Portland area.

PPRC is a Seattle-based non-profit that works collaboratively with business, government, non-government organizations, and other sectors to promote environmental protection through pollution prevention. PPRC believes that environmental and economic vitality go hand in hand, and that both are necessary to protect the high quality of life enjoyed in our region.

January Meeting Annoucement

DATE:    Wednesday, January 31st
PLACE:  Hawthorne Lucky Lab Brew Pub, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd
TIME:     11:30 a.m. Networking, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
TOPIC: The Urban Beaver Study: An Examination of the Effects of Beavers on an Urban Streamscape
SPEAKER: Erin Poor, USGS

Agencies are seeking alternative ways of restoring and enhancing resilience in urban stream networks within the constraints of existing infrastructure. One potential strategy may be to support beaver recolonization of urban streams. Beaver dam building activity has been found to attenuate streamflow and provide ecological uplift in areas that have experienced minimal human impact. But does this hold true in urban streamscapes? The urban beaver study seeks to answer this question and provide resource managers with science that will inform strategic management and planning decisions.

Erin is an avid outdoorswoman who has been hiking trails in the Pacific Northwest since she was just six-weeks old. Hiking may be an exaggeration as her parents did most of the work back then, but nonetheless her passion for nature and curiosity about stream systems was sparked at a young age. Erin currently works as a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center. As a member of the water quality team Erin examines issues facing urban streams.

October Meeting Annoucement

DATE:    Thursday, October 19th
PLACE:  Hawthorne Lucky Lab Brew Pub, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd
TIME:     11:30 a.m. Networking, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
TOPIC: Dairy Creek – Reconnecting to Restore Habitat Functionality
SPEAKER: Jason Magalen, Solmar Hydro, Inc.

Sturgeon Lake is located within the boundaries of Sauvie Island. Historically, circulation of the lake was maintained via, primarily, the Gilbert River (connected to the Multnomah Channel) to the north and Dairy Creek (connected to the Columbia River) to the south. Recent hydraulic changes have caused sediment infilling within Sturgeon Lake, decreasing water quality and degrading habitat. One of the selected methods to restoring lake function was to re-connect Dairy Creek between the Columbia River and Sturgeon Lake. This presentation will focus on the coordination requirements for the many stakeholders, and the ensuing 1D/2D hydraulic modeling, analysis, and engineering methods employed toward final design.

Mr. Magalen is a Coastal Engineer and Hydrographer with Solmar Hydro, Inc. in Portland, OR. He has 15 years of experience in hydrographic and marine geophysical surveying; and coastal, dredge, marine, and environmental engineering. The majority of his career has focused on hydrographic/geophysical and topographic surveying; hydrodynamic, sediment and water quality marine data collection, analysis and numerical modeling; coastal, estuarine, and riverine modeling; and evaluation and design of coastal structures. Type of projects have included contaminated and non-contaminated sediment erosion and transport assessments; wave and current studies; bridge scour evaluations; fish passage and wetland restoration projects; marine hydrokinetic (offshore wind and wave energy generation) studies; dredging project design; shoreline revetment and breakwater design; and construction management. He has worked for both the private engineering and consulting sector as well as the public (with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Portland).

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University, and a Master of Ocean Engineering Degree from Oregon State University. He is a registered professional engineer in CA, OR, WA, and Guam; is a NSPS/THSOA Certified Hydrographer; and is a certified Remote Pilot in Command (FAA Part 107). He is a past president of the Oregon Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (OR ASCE) and is presently active with the NSPS/THSOA Exam Certification Board.

May Meeting Annoucement

DATE:    Wednesday, May 31st, 2017
PLACE:  Hawthorne Lucky Lab Brew Pub, 915 SE Hawthorne Blvd
TIME:     11:30 a.m. Networking, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
TOPIC: Drone LiDAR Data Acquisition
SPEAKER: Kevin Darrow, BD Aerial

More and more organizations are turning to unmanned aerial systems (UAS) solutions for water restoration projects. BD Aerial, a Portland-based drone services company specializing in LiDAR data acquisition, will dive into 2 examples of how organizations have used UAS to help solve environmental challenges.

Use-Case #1: What’s the best way to survey a working spillway without halting the operation and without putting personnel at risk?

Use-Case #2: In an effort to restore a fish habitat, (orga
nization) needed to remove water control structures, which would flood low-lying property. It was necessary to use a sensor capable of vegetation penetration to understand the topography of the project area and assemble the appropriate restoration plans.

Portland, Oregon drone services company, BD Aerial, was established in 2012 and is a leader in using UAS to safely inspect and document land and industrial assets. BD Aerial started in the Pacific Northwest and quickly became a preferred UAS service provider across the Nation; Now operating Worldwide with companies like Discovery Channel and National Geographic.

BD Aerial flies payloads including precision LiDAR systems, UV and Infrared sensors, and high-resolution cameras for photos, videos and photogrammetry. Using unmanned aircrafts, they capture actionable data for surveying high-risk landslide areas and terrain, maintenance inspections, engineering documentation, and construction mapping.

Kevin Darrow is Head of Business Development at BD Aerial. His role includes the company’s overall marketing strategy, project management, and strategic partnerships. In an industry that changes daily, he’s excited about exploring new UAS applications to help clients find creative solutions to their problems.