Snyder & Associates Podcast

Urban and Rural Wetland Protection and Restoration
Wetlands play an essential role in biodiversity conservation and provide a wide range of ecosystem goods and services. Across the country, environmental experts are continually working to restore, enhance, or create these spaces to maintain the quality of our natural water systems.

Today, two of our environmental team members, Kate Barnes, PE, and Steve Klocke, PE, discuss the differences between wetlands in rural vs. urban landscapes and delve into detailed project examples for both.

Podcast Agenda

• Differences Between Urban & Rural Wetland Development (00:18)
• Defining a Wetland (01:39)
• Compensating for Loss of Jurisdictional Waters (02:38)
• Mitigation Options & Processes (03:13)
• Benefits of Utilizing a Mitigation Bank (04:08)
• Hardin County Wetland Creation & Restoration Example (05:27)
• Hardin County Stream Mitigation Bank Example (10:03)
• Urban Side of Wetland Design (13:45)
• Fourmile Creek Stormwater Wetland Example (15:43)
• Practical Lessons Learned (18:43)

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Selecting Right-Sized Treatments for Small-Town Wastewater Systems
Identifying proper wastewater treatment solutions for small towns requires the acknowledgment that these communities function differently from large urban centers. As small towns across the country find it challenging to keep pace with the changing wastewater limits and regulations, our engineers are prepared to help.

Listen in as our engineer Jeff Godwin, P.E., details common wastewater concerns and issues associated with rural systems and explores the multiple treatment options specifically fitted for small-town wastewater treatment systems.

Podcast Agenda

• Common Wastewater Treatment Concerns (0:43)
• Primary Treatment Options for Small Towns (1:18)
• Determining the Correct Treatment Option for Your Community (3:15)
• Creating a Wastewater Facility Plan (3:57)
• Lagoon Improvement Options (8:34)
• Available Funding Options for Wastewater Treatment Systems (13:56)
• Getting Started on Wastewater Treatment System Updates (17:59)

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Utilizing Trenchless Technology in New Projects & Rehab Methods
Installing new wastewater or water supply pipes in established residential areas is a high-impact process that typically necessitates removing sidewalks, roadways, and driveways, and disturbing existing landscaping. However, trenchless construction technology is an innovative underground construction method that often eliminates the need for excavations.

Listen as two of our experts, Wes Farrand, P.E., and Patrick Williams, EI, talk through all aspects of trenchless construction and how you can incorporate this environmentally and financially sound alternative to traditional excavation techniques.


Podcast Agenda

• Why Trenchless Technology Demand Has Increased (1:29)
• Intangible Community Benefits (2:38)
• Understanding Possible Downfalls of Trenchless Construction (3:56)
• New Trenchless Insertion Technologies (7:36)
• Pipe Material & Application Considerations (15:22)
• Trenchless Construction Methods for Rehabilitation Projects (17:07)
• Manhole Recovering as a Secondary Rehabilitation Option (25:09)
• Utilizing Trenchless Construction in Your Community (26:18)

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Municipal Water & Wastewater Operator Shortages
Across the country, communities are facing a shortage of water and wastewater treatment plant operators. This shortage is leaving municipalities in immediate need of assistance from replacements. Without these qualified individuals, communities face the risk of failing to provide essential public health services.

Snyder & Associates is prepared to provide relief by delivering plant operational support. Whether your community needs a completely managed program or just a part-time/temporary solution, Snyder & Associates has licensed operators available to assist. Listen in as Lindsay Beaman, P.E., and Grade 2 certified Wastewater Operator, and Jarad Diedrich, Grade 3 Wastewater and Grade 1 Water Operator, discuss the solutions our team can offer from a staffing and expertise perspective.

Podcast Agenda

• Roles & Responsibilities of Certified Operators (1:42)
• Operator Workforce Shortage Raises Concerns for Public Health & Safety (3:10)
• Risks Associated with Operator Shortages (6:38)
• Snyder & Associates Offers a Full Range of Operations Staffing Services (7:42)
• Advantages to Municipalities in Hiring a Licensed Operator (10:44)

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Award-Winning Collaborative Wetland, Fishpond & Bridge Projects
When put to a vote, residents passed the Linn County Water and Land Legacy bond issue with a 74 percent approval rating. This popular concept demonstrated that county residents overwhelmingly support water quality, floodplain storage, and the preservation of natural areas. To meet these goals, Linn County enlisted the help of Snyder & Associates engineers, who developed a series of award-winning water quality projects in Wanatee Park.

Listen as Nichoel Church, PWS, Lindsay Beaman, P.E., and Patrick Williams, EI, discuss how through collaboration with the county, we completed multiple wetland reconstructions, established the first fishable pond in the county, and built a new pedestrian bridge.

Podcast Agenda

• Implementing Water Quality Improvements in Wanatee Park (0:18)
• Wanatee Park Wetland Creation & Restoration (1:38)
• Maintenance & Pedestrian Bridge Enhancements (4:43)
• Erosion Control & Site Solution Benefits (7:43)
• Navigating the Multi-Project Bidding Process (11:54)
• Challenges Faced Throughout Design (12:31)
• Award-Winning Collaboration & Designs (13:44)

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Navigating the Revised Lead & Copper Rule Requirements
In a continuing effort to eradicate lead from drinking water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a deadline extension for its Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) to October 16, 2024. From performing lead service line inventories to creating new sampling plans, our team is helping clients comply with the upcoming LCRI initiative.

Listen in as engineer, Emily Stewart, EI, provides the critical details and steps Iowa communities must take to remain in compliance and meet the LCRI deadline.

Podcast Agenda

• Lead and Copper Rule & the Additional Requirements (0:17)
• Step 1 – Lead Service Line Inventory (1:33)
• Step 2a – Record Identification and Analysis (2:43)
• Step 2b – Service Line Material Classifications & Tiers (4:33)
• Step 3 – Sampling Plan (7:10)
• Step 4 – Lead Service Line Replacement Plan (7:59)
• Overview of Items Needed for Deadline (9:14)
• Step 5 – Sampling Techniques & Procedures (9:34)
• Step 6 – Calculating 90th Percentile & Determining Action Levels (10:48)
• Foreseeable Challenges (11:43)

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Considerations for Sanitary Assessment Program Planning
A well-structured assessment program provides the critical information needed to evaluate the physical condition and functionality of a community’s wastewater collection system. This data is vital for estimating the remaining service life of infrastructure components and planning for future mitigation projects.

During this podcast, Brett Paige, P.E., outlines the many variables a community should consider prior to conducting a sanitary assessment program, and how to use the collected data to gain insights into the performance of your system.

Podcast Agenda

• Assessment Program Planning Tools (0:18)
• Planning for Projected Costs & Inflation (1:32)
• Determining Constructability (1:42)
• Incorporating Conservative Contingencies (2:01)
• Structuring Permitting Timelines (2:23)
• Available Budget vs. System Needs (2:57)

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Stay Proactive with Sanitary Sewer Flow Monitoring
In a perfect world, stormwater would never find its way into a community’s sanitary sewer system, let alone, to a treatment plant. However, inflow and infiltration issues are real-world problems that require a complex monitoring process. Implementing flow monitoring inspections identifies problem areas of inflow and infiltration in a sanitary system and helps determine the proper steps for establishing a repair plan.

The process of collecting adequate flow data is a challenging undertaking that if performed incorrectly, could result in costly mistakes. In this podcast, Brett Paige, P.E., takes an in-depth look at the flow monitoring process, the techniques available, and some of the ways our experts ensure you’re getting quality data to achieve the best results.

Podcast Agenda

• What’s Included in the Flow Monitoring Process? (0:19)
• Potential Flow Analysis Techniques (2:22)
• Inflow Coefficient Method (2:41)
• RTK (4:10)
• Capacity Evaluation (5:30)
• Mannings Equation (5:52)

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Exploring Dam Removal Project Funding
When a dam begins to cause negative environmental impacts or creates safety risks for users of a waterway, removal could be the answer. However, this solution often comes with a hefty price tag. With almost no state or federal funding programs dedicated specifically to dam removal, financing these projects can become a challenge.

In this podcast, environmental experts Jeff Walters, PWS, and Nichoel Church, PWS, explain that with a bit of creative thinking, a combination of several funding sources can be used to successfully fund dam removal projects.

Podcast Agenda

• Acquiring Appropriate Funding (0:18)
• Funding for Dam Removals Private Land Owners (3:35)
• Funding Assistance Requirements for Varying Organizations (5:05)
• Availability of Funding Sources (6:35)
• Timing for Funding Assistance (7:50)
• Cost of Dam Removal vs Dam Modification (9:16)
• Mitigation Banking as a Funding Option (10:49)

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Trenchless Construction Safely Installs Transmission Main with Minimal Disruption
As the City of Ankeny continues to expand, upgrading the city’s infrastructure is in a constant cycle to support the new housing and business construction — including the need for expanding water main transmission lines. This type of work is notorious for causing disruptions in neighborhoods and delays for motorists.

When confronted with a major water main transmission line project along Irvinedale Drive, our team offered a unique solution to keep public disruptions to a minimum. Listen in as Wes Farrand, P.E., explains how we used Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) on this project and greatly reduced the need for open-trench construction. This increasingly popular method required no street or trail closures, no utility disruptions, and limited harm to local landscaping.

Podcast Agenda

• Irvinedale Drive Project Background (0:17)
• Determining a Project Route to Limit Disruptions (1:49)
• Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) (3:38)
• Pipe Material Considerations & Selection (4:33)
• Construction of Irvinedale Transmission Main (5:29)

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