pacific_surveying_engineering

Spring Into Construction!

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 00:22:06 GMT

The dry season is rapidly approaching and with it comes more earthwork construction! The team of Geologists at Element is ready to help owners, developers, and contractors alike by providing geotechnical expertise for construction support in the upcoming season.

Surprises happen during site preparation and earthwork construction that can cause significant delays or add unexpected costs to a project. Element’s team has a strong background in construction phase consultation, and can help advise you on difficult issues where a qualified recommendation can have a big impact. We specialize in subgrade verification, T-probe and proof-roll observations, overexcavation and stabilization guidance, geotechnical pile observation and documentation, drainage troubleshooting, and much more. Keep us in mind when challenging soil conditions are anticipated or unexpectedly encountered on your site this construction season.

Element can also offer timely auxiliary services that can arise during construction. We will help you confirm geotechnical soil parameters for suitability with design during the construction phase. We perform in-situ PIT-testing and visual inspections for drainage and stormwater facility construction verifications. Element staff can also provide geotechnical retaining wall construction oversight and documentation if required by your building permit. We can also provide temporary cutslope and slope stabilization consultation for problematic areas requiring creative solutions to ensure temporary excavation or long-term slope stability. Our team is ready to act quickly to help you keep your tight schedules and complete projects before the rain comes again.

Element's New Website

kquillan@elementsolutions.org (Kevin Quillan) — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 00:05:47 GMT

Welcome to Element's New Website!

Happy Spring! Element is excited to announce that we have launched our new and improved website this week! As with many things recently, Element Solutions has undergone changes over the past year. To help us keep everyone updated, we decided it was time to launch a new website that highlights our current company direction including new or expanded capabilities as well as retained services! We are very pleased with how the website has turned out, and need to give thanks to our friend Matt Agnini at Advancify for working hard to make the website both functional and beautiful. We hope that you find the new website enjoyable and informative. Don’t forget to share this with anyone needing professional geo-environmental consultation services in the Northwest Washington area!

A New Drainage Assessed

kquillan@elementsolutions.org (Kevin Quillan) — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 23:39:09 GMT

New Alluvial Fan Geohazard Review

Element Solutions recently had the opportunity to investigate a new-to-us alluvial fan deposit and associated stream drainage. As part of our assessment, Element conducted extensive visual reconnaissance of the stream channel that has historically fed sediment and debris onto the alluvial fan surface.

Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) Study Lake Whatcom

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 22:05:02 GMT

The Shoreline Management Act (SMA) enacted by the Washington State legislature in 1971 requires most towns and cities to develop and implement Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs) to help preserve and protect Washington’s natural waters. The Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) must be determined on a site-by-site basis in order to properly implement the rules and guidelines found in the Shoreline Master Program.

Element recently performed an OHWM assessment along the northern shore of Lake Whatcom for a client proposing to make a new addition to an existing residence. Permit requirements specify that the new addition must be constructed in compliance with the current Shoreline Master Program of Whatcom County. The program states that the shoreline setback must be 100-feet from the OHWM of lakes greater than 20-acres in size. Thus, the study was required to accurately determine the OHWM on the property.

Element geologists completed a detailed site reconnaissance of the shoreline and adjacent areas to identify several field indicators of the OHWM. Due to the artificially altered nature of the shoreline along this portion of the lake, close attention was needed to delineate key OHWM features. Water stains and dried filamentous algal growth lines were noted on several piers and bulkheads. Additionally, roots were exposed along the base of several scrubs approaching the beach, signaling erosion due to repetitive wave action. Element determined that the elevation of a small topographic break along the sandy beach correlated strongly with the various indicators. This feature was hand-surveyed, mapped, and flagged in the field. We provided a letter report summarizing the field reconnaissance, our detailed site and shoreline description, and conclusions for the OHWM determination for permit submittal.