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Robert Hartzel

Urban Stormwater Management, Planning, & Design

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Geosyntec's engineers and scientists stand among the world's foremost experts in urban stormwater management. We are innovators who design best management practices to mitigate impacts to surface water quality, enhance water conservation strategies, and contribute to municipal water supplies. Our professionals develop and implement comprehensive water quality master plans and site-specific designs using green infrastructure concepts for long-term stormwater control. We also guide the development and design of construction, industrial, and municipal programs for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulatory program compliance. We have evaluated the opportunities, constraints, effectiveness, and costs associated with a variety of low impact development and green-streets options and have provided conventional treatment control BMPs for maintaining water quality control. We provide end-to-end solutions for a wide variety of applications from proprietary cistern sizing and optimization modeling and water collection and pre-filtration strategies, to designs for filtration, treatment, and water distribution systems. Our water resources engineers specialize in surface-water and groundwater interactions, ecosystem restoration, multi-beneficial project development, hydromodification management, and erosion and sediment control. In addition, our practitioners have been instrumental in developing, publishing, and supporting numerous stormwater guidance and design manuals. Geosyntec professionals established and continue to contribute to the International Database on Urban Stormwater BMP Design and Performance. We frequently present state-of-the-practice training sessions and workshops on stormwater management, NPDES regulatory program requirements, erosion and sediment control technologies, and BMP performance and design.

Modeling and Management of Stream Hydromodification Impacts

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Geosyntec offers extensive experience in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and the use of model output for the analysis of channel modifications and stream restoration projects. We frequently apply these models for long-term watershed and floodplain management. Our practitioners have decades of experience in the evaluation of hydromodification activities, such as channelization / channel modification projects and the construction of dams. We also examine the resulting stream bank and shoreline erosion impacts of hydromodification and how it might affect in-stream and streamside (or riparian) habitats for fish and wildlife. We develop and calibrate watershed hydrologic models and floodplain hydraulic models using new and existing data sources to examine both the volume reduction and control benefits of hydromodification projects. We also conduct stream restoration and open channel analyses to assist and design stream bank rehabilitation projects and to restore tidal flow in restricted salt marsh environments. Our geomorphic studies and sedimentation/scour analyses are used to understand issues of accelerated erosion or changes to sediment supply. We apply our expertise in open channel hydraulics to perform flooding analyses, including floodplain delineation, flow monitoring, and rating curve development. Geosyntec has developed excellent surface water modeling expertise including hydrodynamics, sediment transport, water quality, and fate and transport modeling. Geosyntec's expertise includes application of SWMM, HEC-HMS, HEC-1, HEC-2, HEC-RAS, RMA2/RMA4, EFDC, QUAL2k, River-FLO2D, CE-QUAL-W2, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and other models.

Wetland Delineation and Permitting

2026-03-15T10:45:46-06:00March 27th, 2014|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Geosyntec practitioners are leaders in the development and application of science-based methods and tools for wetland identification and delineation. By determining the existence, location boundaries, and physical size of a wetland area, we help clients establish whether water bodies within a project area meet criteria for regulation under specific local, state, and federal jurisdictions. In addition, we make recommendations as to the size or width of any buffers that may be needed to protect water quality or habitats. Our field investigations and surveys establish clearly marked wetland boundaries, comprehensive delineation maps with data collection points, and site-specific information such as soil survey results or species composition and dominance data. We also can assess whether created or replicated wetlands function effectively and then aid clients in the application of this information to future design plans. This can include an evaluation of pre-construction design criteria and monitoring protocols. Once a wetland delineation is complete, Geosyntec guides clients through the permitting application process as outlined in Section 401 or Section 404 of the Clean Water Act as well as the various state and regional laws governing water bodies throughout the United States.

Environmental Impact Studies

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For more than 40 years, strict adherence to guidelines under the National Environmental Policy Act requires all federal agencies to consider the environmental impacts of a broad scope of proposed actions and decisions as well as to consider any reasonable alternatives to those actions. Geosyntec's engineers and scientists offer clients decades of experience in the development of comprehensive environmental impact statements (EIS) for actions requiring federal authorization or that are otherwise subject to federal control. We also prepare EIS as required by regulations at the state and regional level around the country. Our practitioners across multiple disciplines lead the development of EIS for clients within the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to name just a few. Impact statements are submitted for public comment periods throughout the development process. In addition, we guide clients through the review and comment by officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before a final EIS and record of decision can be infused into a program or action. As we develop an EIS, we ensure our detailed analysis provides a discussion of any significant environmental impacts affecting a project as well as the purpose of and need for proposed actions. We then review reasonable alternatives, including a No Action alternative, which would allow agency officials to avoid or minimize adverse impacts or enhance the quality of the human environment. These full disclosure documents detail the process through which a federal project was developed and demonstrates compliance with other applicable environmental laws and executive orders.

Constructed Wetland Treatment Systems

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Constructed wetlands have shown great promise treating a variety of constituents in wastewater and groundwater impacted by ammonia, BOD, COD, iron, phosphorous, volatiles, and other contaminants. Geosyntec has significant experience in conducting a wide variety of wetlands-related projects. For example, Geosyntec has partnered in the design and implementation of innovative vertical-flow constructed wetlands systems and adapted this technology for the effective treatment of wastewater. The features of this technology include a small footprint, a modular design, and the system's operational stability throughout the year. Geosyntec has also designed constructed wetlands for treatment of stormwater runoff and in other applications of implementing best management practices (BMPs) for many years. We have further used innovative approaches involving constructed wetlands for treatment of metals and petroleum-related compounds, and we are involved in several treatability and pilot-scale studies to evaluate the use of constructed wetlands to treat a variety of contaminants in groundwater. Goals of these projects have included treatment, as well as to create and restore habitat for aquatic and terrestrial vegetation and wildlife, stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion and sedimentation, and improve water quality by attenuation of nutrient, pollutant, and sediment loads. Project goals have also included providing educational and recreational opportunities.

Overview of Water and Natural Resources

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Geosyntec's water and natural resources practice is a collaborative group of nationally recognized scientists and engineers dedicated to balancing built and natural environments. Their practice specialties represent many disciplines, including geomorphology, ecology, biology, statistics, construction management, computer science, and engineering. Our practitioners are at the forefront of policy analyses, regulatory compliance, and technology applications that promote sustainable water resources management and ecosystem restoration.

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