Environment

GHD is playing a key role in helping the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission restore a 66 acre watershed protection area in San Mateo County known as the Adobe Gulch Grasslands.

Our team developed a Mitigation and Monitoring Plan, produced design drawings and outlined specifications to restore the site to a diverse mosaic of native grassland, oak woodland, wetland and riparian habitat for species protected under the US Endangered Species Act. This includes the California Red-Legged Frog, San Francisco Garter Snake, Mission Blue Butterfly and the Bay Checkerspot Butterfly.

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The Alameda Creek watershed covers an area of 633 square miles and once supported a steelhead trout fishery.

Modifications to the Alameda Creek streambed and urbanization of the surrounding land, however, eliminated spawning areas and made it impossible for steelhead to migrate upstream. As a result, steelhead have been absent from Alameda Creek and its tributaries for several decades. 

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American Memorial Park honors the American and Marianas people who gave their lives during the Marianas Campaign of World War II. As part of a design team, GHD provided civil, structural and environmental engineering services for major improvements to the park and the downtown Garapan area. The project consists of three elements: a new memorial garden, a new visitor cultural center, and improvements to the existing amphitheater.

Our team provided engineering site investigations, subsurface soils exploration, and identification of permit requirements. Site civil improvements included water and sewer utilities, parking, entrance access, walkways, and drainage. The structural design for the new visitor cultural center that is a 7,000 ft² single-story structure included an in-house theater, as well as a fabric cover on the outdoor amphitheater.

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In May 2009, the Labor Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly MP, announced that GHD would partner with the RTA for the Concept and Detailed Design of the HW1 Princes Highway Bega Bypass.  Since then work on the design, geotechnical investigation and review of environmental factors for the bypass has progressed significantly, with documentation for construction tender having been completed.

The project includes 3.6 km of two lane rural highway, three bridges connecting communities with the Bega township, four reinforced soil retaining walls and three intersections.  The purposes of the project are to accommodate B-Double movements and to create the potential for reduced crash rates in the area by creating better transport pathways for local communities and highway users.

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CalFire and the US Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) worked cooperatively in a comprehensive paired watershed study at the Caspar Creek Experimental Watersheds in Jackson Demonstration State Forest, located in coastal Mendocino County, California. As part of the study, concrete dams equipped with precise flow measurement weirs were constructed providing an essential component of the scientific research. 

In 1964, a wooden fish ladder was built downstream of each weir. To avoid backwatering and submerging the measurement weir, which compromises its accuracy, tailwater levels were kept low requiring fish to leap over a two to three foot water surface drop at the weir. This precluded upstream passage of juvenile salmonids. During low-flow periods, leakage through the wooden fish ladder posed a significant risk of stranding and injury of juvenile salmonids.

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The development of catchment condition reporting for water authorities assists in meeting reporting requirements of due diligence as set out in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines for risk management. The active management of catchments by water authorities is regarded to be an integral process for risk mitigation and the protection of source water.

Catchment condition reporting is considered to be a viable option for water authorities as it provides them with clear management objectives and detail to assist them with understanding and managing catchments.

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GHD has been appointed by Powerlink to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the Clifford Creek and Dinoun South Substations.

Consultation - Draft Environmental Impact Statement

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GHD was appointed by Lionakis Beaumont Design Group, a local Californian architectural firm, to prepare construction documentation, and coordinate the bidding, and construction management services for the remodelling of the DMV Headquarter building. Our responsibilities involved working closely with the architect and project team to identify and design the remediation of lead, asbestos, PCBs, and other hazardous materials associated with this comprehensive abatement and remodel of the third floor of this project. We are also currently involved in the investigation and abatement design for the last two phases of the project involving the fifth and sixth floors. Each 75,000 square foot floor is abated one floor at a time. With the exception of the floor being abated and remodeled, all other floors are occupied and functioning without disruption to their critical missions.

The work included hazardous demolition, asbestos abatement of fireproofing, pipe insulation, and resilient flooring, and abatement of other hazardous materials including lead, PCBs and mercury. GHD prepared hazardous materials abatement drawings and specifications for the construction document package, and provided construction administration services including compliance monitoring for a four-month hazardous removal phase.

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GHD was engaged to develop a strategy for the New Zealand Ministry of the Environment (MfE) to facilitate the integration of sustainability into local government procurement.

Local government in New Zealand has a significant impact on the economy, contributing 3.5 percent of GDP and employing around 40,000 people.

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GHD’s team worked to a tight schedule with federal and state agencies to design fish passages and screening facilities which improved the movement of native fish through 20 miles of river in the refuge. All facilities included photovoltaic arrays to provide energy in off-grid locations.

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon provides sanctuary to a range of fish and wildlife species. GHD supported the US Fish & Wildlife Service on the Donner und Blitzen River fish passage and screening improvement project. “This project has improved movement of native fish through 20 miles of the Refuge and created opportunities to limit movement of non-native fish,” Malheur Deputy Project Leader Chad Kerges said. “This helps the Refuge to advance its goals of improving conditions for native fish, reducing invasive fish species, and the protection of Refuge water rights”.

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GHD has completed a number of habitat enhancement and fish passage projects for the East Fork Irrigation District, including fish screen & sand trap repairs, diversion headworks replacement, and habitat enhancement.

The East Fork Irrigation District delivers water from the Hood River watershed for use on nearly 10,000 acres of high quality agricultural property. The watershed supports anadromous fish runs and the district manages its deliveries to support water quality, water conservation and sensitive species. GHD has worked with the district to undertake a series of habitat enhancement projects that provide multiple benefits to the district and its stakeholder partners:

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An Environment, Health and Safety Management System has been developed for the Emirates Foundation, an independent UAE organisation that uses venture philanthropy to help young people in the country reach their full potential. Our team is also providing training for system awareness and risk assessment as well as internal auditing advice.

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GHD was commissioned by the Mackay Port Authority in Queensland to provide consulting services for the proposed quarantine waste incinerator at Mackay Port.

The services include the initial feasibility study, site selection assessment and the development approval application (with the supporting site-based management plan).

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In December 2007, Colin Buchanan was commissioned by Transport for London (TfL) to undertake a Scheme Identification Study for Henly’s Corner, the signal-controlled junction of the A406 North Circular and the A598 (Regents Park and Finchley roads) in the London borough of Barnet. 

This signalised junction is usually heavily congested during peak hours and has a history of serious and fatal accidents.

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Newcastle City Council engaged GHD to prepare an environmental impact assessment and statement for a modern, engineered landfill and resource recovery facility at Summerhill.

The facility has a strong environmental focus and was designed as a ‘dry tomb’ to prevent waste and contaminated water from entering the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the methane produced onsite through decomposing waste is used to fuel electricity production.

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Consultation - Draft Environmental Impact Statement

GHD has been appointed by Powerlink to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the Eurombah Substation Project. As part of the EIA process, GHD has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed substation. This document provides information about aspects of the proposed substation (including environmental, social, cultural and economic matters). The Draft EIS also includes a Draft Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which identifies ways to manage and/or mitigate any potential impacts.

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An extensive tidal marsh complex once spanned the entire width of the headwaters of Tomales Bay, which is part of the Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve and a designated as a “Wetland of International Importance” under the Ramsar Convention. Tomales Bay is also one of 16 wetland areas that qualify for inclusion as a wetland of regional importance under the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network because of its large number of wintering and migrating shorebirds.

In the early 1940s, more than 550 acres or 50 percent of the wetlands in Tomales Bay were diked and “reclaimed” for agricultural use. The Point Reyes National Seashore Association worked with a host of stakeholders and funding agencies to develop and execute a plan to breach the dikes and return the property to the Bay.

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Situated at the base of the San Bernadino Mountains, Ontario is located in the midst of Southern California’s most accessible highways in the Inland Empire at the junction of the 10 (San Bernadino), 15 (Ontario) and 60 (Pomona) Freeways. The city is positioned amid some of Southern California’s most crucial transportation thoroughfares in road, rail and air travel, and is home to LA-Ontario International Airport, making Ontario a true transportation hub in Southern California. With employment nearly doubling in the past 10 years, Ontario is suited for some of the most exciting developments in the Inland Empire pipeline, including Guasti, a 50 acre mixed-use development located directly between Interstate ten and the Ontario International Airport.

Guasti  was once a self-sufficient community complete with a company store, bakery, fire station, hotel, post office and the world’s largest contiguous vineyard, encompassing more than 5000 acres. Home to the Guasti Mansion, the San Secondo d’Asti Catholic Church, Joseph Filippi Winery Tasting Room and Gift Shop, Saffron Catering and the Homestyle Café, Guasti is positioned to be a unique, planned community blending a proud history and an opportunistic future.

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With the establishment of the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) – there are now opportunities for saleable carbon credits to be generated in the land sector, including through reforestation projects. As a result, Indigenous communities are showing interest in wanting to reforest their lands and benefit from broader economic and social opportunities.

A few years ago, GHD was commissioned by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to raise awareness amongst Indigenous people about carbon trading. Initially, this was done by hosting a series of workshops around the country that provided valuable information on the technical, legal and financial issues involved.

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Rio Tinto Iron Ore has engaged GHD to investigate potential opportunities to procure Natural Resource Management (NRM) services from Indigenous enterprises in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The project is strongly supported by the Australian Government who is keen to establish more Indigenous NRM businesses throughout Australia.

The objectives of the project are to:

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As part of Delaware County’s goal to continue to utilize their existing landfill site, they embarked on extensive efforts to re-define their solid waste management goals and objectives. In order to do so the County assembled a team of planning specialists who focused on centralised and integrated solid waste management and watershed planning issues.

As part of the overall strategy to fully utilise the existing landfill property, GHD successfully identified a solution to continue development of solid waste disposal and processing facilities at the County’s Solid Waste Management Center that satisfied environmental, regulatory, and watershed management standards. These efforts included: solid waste management planning; development of aggressive recycling and landfill diversion strategies; integration of multiple town transfer stations; biosolids management; wetlands evaluation; landfill siting study and permitting; landfill design and construction services; and municipal solid waste (MSW) co-composting facility development.

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The Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) engaged GHD to develop an Action Plan to improve water quality in Lake Hamilton in Australia. The overall aim of the Action Plan was to manage and prevent high levels of Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Description

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Micropollutants are chemicals that include pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs, such as hormones) and disinfection by-products Micropollutants are of concern in the environment because even at very low levels they may affect organisms that live within the water ecosystem or those that consume the water (including humans). Micropollutants typically occur at very low concentrations and require special analytical methods to detect them. The challenge is to measure these low level pollutants using a novel method – passive sampling.

Description

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Risk assessment of drinking water supplies for the likely occurrence of pathogenic organism has, for many years, focused on the detection of total coliforms, faecal (or thermotolerant) coliforms, and more recently E. coli as primary indicator of potential faecal contamination. However, outbreaks have occurred in the absence of these microbial indicators, highlighting the need for a multifaceted approach for risk assessment in drinking water supplies.

Microbial Source Tracking (MST) combines physical, chemical and biological diagnostic tests to characterize the level and source of potential faecal contamination. It provides the opportunity to add valuable information to investigations of water supplies and catchment areas.

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Mosquito monitoring at Seaford Wetland commenced in early 2007 after concerns about the high abundance of mosquitoes had been raised by local residents and schools. Not only are mosquitoes a nuisance, but are troubling due to their ability to act as vectors for disease. GHD was commissioned by Melbourne Water to investigate the mosquito population at Seaford Wetlands in order to guide mosquito management.

Three mosquito-borne diseases are considered to be important by the Victorian Department of Health because of the disabling and severe symptoms they can cause.

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ACTEW Water introduced a water security program which involved building additional infrastructure to improve the future water supply of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Several components of this initiative involve water transfer via river abstraction, which requires a robust monitoring program that would detect any potential impacts that may eventuate from changes in flow.

The monitoring program design incorporated the conditions of approval from the EPA. The Murrumbidgee Ecological Monitoring Program (MEMP) adopts an adaptive management approach as well as a comprehensive field program which includes monitoring water quality, riparian vegetation, macroinvertebrate communities, fish and geomorphology surveys.

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GHD has developed the Low Carbon Strategy for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) in Wales. This framework to reduce carbon emissions is being implemented through the participation of numerous regional and organisational functional units, and targets a diverse range of emission sources.

Completed in April 2012, the project saw our team in the UK develop a new approach to carbon management. As part of our engagement, we held a series of workshops with NHS and government stakeholders to shape and inform the new Low Carbon Strategy before it was submitted for approval to the Welsh Government.

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Much of the investment in Natural Resource Management (NRM) in Australia is targeted towards fostering changes in land management practices. There is therefore value in developing tools and resources that will help regional NRM bodies and other investors to understand the people whose practices they are seeking to change and hence, how that change can best be fostered.

The "Making Successful Investments in NRM Practice Change" project was a four year action learning project, with the project team from GHD working in close collaboration with staff from ten regional NRM bodies across Australia.

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Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, has experienced some of the country’s largest recorded earthquakes. Wellington City Council is taking steps to prepare the city for another large quake.

Recently acquired seismic data suggests that Wellington is at risk from a much larger earthquake than originally thought when many of its buildings were constructed and therefore new building standards have been announced. This has resulted in building owners in Wellington, including Wellington City Council itself, being given notice that their buildings, which had previously passed the old standards, are now below par according to this new seismic data – and they have 10 years or so to seismically strengthen their buildings or they will no longer be habitable.

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GHD provided the hazardous materials consulting support for this study. The Federal Office Building located at 50 UN Plaza in San Francisco encompasses approximately 350,200 gross square feet and has a basement, attic and four principal floor levels. The building has certain historical elements that require protection, restoration, and preservation, however the building is in need of renovation, seismic structural upgrade, and restoration modernisation. GHD reviewed existing hazardous materials documentation, conducted an on-site survey to verify existing conditions, and reviewed the proposed new work scope under study. We summarised the hazardous materials present and identified hazardous materials impacted by proposed new work. We then provided a complete listing with recommendations for required remediation of impacted asbestos, lead-based paint, PCBs, Universal Wastes, CFC refrigerant gasses, and the fuel tanks associated with the emergency generator system. GHD provided mitigation options as appropriate and provided cost estimate support for the study. In this first phase, GHD was engaged as a sub consultant to Interactive Resources, Chuck Beavers, and AIA.

We were subsequently retained by the HKS/Architectural Research Group (ARG) who were awarded the historical renovation and seismic upgrade portions of this project. Federal stimulus funding was obtained for the preliminary demolition and hazardous materials abatement project to take place on an extremely aggressive, two-week turnaround schedule prior to general building renovation, modernisation and seismic retrofit of this building. GHD was ideally suited for this component as we were familiar with the building and the project objectives, and had previously worked with ARG in the past.

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GHD, as the prime engineer, provided civil and marine structural design, services under a Design/Build project with Black Construction at the US Navy support facility on Diego Garcia.

The project consists of demolishing existing shoreline protection, installation of 700 linear feet of new rock revetment, and site grading.  Documents developed included a basis of design report and calculations, construction plans and specifications. Revetment design was performed by determining the wave environment associated with the revetment grading and comparing this to the wave return periods predicted in the storm analysis.

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Working with a number of public agencies on one of the State of California’s biggest environmental projects, we provided design, permitting, and outreach services to restore more than seven miles of the Salt River and its floodplain and 290 acres of estuarine habitat.

The purpose of the Salt River Ecosystem Restoration Project is to restore historic processes and functions, necessary for re-establishing riparian floodplain corridor, wetlands and estuarine ecosystems as part of a land use, flood alleviation, and watershed management program, to the Salt River watershed. Levees constructed to protect the productive agricultural lands of the Salt River floodplain from the adjacent Eel River’s tidal and flood influences have altered regional drainage patterns, which, coupled with naturally high influent sediment loads, have resulted in accelerated aggradation and loss of stream and sediment transport function and habitat value across the Salt River floodplain. The ongoing aggradation and flooding of local infrastructure and agricultural land have led to loss of habitat for threatened and endangered species, reduced property values, and decline in agricultural productivity.

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A GHD project team from our Wollongong office has been working with Wingecarribee Shire Council to provide engineering support to assist in the delivery of the Southern Regional Livestock Exchange (SRLE) roofing project located in Moss Vale, NSW.

The AUD4.8 million project incorporated a number of environmental initiatives including thermal insulation, solar panels, and a rainwater harvesting and re-use system that is expected to save 1.8 million litres of water annually.

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As part of its business and compliance management requirements, St Barbara Limited has engaged GHD to prepare mine closure and rehabilitation plans along with subsequent closure cost estimates for its gold mining operations.

Our team developed 'domain' closure and rehabilitation plans for the mines' various site features, tailings storage and waste rock facilities. The plans include consideration of new regulatory needs and St Barbara’s consultation with their stakeholders.

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GHD has been retained to provide predesign, design engineering and general consulting services for the TDY Demolition Project. The site is owned by the San Diego Unified Port District and is currently leased to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

The Teledyne Ryan site is being prepared for future expansion of Lindbergh field as part of the Airport Master Plan.

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Inner city residential expansion and the desire to improve current marine facilities, both environmentally and structurally, led the Port of Townsville to embark on the concept of a new marine precinct.

The precinct, which was opened in 2011, features a marina at the mouth of Townsville's Ross River and will consolidates a large portion of the city’s marine industry into one central location. It provides modern facilities to support boat building and maintenance including berths for various vessels, refuelling facilities, commercial and recreational businesses and cold storage and distribution facilities for the seafood industry.

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Powerlink Queensland has been requested by Australian Pacific LNG Pty Limited (APLNG) to provide high voltage connections from Powerlink's transmission network to APLNG's proposed gas processing facilities in the area west of Wandoan.

Consultation - Environmental Impact Assessment Phase

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Consultation - Draft Environmental Impact Statement

GHD has been appointed by Powerlink to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the Wandoan South to Yuleba North Transmission Line Project.

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Weed Beach is an extraordinarily valuable asset to the Town of Darien. Located along the Connecticut shoreline of Long Island Sound, this park offers both active and passive recreational activities.

In May 2005, the Town of Darien Parks & Recreation Commission retained GHD to prepare a Master Plan for Weed Beach Park. The Master Plan was for the upgrade and expansion of an existing, heavily used, 22± acre park facility that contains a public beach, light craft launch area, picnic area, tennis courts, paddle tennis courts, children's play area, a number of buildings, 250± parking spaces and undeveloped woods. GHD services for this project included participation in public meetings, public outreach, park design and implementation phase assistance.

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The Port of Vancouver manages a significant link in the rail corridor, providing critical connectivity for freight mobility throughout the Pacific Northwest. A chokepoint at the entrance of the port leads to track conflicts and causes severe congestion, hindering the port’s ability to maintain smooth operations and a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

GHD, (as a sub-consultant to DEA), was selected to complete Schedule 1, the catalyst in a series of important projects that will increase rail capacity and maximizes future port growth potential.

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GHD has been appointed by Powerlink to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the Yuleba North Substation.

Consultation - Draft Environmental Impact Statement

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Consultation - Draft Environmental Impact Statement

GHD has been appointed by Powerlink to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the Yuleba North to Clifford Creek and Yuleba North to Dinoun South Transmission Lines Project. As part of the EIA process, GHD has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed transmission lines. This document provides information about aspects of the proposed transmission lines (including environmental, social, cultural and economic matters). The Draft EIS also includes a Draft Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which identifies ways to manage and/or mitigate any potential impacts.

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