Author: Kelly Moore

Welcome Alex

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alex cedrone, e.i.t, esq.

he/him

Senior Engineer

The Horsley Witten Group is proud to announce that Alex Cedrone, Senior Engineer, has joined our engineering team in Exeter, NH.

A Groton, Massachusetts native, Alex grew up with an engineer parent who encouraged him to seek out career options in engineering. His love of history propelled him to a college experience centered around engineering and law with the environment  a close second. Alex loves green stormwater infrastructure and design and favors best practices for the site where possible. He has relevant experience with site work, remediation, and water treatment, along with research, zoning, site design, and soil evaluation.

Alex earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a Minor in Political Science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and his J.D. from the Mass. School of Law. At HW, he has hit the ground running with peer reviews and school site design projects.

When he is not working Alex enjoys spending time with his wife and Milo a four-year-old Australian Shepherd  who lives for frequent long walks and hiking adventures. Alex likes to spend free time on Cape Cod, enjoys skiing, and basically spends as much time outside as possible. *Hint, he owns an Aussie! Alex is a sports fan and especially likes hockey, lacrosse, and football plus horror and comedy movies. We are glad you have joined our team. Welcome to HW, Alex!

 

Welcome (back) Gary

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gary hedman, lsp

he/him

Senior Associate

The Horsley Witten Group is excited to share that Gary Hedman has rejoined the company in the role of Senior Associate! Gary’s career spans 24 years, with experience in site assessment and remediation, contaminated materials management, sediment characterization in support of ecological restoration projects, and assisting clients in complying with local, state, and federal regulatory programs.

After 12+ years with Horsley Witten, Gary spent the last 7 years at a leading New England based engineering/consulting firm helping them to grow their Eastern MA site assessment and remediation team and contributing to their emergency response, contaminated soils management, and sites management practice. He has learned over the years that collaboration across parties and honest communication are key to building meaningful client relationships and ensuring successful project outcomes.

 

A life-long New Englander, Gary earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont. Encouraged from an early age to take a hands-on approach to problem solving, there’s nothing he loves more than figuring out a fix or finding a new hack. His roots in Vermont and on Cape Cod drive a strong sense of appreciation and love of the outdoors. Gary is excited to come back to Horsley Witten Group and to see so many familiar faces who are mission driven and committed to nature-based solutions. Gary is “off and running” on new projects and contributing to ongoing efforts. His passion for ecological restoration along with strong project management skills will benefit our clients and partners.

When Gary is not working, he’s most likely starting a new renovation or repair project around the house or lending a hand to friends and family, but his lifelong passion is skiing. He believes in “giving back” and is a dedicated member of the Magic Mountain Ski Patrol (his better half, Stacey, is also a Patroller). He volunteers with the Londonderry Vermont Conservation Commission and Village Wastewater Committee. Stacey (a 7th generation Cape Cod native) and Gary are grateful to call both Vermont and Cape Cod home and share it with her 12-year-old yellow bellied mutt from Louisiana, Cajun! Welcome back to HW, Gary!

 

EPA Contract will Support Programs to Protect Drinking Water Supplies

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Tom Noble Training

hw awarded $10 million EPA contract

hw news release

Emergency preparedness, response and recovery programs to protect public drinking water supplies

Horsley Witten Group, a full-service environmental consulting firm providing sustainable and resilient design solutions, has been awarded a five-year contract valued at up to $10 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Under the terms of the agreement, Horsley Witten Group will develop, implement and support programs to protect the nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems from natural disasters, man-made incidents, and the effects of climate change.

Working with the EPA’s Water Infrastructure and Cyber Resilience Division (WICRD), some highlights of Horsley Witten Group support will include developing emergency response training and workshops, conducting risk assessments, developing cyber risk management solutions and identifying contamination mitigation strategies for community drinking water systems.

The contract represents the EPA’s latest engagement with Horsley Witten Group since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, when the agency initiated federally mandated activity to protect the nation’s drinking water supplies against terrorist attacks.

In 2022, the EPA honored Horsley Witten Group with its Small Business Award, recognizing the organization for its exemplary customer support, technical adaptiveness, and responsiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We look forward to continuing our longstanding and productive partnership with the U.S. EPA to help safeguard the nation’s drinking water supplies and wastewater treatment facilities. For more than two decades we have worked closely together to create sustainable solutions to ensure that water and wastewater utilities are resilient from a wide range of natural, man-made, and nefarious threats.”
Thomas Noble, Sr. Project Manager, Principal, Horsley Witten Group

 

 Learn More 

 

Chicopee’s First Comprehensive Plan

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Chicopee Develops First-Ever Comprehensive Plan:
Envision Our Chicopee: 2040

news release

SANDWICH, Mass., December 4, 2023 – Horsley Witten Group, a full-service environmental consulting firm providing sustainable and resilient design solutions, has partnered with the City of Chicopee to develop its first-ever comprehensive plan. The community-driven plan, called Envision Our Chicopee: 2040, will guide the western Massachusetts city for the next two decades, and includes an actionable blueprint to achieve its community defined long-term vision for future growth and development.

 

Envision Our Chicopee: 2040 plan components include

  • brownfield redevelopment
  • zoning reform
  • land use and development
  • affordable housing
  • open space and recreation
  • historic preservation
  • public health, and transportation

“The beginning of a renaissance for the City of Chicopee, which is often referred to as ‘The Crossroads of New England,’ is underway and will continue for the next 20 years and beyond,” said Jeff Davis, Project Planner at Horsley Witten Group.

–  Jeff Davis, Planner

 

 

“Chicopee has conducted neighborhood-level planning in the past, but the time had come for a broader, comprehensive vision for the future of the city,” said Chicopee Director of Planning & Development Lee M. Pouliot. “Developing Envision Our Chicopee: 2040 was a remarkable opportunity to make the things we love about Chicopee even better and fix the things that need to be fixed over the course of the next 20 years. The plan prioritizes future investments in community services and infrastructure that promote fairness and equity throughout the city.”

Envision Our Chicopee: 2040 addresses several land development and socioeconomic issues affecting the former mill city that was built around distinct neighborhood centers, borders two rivers, and has significant transportation infrastructure including railways and major highway routes.

Developing resiliency solutions for the effects of climate change were included throughout the plan, as were initiatives to maintain a strong sense of diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the city, its facilities and services.

The final comprehensive plan is the culmination of a four-year effort that began in the summer of 2019 and continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, Horsley Witten Group worked with the Chicopee Department of Planning & Development and a Steering Committee established by former Mayor Richard Kosto to solicit feedback and input from city residents and community stakeholders. Due to pandemic restrictions, the typical planning activities and processes had to be adjusted and creative solutions implemented, including online and paper surveys, digital open houses, and use of a “meeting in a box” kit that enabled community members to lead their own small group meetings either in an outdoor setting during the warmer months, virtually or indoors according to state guidelines.

The Chicopee Planning Board unanimously approved the comprehensive plan in late September. “An immediate priority of the plan’s implementation will be a complete rewrite of the city’s zoning code, which hasn’t been substantially updated since 1974,” said Pouliot. “We need to be more creative with mixed-use development, infill development, address minimum parking standards, and consider the future of the exclusive single-family only Residential A District.”

In addition to Chicopee, Horsley Witten Group has participated in the long-term planning processes for more than a dozen New England municipalities, as well as communities in Arkansas, Hawaii, Maryland, and South Carolina. The Horsley Witten approach to comprehensive planning begins with compiling a complete inventory of existing conditions that serve as the foundation for analysis and public education. An engagement process is then initiated to determine and articulate a community’s values and priorities, culminating with an implementation plan that incorporates best practices, science, and innovation.

View the Plan

Comprehensive Planning

 

Lily Pond Park Design Wins Award

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Lily pond park design wins award from ri-asla

HW News Release

Horsley Witten Group, a full-service environmental consulting firm providing sustainable and resilient design solutions, was honored with a regional American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Merit Award-Planning and Analysis for the Lily Pond Park Master Plan on Nantucket.

ASLA Rhode Island presented the award to Horsley Witten, recognizing its vision for restoring the ecological and recreational function of the park, a 6.5‐acre property located within the residential outskirts of historic downtown Nantucket and owned by the Nantucket Land Bank.

Though the park itself encompasses only 6.5 acres, the plan presents a preferred approach to clean runoff from 90 acres of residential land surrounding the site using green stormwater infrastructure. In recent years, both the health of surrounding wetlands and park usage have been negatively impacted not only by unmanaged stormwater runoff, but also clogged drainage infrastructure, and invasive vegetation. The key design elements include a new looped boardwalk system over the restored wetland for improved accessibility, additional seating areas, park entrance enhancements, and restoration of a shallow marsh system. Constructed wetlands will be used to treat stormwater runoff coming into the park.

In granting the Merit Award, ASLA Rhode Island offered the following praise for the Horsley Witten Group, “The Lily Pond Park Master Plan presents a preferred approach to restore and diversify wetland habitats, treat runoff with green stormwater infrastructure, and enhance the user experience with improved connectivity. Blending of the visitor experience with water quality and habitat enhancement and analyzing the site within its overall watershed makes the Lily Pond Park Plan a unique example of how we should be designing all sites within their larger ecological systems.”

The team completed the plan in August 2021. Since plan adoption, The Nantucket Land Bank secured a 2023 Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Stormwater and Natural Infrastructure Grant to help fund the construction and monitoring of proposed improvements. Due to the success of the Lily Pond Master Plan, the Nantucket Land Bank has also partnered with the town on a Stormwater Feasibility Study for Downtown Nantucket, using a similar planning approach. Advanced design development and permitting for the Lily Pond Improvements are expected to get underway in spring 2024.

“We are honored to receive recognition from ASLA Rhode Island for our work with the Nantucket Land Bank for the restoration of Lily Pond Park,” said Nathan Kelly, President, Horsley Witten Group. “Our talented team of landscape architects, engineers, and wetland biologists are proud to be closely aligned with ASLA’s mission to participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning, and artful design of cultural and natural environments.”

“We are grateful to be partnering with the Horsley Witten Group on the Lily Pond Park project,” said Jesse Belle, Executive Director of the Nantucket Land Bank. “Their master plan has provided us with an incredible opportunity to restore the wetland at this beloved public park, creating a space where both people and nature can interact and thrive. The project furthers the Land Bank’s goals of preserving scenic views, protecting ecological resources, and enhancing recreational experiences in nature for people to enjoy.”

VIEW THE DESIGN SUBMITTAL

 

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Welcome David

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david alfred

staff scientist

The Horsley Witten Group is happy to announce that David Alfred has joined our wetlands and engineering team in Sandwich as a Staff Scientist. A Rochester New York native, David grew up learning about ecology in the Finger Lakes region raising crayfish and tadpoles and enjoying fishing with his family. In college he started out studying human biology and medicine but changed to biology and chemistry with a conservation focus soon after his first year.

David earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry at the State University of New York College at Oneonta (SUNY) and his Master of Science in Conservation Biology at Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont. David has experience with good laboratory practice (GLP) and has acquired many technical skills like hydrographic surveying, and trench and excavation competence to name a few.

David has completed several internships in New York and Florida. He was a Research Fellow at SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station in Cooperstown and a Biologist Technician for the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Hobe Sound, Florida. He has held positions as a Field Research Director, Turbidity Technician, and an Environmental Technician Survey Party Chief.

When he is not working in the field, David enjoys disc golf, exploring new places, hiking, fishing, drone work, and learning more about the Cape Cod environment as well as travelling both for work and personally. Welcome to HW, David!

 

Welcome Ryan

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ryan mitchell

staff planner

Horsley Witten Group is excited to share that Ryan Mitchell has joined our planning team in Providence as a staff planner. Ryan grew up in Newbury, MA and was fortunate to travel abroad with parents involved in international conservation. As a young person he was inspired by nature as he lived close to beaches and marsh areas. After high school, Ryan left home and embarked on his college career in Canada.

Ryan earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography with a Minor in French at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB, Canada and his Master of Arts in International Development and Social Change from Clark University, in Worcester. Ryan is fluent in French, proficient in Spanish and Portuguese and knows some German. He enjoyed his internships as a remote intern researching and working on climate change-related projects for Mexico City and Chile. Ryan worked with the Chile-based Center for Climate and Resilience Research on different projects, including writing climate-focused policy briefs, researching and organizing information on climate laws and regulations, translating texts, and writing a master’s paper on responses to harmful algal blooms.

Through research and writing Ryan has led teams and mentored students with communications and writing assignments. Ryan is a current volunteer for A2Empowerment, an education-focused nonprofit. When he is not working, Ryan enjoys living in the City of Providence and can be found walking, frequenting museums, biking, and discovering the next best tea spot with a good non-fiction (e.g., architecture, history) book in hand. Welcome to HW, Ryan!

 

HW Partners with Town of Mashpee to Restore Chop Chaque Cranberry Bog

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PRESS RELEASE

SANDWICH, Mass., November 14, 2023 – Horsley Witten Group, a full-service environmental consulting firm providing sustainable and resilient environmental design solutions, has partnered with the Town of Mashpee, the Massachusetts In-Lieu Fee Program, and the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration to restore the former Chop Chaque cranberry bogs to healthy, thriving wetlands similar to what they were prior to conversion to cranberry farming approximately a century ago.

There are two cranberry bogs at Chop Chaque totaling 6.5 acres that are situated on a nearly 12-acre town owned parcel of land adjacent to Santuit Pond. The cranberry bogs have been out of production for approximately four years.

Since cranberry cultivation has become more economically challenging in recent decades for farmers on Cape Cod, many have opted to retire bogs and place the land under conservation easement protection. Municipalities and other conservation entities that acquire the land or the conservation easement for these retired bogs often seek to restore them to something similar to the natural wetlands that existed prior to the conversion to cranberry agriculture and that will better support complex ecosystems and associated habitat. Ancillary benefits, such as improved nutrient management, are also often realized.

 

“It is a major trend and for good reason – restoring cranberry bogs to their natural state benefits the environment, encourages the return of wildlife and rare species habitats and contributes to the health of our waterways,” said Horsley Witten Group Principal Scientist Neal Price. With no restoration, intervention frequently fails to allow for recovery of wetlands systems with wetland functions and values similar to what would have existed prior to the original establishment of cranberry agriculture.”

The Chop Chaque project is being funded through a $525,000 In-Lieu Fee Program allocation from the Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game.  Horsley Witten Group was responsible for assessment of the Chop Chaque site, developing designs for restoration, which will include removal of the excess sand that had been added periodically over the decades of agriculture, filling artificial ditches, roughening bog services, removing a culvert that connects Santuit Pond to the bogs, and permitting of the project. Final design, construction, and post-project monitoring are still to come. Construction work on the Chop Chaque restoration project is expected to begin during the fall of 2024 and be completed in approximately two to three months.

 

“We look forward to once again working with Horsley Witten Group on this important ecological restoration project,” said Mashpee Conservation Agent Andrew McManus. “The organization and its team of talented and accomplished environmental scientists have worked with the Town of Mashpee on a wide range of projects including culvert replacement, dam repair and planning, and permitting processes.”

Horsley Witten Group has also managed or participated in other local cranberry bog restoration projects in Mashpee, Falmouth, Marstons Mills, Plymouth, and Yarmouth.

 

Crook Point Bascule Bridge Design Wins Excellence in Urbanism Award

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CNU New England award

Reuse Design of the Iconic Crook Point Bascule Bridge

PRESS RELEASE

Sandwich, Mass., October 2, 2023 – Horsley Witten Group, a full-service environmental consulting firm providing sustainable and resilient design solutions, has been honored with a regional award for its reuse design of the iconic Crook Point Bascule Bridge and revitalization of the Seekonk River shoreline in Providence, Rhode Island.

Horsley Witten Group, along with project partners Jonathan Harris, Abernathy Lighting, and the City of Providence, received the 2023 Excellence in Urbanism Award on Thursday, September 14th at the Fall Summit of the New England Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU New England). In selecting the 2023 winners, CNU New England prioritized projects that contribute to the creation of walkable, sustainable and equitable places in New England. The project proposal is also the winner of an international design competition hosted by the City of Providence.

The award was accepted by Horsley Witten’s Jon Ford, Johnson and Wales University Professor Jonathan Harris, and Joseph Mulligan III, director of planning and development for the City of Providence.

 

“I am so grateful to be accepting this award on behalf of Horsley Witten Group and our team of collaborators,” said Jon Ford, Senior Associate-of Community Design . “We knew it was important that our design focus on climate-based resiliency, provide a welcoming environment for all, and to celebrate the bridge structure’s iconic status, while creating improvements that are realistic and cost-effective – we are looking forward to working with the city to implement the vision.”

The Crook Point Bascule Bridge originally built in 1908 to provide a direct link between the Providence, New York-New Haven, and Hartford rail lines, once connected the cities of Providence and East Providence over the Seekonk River. It has been fixed in the upright position since its abandonment in 1976, becoming a local icon and point of fascination for local neighborhoods and beyond.

Horsley Witten Group’s design calls for a series of unique riverfront public spaces to connect people physically and visually to both a restored riverbank and a celebrated bridge structure, the existing remnants of which were originally planned for demolition. The CNU New England Jury noted how the project underscores the need to preserve and renew historical landscapes which in turn affirm the continuity and evolution of urban society.

 

A brief interview with Rich Claytor

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Richard claytor, Jr., P.E.

Sr. Water Resources Engineer

HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE THE HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP (HW) AND THE WORK YOU DO TO SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF THE A|E|C AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONS?

HW is a small business planning, engineering and environmental service consulting firm. Much of our work involves ensuring that clean and plentiful water is available for use by humans and nature. We do this through careful short- and long-term planning, assessment of natural resources, and designing solutions to ensure a sustainable future for people and the natural world alike. HW is also engaged in making communities a better place to live, work, and play; our mission is to address both environmental and social challenges with sustainable solutions.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS ONE THING ABOUT THE HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP THAT IS A DIFFERENTIATOR FROM OTHER FIRMS IN YOUR INDUSTRY?

HW is a mission driven firm, and this informs all aspects of our decision-making process, particularly as related to our staff and wanting them to feel proud to work here.

HOW DO THE HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP COMPANY VALUES IMPACT THE WAY YOU OPERATE ON A DAILY BASIS OR MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS?

Similar to answer above, our values drive our day-to-day decision making; from the projects and work we pursue, to the clients we work with, and the outcomes we strive to achieve. We frequently ask how a given project aligns with our values. These values are not static nor were they defined by a small group of HW staff. These values can evolve over time or as conditions change and they are truly our shared values.

BEYOND THE REQUISITE TECHNICAL SKILLS, WHAT SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN YOU HIRE SOMEONE TO JOIN THE HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP TEAM?

We seek out and attract people who really want to make a difference in protecting our natural resources and enhancing the communities where we live. Our staff are committed to making our world a better place.

WE NEED MORE PROFESSIONALS IN THE CIVIL ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE PROJECT WORK DEMANDS. WHAT IS THE HORSLEY WITTEN GROUP DOING TO ATTRACT THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS INTO THE INDUSTRY?

We work in partnership with local high schools and trade schools to expose future professionals to the kind of work we do. Our staff volunteer annually at local high schools to engage STEM students in a few technical areas covered by our engineering and planning practices, for example. In the last several years, we’ve been very active in the X-CEL Education program working with students in Greater Boston’s underserved communities to expose students to sustainable career paths in the technical and geographic areas where we do business.

WHAT ENCOURAGED YOU TO BECOME AN ENGINEER, AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR CAREER ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

I was an analytical-type child, and I enjoyed the order and precision of engineering and I loved nature. Civil engineering afforded me a career that combined the natural and built environment and I gravitated to the earth-sciences (water, soils, geology, etc.). I’m most proud of the people who work for HW and their collective aspirations for the future.

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF LEADERSHIP ADVICE YOU WISH SOMEONE HAD SHARED WITH YOU SOONER?

I had a mentor who often repeated the adage “the client is always right,” and that’s true, except when it’s not. But what was never said, was you can choose your clients and you can both be right. It took me several years to recognize that when we work together with shared values so much more can be accomplished.

LOOKING FORWARD, WHAT ASPECTS OR TRENDS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY ARE THE MOST EXCITING FOR YOU?

That is a difficult question. Certainly, the technological advancements in data collection, management and manipulation allow us to do so much more, with more accuracy and in less time. That’s exciting. But equally exciting are the challenges brought on by climate change. Though troubling, they are also motivating, and it often involves water, maintaining or restoring  quality water supplies for the future, managing the risks of changed precipitation characteristics that cause or contribute to flooding and/or drought, reacting to sea level rise and associated coastal impacts,  all while protecting or enhancing nature and human interactions are  important now and will only be more so in the future.

Credit: Smith and Wilkinson.

Video: Hear Rich Claytor, P.E., talk about the importance of natural stormwater management best practices.