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.

 

 

Horsley Witten Group Appoints Nathan Kelly President

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NEWS RELEASE

Planning Industry Veteran to Lead Environmental Consulting Firm:

SANDWICH, Mass., June 20, 2023 – Horsley Witten Group, a full-service environmental consulting firm providing sustainable and resilient design solutions, has announced the appointment of Nathan “Nate” Kelly to the position of president.

Kelly succeeds Richard Claytor, Jr., P.E., who will remain with Horsley Witten Group as senior water resources engineer and will continue to serve on the company’s board of directors. Claytor led the firm for over a decade and is a prominent leader in the stormwater management field.

An accomplished environmental planning professional, Kelly joined

Horsley Witten Group in 2001, most recently serving as the firm’s principal planner and leading its Providence, R.I. office.

Kelly has been instrumental in the growth of Horsley Witten Group during the past two decades, having provided professional planning, zoning and facilitation services to more than 50 municipalities throughout New England. He is also widely recognized as a leading expert in the disciplines of comprehensive planning, affordable housing, regulatory reform, village and downtown planning, low impact development and watershed assessment.

In his new role, Kelly will assume overall responsibility for Horsley Witten Group’s strategic planning, business administration, financial management, marketing, business development, DEI efforts and human resources.

“The environmental, economic and social challenges facing our communities are considerable and only getting more urgent as the effects of global climate change take hold,” said Kelly. “I look forward to leading Horsley Witten Group and our world-class team of environmental engineers, scientists, and planners to create and implement sustainable solutions that mitigate the effects of and adapt to climate change.”

“Nate is a perfect choice to usher in the next era of environmental stewardship and growth for Horsley Witten Group,” said Claytor. “His collaborative leadership style, experience and proven expertise in developing solutions for a wide range of issues will serve Horsley Witten Group well, now and into the future.”

Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Boston College and a master’s degree in urban and environmental policy and planning from Tufts University.

He was appointed to the Rhode Island State Legislature’s Land Use Commission in 2021, and regularly provides training services for the Cape Housing Initiative and MassHousing. Kelly has also served as president of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Planning Association.

 

 

Wastewater and Stormwater Training with X-Cel

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Gemma Kite, P.E. is a talented engineer and water industry professional who has nurtured a relationship with a Boston based non-profit, X-Cel Education (X-Cel). Through networking with the Charles River Watershed Association, she met Aaron Dale, Program Manager of X-Cel Education’s Conservation Corps. Once they talked, she realized HW’s staff expertise and skills might match the training priorities for the program, and she launched a volunteer program. Many of these students are considering career options that do not require a four-year degree, like wastewater and drinking water treatment system operations. Currently X-Cel is graduating 30 students per year.

 

“X-Cel’s goal is to provide training and exposure for young people in the environmental and conservation areas. X-Cel Education improves economic opportunity in underserved Greater Boston neighborhoods through accessible, individualized, and free high school equivalency education, post-secondary preparation, and career readiness development.”

X-Cel Education

 

Wastewater Training  &  Stormwater Management

 

The wastewater sector may not sound appealing to many, but truth be told, it is a growing field that is not going away anytime soon. X-Cel’s program offers classwork combined with hands-on field training with professionals, like the engineers and scientists at HW, to learn and hone the skills they will need as treatment facility operators. The trainings help to increase the students’ awareness of environmental career paths and other opportunities. Students learn how to take samples and witness wastewater operations  during tours of nearby treatment facilities. Through HW, participants have also learned about stormwater management  practices by helping with site maintenance and meeting our engineers.

 

Partnerships

 

HW and fellow engineering firm Woodard & Curran are corporate partners to X-Cel Education. We have teamed together to offer training at client sites including The Pinehill’s LLC. wastewater treatment plant. After two successful trainings held last year, six trainings are planned for 2022. Our favorite part of the training is sharing our career choices and milestones one-on-one with the students! We look forward to participating in future training events where we can meet new people. 

 

Future Opportunity

 

We hope that by reading this blog post and learning about X-Cel Education we can bring much needed attention to the program and the participants. Currently Gemma is considering co-authoring a presentation at a water focused conference that will also help spread the word. X-Cel has only a handful of partners and is looking for more connections that can expand on the training opportunities . Woodard & Curran have found that it is a great avenue to find young wastewater operators. You can read about their experience at their site.

 

Next Steps

 

Learn more about X-Cel Education.

What other training opportunities are a good match for this program?

Reach out to Gemma Kite to start a discussion.

 

 

EPA Award Announcement

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Horsley Witten awarded EPA small business award

 

The EPA’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization has recognized Horsley Witten Group for outstanding small business accomplishments. The announcement was made during the Annual Small Business Program Awards Ceremony on May 5, 2022. These awards recognize program activities, individuals, businesses, and state and local entities for their outstanding contributions during Fiscal Year 2021.

HW was one of two small business contractors acknowledged for Outstanding Accomplishments by a Small Business Contractor.

“Thank you, Horsley Witten Group, for your exemplary customer support and technical adaptiveness, acquisition specific managerial, and responsiveness during COVID-19. Thank you for your outstanding commitment.” -EPA award annoucement

For more information, please view the Administrator’s 32nd Annual Small Business Program Awards Ceremony press release and awards ceremony recording.

 

“The Horsley Witten Group is honored to have been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its work in supporting the Agency and its mission. Our firm addresses environmental and social challenges with sustainable solutions and it is gratifying to work with a federal agency that thinks the same way.”

– Tom Noble, HW Principal

 

 

Macomber Stadium Wins Awards

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NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION
Macomber Stadium

The Narragansett Bay Commission is implementing final phases to reduce Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) in Pawtucket and Central Falls. One part of this large endeavor is the award-winning green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) project at the Macomber Stadium located in Central Falls.

 

“A combined sewer system (CSS) collects rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater into one pipe. Under normal conditions, it transports all the wastewater it collects to a sewage treatment plant for treatment, then discharges to a water body.” 

– U.S. EPA

In 2020 and 2021 this project received awards from two vastly different organizations. First, a “Stormy Award” from the New England Stormwater Collaborative recognized the project as the “Best Stormwater Idea” at the annual New England Stormy Awards. Second, more recently,  the American Sports Builder’s Association named Macomber Stadium “Outstanding Single Field Facility of the Year,” which is a national award. Awards aside, we are proud to have worked with NBC and collaborated on this GSI project with Pare Corp., and Stantec.

The new state-of-the-art synthetic turf athletic field includes a subsurface infiltration system and sand filter with enough capacity to treat and infiltrate a 25-year design storm. The system captures runoff from over six acres of surrounding impervious surfaces. Other GSI features include a permeable paver mezzanine and stormwater bio swales. New landscaping also provides streetscape appearance and overall curb appeal.  The project also restored a contaminated site to its highest potential. Over 10,000 tons of contaminated soils were removed while other soils were encapsulated under an engineered cap that doubles as the final site surface.

Learn More:

Video by Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank
RIIB Project Funding = New Community Sport Fields!!

New England Stormwater Collaborative

American Sports Builder’s Association