WRA is Awarded Assembly Member Jared Huffman's April Sustainable North Bay Award

On Friday, April 9, 2010 Assembly Member Jared Huffman presented his April Sustainable North Bay Award to WRA in recognition of our work in restoring fish habitats and for instituting an environmental stewardship business climate in our office. WRA employees participate in a commuting program that includes bike-to-work days. We participate in community service projects, enjoy a community native garden, and support an office composting program. Additionally, WRA only uses recycled products for office supplies and furniture.

See the full article at Assembly Member Jared Huffman's official web site.

WRA’s Bixby Marshlands Enhancement and Public Education Project Wins a Professional Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects - Northern California Chapter

The American Society of Landscape Architects - Northern California Chapter (ASLA-NCC) presented Professional Awards to Northern California landscape architects in acknowledgement of excellence in several design categories on April 22 at its annual meeting and professional awards presentation in San Francisco.  At the event, the ASLA-NCC presented WRA’s George Salvaggio, Giselle Goulette, and landscape architecture staff with an Honor Award in the Energy, Water Conservation, and Sustainability Design Category for the Bixby Marshlands Enhancement and Public Education Project located in Carson, California.  

For the Bixby Marshlands project, WRA worked with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts to re-introduce water into an old remnant tidal marsh and design new wetland and riparian habitat, an outdoor classroom for teaching wetland ecology to local public schools, and a place for local wildlife enthusiasts to view wildlife.  WRA worked diligently to integrate public access into the wetland habitat without damaging or disturbing the wetlands or wildlife.  The new public facilities include a parking area for visitors and school buses, a botanical garden that features native coastal scrub and riparian plant species, an outdoor educational area, marsh overlooks and wildlife viewing areas, shade pavilions, a system of ADA accessible trails, a marsh boardwalk, and interpretive signs.  The use of sustainable practices and materials was a priority, including capturing and treatment of stormwater in bioswales and wetlands on site, using recycled materials to construct site furnishings, and salvaging exotic trees from the site for use in new construction.

This project demonstrates that Landscape Architects can embrace ecological complexity and integrate science with design to allow both people and nature to thrive in close proximity. This requires a synthesis of all of the systems and factors that together create a sustainable site, including hydrology, native habitat restoration, soil conservation, stormwater treatment, invasive plant removal, recreation, accessibility, outdoor education, public facilities, and aesthetics.

View slideshow of our Bixby Marshlands Enhancement and Publication Project

WRA's Justin Semion Selected for the Subtidal Habitats Goals Committee

The San Francisco Bay Subtidal Habitat Goals Project is a collaborative effort to establish a comprehensive and long-term management vision for research, restoration and management of the subtidal habitats of the San Francisco Bay. As a selected member of the restoration subcommittee, WRA's Justin Semion will provide scientific and permitting guidance in the development of restoration goals and implementation methods.

The Project is an interagency partnership between the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), the California Coastal Conservancy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the San Francisco Estuary Partnership. The objective of the Subtidal Habitat Goals Project is to complete a report that establishes restoration and management goals for eight San Francisco Bay subtidal and intertidal habitats.

The San Francisco Bay Subtidal Habitat Goals Project committee meetings are scheduled to occur through May 2010, with a report to follow later in the year.

New North Coast Office

WRA is pleased announce the opening of a North Coast office. Headed by Matt Richmond, our new office will serve existing North Coast clients in addition to expanding WRA's current services.

North Coast Office

282 South Main Street
Willits, CA  95490
707-459-1067

WRA Landscape Architecture Brown Bag Lunch Series

WRA Landscape Architecture hosted a brown bag presentation at our offices on the topic of stormwater management in the context of LEED and the Sustainable Sites Initiative.

Victoria Chanse, PhD, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, Clemson University

Title:  Investigating Ecological Design Guidelines as a Framework for Planning a Stormwater Retrofit Project in Aiken, South Carolina

Abstract:  With the development of LEED for Neighborhood Development guidelines and more recently, the Sustainable Sites Initiative TM guidelines and performance benchmarks, ecological design guidelines play a growing role in all phases of project development. Since 2008, Clemson University Restoration Institute and the Center for Watershed Excellence have been working with the City of Aiken in South Carolina to develop a river restoration approach to resolve the severe erosion caused by stormwater runoff from the downtown area. This research investigates how one particular aspect of this project - the green infrastructure demonstration project in downtown Aiken - can be examined within the framework of the Sustainable Sites Initiative TM design guidelines to assess sustainable approaches to project planning, materials, construction, stormwater, and ecology. This research will address the question of how Aiken’s stormwater management approaches, designs, and construction phases are evolving within the framework provided by the SSI design guidelines. This will build upon existing research on public involvement and stormwater management practices in Aiken. This talk will 1) introduce the project context and the Sustainable Sites Initiative TM guidelines; 2) discuss the project details; and 3) evaluate how the Sustainable Sites Initiative TM pilot project guidelines are shaping Aiken’s green infrastructure demonstration project.

WRA Provides Expert Advice to Chinese Government on Stormwater Treatment Techniques

WRA's Mike Josselyn was selected to provide expert advice and training to the City of Beijing on stormwater treatment using Low Impact Development techniques and wetland treatment systems. From September 12-18, he was part of an eight member group of experts from the US who were in China to discuss the latest technology and techniques in water treatment—from waste water to storm runoff. Dr. Josselyn presented an overview of stormwater treatment based on WRA's experience in designing stormwater treatment wetlands and LID facilities. Since the Olympics, the City has been striving to improve the overall quality of the rivers and canals that run through it. WRA's experience and knowledge about low cost, effective landscaping controls, and wetland designs will prove valuable as new development proceeds.

Rainwater Catchment - A Sustainable Water Source for Development

WRA is promoting Rainwater Catchment as one of several sustainable services that conserves water and reduces runoff from developments. We will be traveling to Mendocino County in July to host an inter-municipal workshop with the County of Mendocino, the City of Fort Bragg, and California State Parks. The workshop will provide planners with information on the benefits of rainwater harvesting, design basics, and a review of national, state, and regional regulations. Tim Pope, president of ARCSA (American Rainwater Catchment System Association), will be the key presenter. WRA will present a case study that demonstrates the benefits of using rainwater catchment for private homes in this climatic region. This case examines the feasibility of using rainwater in a variety of manners including drinking water, flushing toilets, washing clothes, irrigating landscape plants, and providing water for livestock.

Wine Business Monthly, recently published an article that provides an excellent summary of the ‘state of the art’ of rainwater catchment and how this technology is being used to re-shape the wine industry.

Read the full article: Rainwater Harvesting, New Sustainable Water Source for Wineries

Integrating Wetland Habitat into Stormwater Treatment Basins

WRA is striving to become the leader in integrating wetland and riparian habitat into stormwater treatment basins. Success at the Pacific Commons Stormwater Treatment Basin illustrates how we have been applying our knowledge of restoration ecology to create viable wetland habitat within stormwater treatment basins. We carefully established a variety of water depths throughout the basin and then selected the appropriate native wetland plant species that thrive at these different depths. We also utilized some innovative planting techniques, such as planting dry and summer irrigation to mitigate adverse affects of flooding and predation by geese. The most exciting result is that, after only ten months, the plants are the growing and spreading at an incredible rate, and the wetland is already being used by a variety of bird species including egrets, ducks, and night heron. 

Pacific Commons Stormwater Photos

Integrating Public Access into Wetland Habitat Areas - Grand Opening of the Restored Bixby Marshland

WRA is proud to announce the grand opening of the newly restored Bixby Marshland in Carson, California. We have been working with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts to re-introduce water into an old remnant tidal marsh. We have created new wetland and riparian habitat, an outdoor classroom for teaching wetland ecology to local public schools, and a wonderful place for local wildlife enthusiasts to view wildlife. We worked hard to integrate public access into the wetland habitat without damaging or disturbing the wetlands or wildlife. The marsh includes a parking area for school buses, a botanical garden that features native coastal scrub and riparian plant species, several demonstration stormwater treatment wetlands and swales, two out door teaching areas, and an ADA trail system that includes a boardwalk through the wetland, which provides access to two wildlife viewing areas. Besides the wildlife, the highlight of the marshland is the new round shade structure that was constructed from non-native invasive eucalyptus trees that were cut down as part of the restoration of the marsh. 

Wildlife sightings in the Marshland include Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Allen’s Hummingbird, Marsh Wren, Common Yellow-throat, Fox Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Say’s Phoebe, Western Kingbird, Barn Swallow, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Lincoln’s Sparrow, American Goldfinch, Cooper’s Hawk, Killdee, Black Necked Stilt, and American Kestrel.

The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts is hosting a Grand Opening of Bixby Marsh on July 16th from 9:00AM to 11:00AM at 24501 South Figueroa Street, Carson, California. The public is welcome!

Bixby Marshland Photos

Tom Fraser on Marketing Panel at San Francisco Conference

Tom Fraser, President of WRA, Inc., participated in a panel of architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firm presidents and CEOs at ZweigWhite’s 2009 A/E Marketing Now Summit, that took place May 21-22. The CEOs on the panel addressed the value and importance of marketing from the mile-high point-of-view, including: what they feel their own marketing roles are; how they interact with the marketers on their staff;  what results they expect from marketing initiatives; and whether they are planning to spend more on marketing now or less, and why.

WRA's Tim DeGraff Receives 40 Under 40 Award

WRA's Tim DeGraff was selected by the North Bay Business Journal to receive their 2009 Forty Under 40 award. The forty winners were chosen on the basis of their leadership in companies and organizations across the North Bay.

Congratulations to Tim and all the other outstanding winners!

Environmental Business Journal Interviews WRA’s President Tom Fraser and Vice President Tim DeGraff

As a leader in California’s environmental consulting industry, WRA was asked to comment on the recent federal guidance related to wetland delineation and wetland mitigation.

Read the full article: Federal Guidance on Wetlands Delineation Creates Pockets of Opportunity, Confusion

WRA, Inc. Announces New Leadership

» View announcement

Effective January 1, 2009— WRA has implemented two exciting management changes with the appointment of Tom Fraser as President and Tim DeGraff as Senior Vice President.

After 27 years as President of WRA, Michael Josselyn will serve as our Chairman of the Board. He will continue to provide his expertise to clients, assist in strategic planning, and mentor WRA staff.

We look forward to continuing our focus on clients’ needs and seeking solutions that address the changing environmental services field.

WRA, Inc. kicks off work on the Upper Fresno River Watershed Assessment

WRA, Inc. was selected by the County of Madera to prepare a watershed assessment and web-based watershed portal for the Upper Fresno River Watershed.  The project is being funded by a grant from the California Department of Water Resources for the purposes of identifying watershed-related issues, such as pollutants, nutrient loads, as well as continued watershed monitoring and restoration activities.

WRA will be working in collaboration with Wolf and Associates and Fresno State University to develop an internet based Watershed Portal that will allow agencies and the public to access a wide variety of maps and documents for use in watershed assessment studies. The firm will be responsible for developing specific land use GIS based models to focus on water quality, invasive species, and other land use issues. The Watershed Portal and the Assessment Study will be completed in late 2009.   Gretchen Coffman is the project manager for the study.

PRESS RELEASE:
WRA, Inc. Develops Conservation Plan Model for Land Preservation at Tejon Ranch

The State's largest private conservation land plan for the preservation of up to 240,000 acres at Tejon Ranch in southern California was based on a conservation model developed by WRA, Inc, of San Rafael, CA. The agreement between Tejon Ranch Corporation and five major environmental groups was reached on May 9, 2007. The selection of lands best suited to protect environmental resources and rare species was determined through application of conservation principles in a computer model developed by WRA. The GIS based model was first developed in 2005 for the Trust for Public Land for its original 100,000 acre purchase agreement. The model utilized extensive data collected at the Ranch and used Geographic Information System modeling to predict the location of the best lands suited for natural resource protection. The model used habitat characteristics to predict the locations where sensitive plant and animal species would be found.