Greetings from Omaha
 
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Timing really is everything. This is especially true within our industry as costs rise significantly due to poor timing and planning. In this edition of Perspectives, Joan Darling has written an interesting article on how the timing of projects and the nesting behaviors of birds intersect each other in a way that most of us never would have thought of before.

Additionally, we are pleased to announce that Amber Lewis has been re-certified by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to perform CDBG grant administration. If you need help finding funding for your projects, please be in touch.  
 
If you have questions or would like more information on the information shared in this e-newsletter, or about any of our services, don't hesitate to give me a call. 
 
 
Louis Lamberty, PE
Omaha Region Office Leader
402.938.2433 or
llamberty@oaconsulting.com
Saved from Extinction             
By Joan Darling, Ph.D.
 
Here are some animal trivia questions:  
  • What creature weighing a little over two pounds has been clocked at speeds of over 240 mph?
  • What species has been a hunting partner with humans for around 4,000 years?
  • What bird was extinct east of the Rockies and endangered elsewhere but has made a remarkable recovery?
If you answered "peregrine falcon" to all three, you are correct.

http://oaconsulting.com/media/falcon1.jpgThe peregrine falcon is one of the wonders of the biological world. It is an almost exclusively aerial predator, catching birds on the fly. It does so by going into an astounding hunting swoop, during which it can reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour. This is twice as fast as any other bird is known to fly and three times as fast as the cheetah, the fastest land animal.
 
You can't appreciate the incredible nature of this feat without seeing it, so check out this National Geographic video of the falcon in action.
 
Pretty cool, but, by now, you must be wondering what this has to do with your projects? We're getting there... READ MORE
Amber Lewis Achieves CDBG Administration Recertification
 
http://oaconsulting.com/media/Amber_Lewis.jpgAmber Lewis, an Olsson funding specialist, has been re-certified by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to perform CDBG grant administration. Re-certification is attained after completing a week-long training and education course and successfully passing a written exam. The closed-book exam is focused on exhibiting a high level of proficiency in all areas of CDBG project management. Her recertification has been extended until July 2014.

Amber can be reached at 402.463.0240 or alewis@oaconsulting.com.
Featured Project
Creative Solutions Help Jefferson County with Flooding Problems
By David Krickbaum, PE, CFM
  
http://oaconsulting.com/media/Swamp-Angel2.JPGThe Fairmount area in unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado, suffered from an inadequate storm drainage system composed of poorly defined channels that are blocked by irrigation canals, roads, and railroads. The informal pond in the area, called Swamp Angel, only provided 29 acre-feet of storage at its maximum elevation and functioned, in part, as a retention pond.
 
An underground collection system and a small uncontrolled outlet in Swamp Angel are owned by Mt. Olivet Cemetery and are used to convey groundwater to the cemetery's irrigation ponds. When heavy storms fill Swamp Angel, the Mt. Olivet pipeline surcharges, flooding nearby properties. The poor storm drainage situation created problems for traffic and nearby residences. 
  
Olsson Associates proposed a creative solution that met the drainage needs... READ MORE
Two-Minute Survey 
 
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Over the past year, we have shared Perspectives, a monthly e-newsletter with you. We would like to hear from you to help us build on our strengths, improve any shortcomings, and send you information that helps you do your job better.

Thanks in advance for helping us improve our communications to you!

Click here for the survey.
In This Issue
Saved from Extinction
Amber Lewis Achieves CDBG Administration Recertification
Featured Project: Creative Solutions Help Jefferson County with Flooding Problems
Two-Minute Survey
Around the Firm 
  
SCE Acquisition
 
On June 28, Olsson Associates acquired Scott Consulting Engineers (SCE), a Springfield, Missouri, firm. 
 
SCE offers a range of civil engineering, municipal, water/wastewater, land surveying, and land use development and planning services to public and private clients.
 
Olsson has operated a Springfield, Missouri, office since 2005.
 
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Redeveloping Ironwood

Read about the Omaha Land Development team's Ironwood golf course redevelopment project in today's Omaha World-Herald article, "Country club to religious center?"

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Congrats to our new Professional Engineers: 
 
Chris Rolling,
Omaha Traffic
Jamie Miller,
Lincoln Water Resources
Amy Gabor,
Denver Water Resources
Ben Messersmith,
Denver Municipal
Will Lambert, Golden Assessment and Remediation
Will Hye,
Phoenix Transportation
Eric Falk,
KC Southland Bridge/Structural
Springfield Transportation
 
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The Three-Mile Creek Trail project is featured in the July issue of the APWA Reporter. Read the feature about APWA's "Project of the Year: Transportation less than $5 million" here.
Olsson Practices

 
 
 
Stay in Touch with Olsson! 
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At Olsson, everything is Elemental:  LAND | WATER | AIR | LIFE 
To learn more, please visit www.oaconsulting.com.