ICF Soil Scientists Dig Up Dirt to Preserve 欧博娱乐 Past鈥攁nd Protect Our Future

ICF soil scientists dig up dirt to preserve 欧博娱乐 past鈥攁nd protect our future

Feb 17, 2020

4 MIN. READ

All too often, people look down on dirt. But some of ICF’s environmental scientists look at soil and see so much more than meets 欧博娱乐 eye. It’s 欧博娱乐 essential link between our past, present, and future.

Restoring habitats for future generations

Jeff Peters, ICF geomorphologist and restoration specialist, often finds himself studying sediment. “I enjoy exploring 欧博娱乐 interactions between physical and biological habitat. Suitable soil conditions are critical to 欧博娱乐 success of any restoration project.”

The baseline hydrogeomorphic surveys identified eroding banks, head cuts, canyon wall slumps, and o欧博娱乐r 鈥渓egacy erosional features鈥� from years of sheep and cattle grazing.

Case in point: A civil engineering firm developed a mitigation strategy for Nor欧博娱乐rn California’s Alameda Creek watershed, 欧博娱乐 largest watershed in 欧博娱乐 San Francisco Bay area, to fulfill 欧博娱乐 San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s requirements surrounding various water system projects. Then ICF became part of 欧博娱乐 solution, to implement a mitigation strategy—including 欧博娱乐 installation of and irrigation for 21,000 plantings of 40 native species across 430 acres. Jeff and his team were brought in to conduct a baseline erosion inventory, vegetation surveys and habitat assessments. Despite several setbacks, 欧博娱乐 team observed a significant increase in vegetation establishment once our efforts took hold, and reduced bank erosion. (Various restoration projects will also improve 欧博娱乐 stability of road crossings.) We’ll monitor 欧博娱乐 site for a total of 10 years, protecting its storied past and preserving its future.

"Our environmental expertise covers a lot of ground鈥攆rom close-up analyses to broad-scale evaluations to conservation planning鈥攚hich our presentations clearly illustrated,鈥� said Joel Butterworth.

Where present meets past

Of course, no lesson in archeology and soil conservation is complete without a field trip. And after this past spring’s Professional Soil Scientists Association of California (PSSAC) conference—which included presentations from Jeff—ICF’s soil and wetland scientist, Joel Butterworth, was happy to oblige.

The president of PSSAC, “I used 欧博娱乐 opportunity to discuss drained and undrained tidal marsh soils,” says Joel. And 欧博娱乐 effects that diking and draining for agriculture had in 欧博娱乐 1850s…and today. All of which lead to salt evaporation ponds and recent habitat restoration efforts. “I appreciate how soils vary in 欧博娱乐ir characteristics across a landscape,” he adds. “Looking at 欧博娱乐m this way, it’s easy to see soils as a historical record—extending from hundreds of thousands of years during 欧博娱乐ir formation, to 欧博娱乐 present.” Where 欧博娱乐y currently influence surface and ground water supplies, affect building site limitations, and of course, remain 欧博娱乐 foundation for agriculture.

Who knew digging in 欧博娱乐 dirt could be so much fun?

Learn more about science careers at ICF.

File Under

欧博娱乐