Water Resources Engineering

Water Resources Engineering involves developing solutions to problems due to stormwater runoff, flooding, and water quality issues. The Miller & Associates team has developed creative and effective ways to address a wide range of water resource issues. Our staff uses the latest technology and computer programs, as well as traditional, time-proven methods to develop solutions to a wide variety of problems.

Miller & Associates has extensive experience in stormwater management for site design, conveyance systems, detention and retention cells, erosion control, and flood control projects. In addition to design and construction projects, we have experience in preparing drainage studies, community stormwater master planning, floodplain studies and map revisions. A more detailed description of these project types are listed below:

• Stormwater Management for Site Design - One of the key elements of site design is stormwater management. Whether the development is a residential subdivision, a single commercial building, a large industrial development, or any other development, it is important to manage stormwater. Management of stormwater may include drainage, peak flow attenuation (using detention or retention) flood control, erosion control, and control of other potential pollutants. Miller & Associates can design a creative solution to fit your specific needs.
  
  
• Conveyance Systems - Stormwater conveyance systems are designed to transport stormwater runoff away from a particular location. Conveyance facilities, also called drainage facilities, include storm sewers, inlets, culverts, channels, and in some instances, even streets. Miller & Associates has extensive experience in analysis and design of all types of conveyance systems. We can help design a system around the concept of the subdivision, as well as upgrade and retrofit existing drainage systems to reduce drainage and flooding problems.
  
  
• Storage Facilities - Stormwater storage facilities are used to store stormwater runoff. This storage allows for high flow rates into the storage facility to be reduced or eliminated. A detention facility stores the water temporarily. High inflows are released at a lower flow rate over a longer period of time. A retention facility stores at least a portion of the water permanently, resulting in a permanent pool or water level, such as in a lake or wetland. Excess inflows may be released downstream, or the entire inflow may be retained within the facility. Storage facilities can also be designed to address water quality issues. Although this is not currently required in many locations, it is required for certain industrial sites and for larger communities.
  
  
• Dams and Flood Control Projects - Dams and Flood Control Projects are generally large scale projects intended to reduce flooding risks to large areas. Flood control projects can include dams, channels, dikes, and diversions. We have worked with Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), counties, cities, irrigation districts, and combinations of these entities on numerous projects. We can provide preliminary planning and study services, design, permitting, and construction phase services for your project, as there are many regulations affecting dam design and water appropriations. Miller & Associates is familiar with the necessary permits, and can provide guidance during planning for your project.
  
  
• Erosion Control Plans and Stormwater Permitting - The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) addresses the issue of stormwater runoff quality. In Nebraska, the Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for issuing permits and regulating the stormwater discharges in the state. This program addresses stormwater runoff from industrial sites, construction sites, and large municipal separate storm sewer systems. Miller & Associates can assist in developing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPs) required by the program as well as design effective measures and Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce the amount of erosion from a site. This will control the amount of sediment transported to downstream receiving waters. We can also assist industrial facilities in obtaining the necessary permits and developing SWPPs for specific sites. The plans will address issues other than erosion and sediment control, and will vary widely depending upon the facility.
  
  
• Drainage Studies and Master Plans - Drainage Studies and Master Planning are tools that can assist a community in developing long-term solutions to existing drainage problems, or plans to address future growth to ensure that drainage does not become a problem. We have completed drainage studies and master plans for Villages, Cities, and Natural Resources Districts (NRDs). These studies can be an invaluable tool to planners and decision makers.
  
  
• Floodplain Studies - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has mapped many flood-prone areas across the nation, and they continue to update this mapping today. Local communities who participate in the Flood Insurance Program (FIP) regulate development within the mapped floodplain areas. Due to the regulations on development within these areas, conflicts can arise when development is undertaken.

Miller & Associates has completed detailed analysis of areas mapped by approximate methods to develop Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) based on the “best available data”. This does not result in a change in the map boundaries, but gives the community a better estimate of the BFEs that they should be using in regulating development within their floodplain. If changes in the map are warranted, we can also complete studies resulting in map changes. We can also prepare map changes for individual lots, map revisions based on fill, and provide elevation certificates required for local regulators. We can assist communities and developers in several different ways with this process.

Contact Kent E. Cordes, P.E. for all of your Water Resource Engineering needs.