Stream Restoration in Urban Watersheds: Contractor Recommendations for Successful Implementation

Adam Nabors
Environmental Quality Resources
Millersville, MD

Ecological restoration projects in urban environments bring a variety of challenges. From a construction standpoint, streamflow in flashy urban systems can be difficult to manage as impervious coverage and severe storm frequency increases. Further, constrained access, confined work areas, and infrastructure conflicts, all combined with material management challenges, can stress the effectiveness of the project team and surrounding community. Biological variables such as unchecked deer populations and non-native invasives can complicate re-vegetation efforts. Simply said, numerous pitfalls can quickly lead to unintended impacts and job cost increases. As a result, urban stream projects require innovative techniques and collaborative attitudes to enable success. Since 1991, Environmental Quality Resources, LLC (EQR) has constructed hundreds of stream restoration projects in some of our country’s densest urban communities. In this discussion, we will address issues arising from work in the municipal landscape and offer constructability solutions that lower job costs while maintaining work productivity. We’ll discuss how to maximize your urban site’s available footprint to maintain critical construction timelines. Finally, we’ll review specific projects and discuss how obstacles were overcome post-bid by working closely with owners and designers.

About Adam Nabors
With a background in heavy civil construction across the Colorado high country, Adam began his ecological restoration career in the Spring of 2009 working for a design / build firm in Paradise Valley, Montana. Desiring more experience in urban streams and stormwater management systems, he moved to Maryland joining EQR in December of 2012. Currently serving as a Project Manager, Adam has implemented stream restoration projects in Maryland, DC, Virginia, Delaware, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamcnabors/