Project Highlights

ACEC/TN Engineering Excellence Award

S&ME was retained to provide stream and wetland permitting and design for approximately 1,160 feet of Love Creek, 330 feet of an adjacent tributary, and .37 acres of wetland as part of the expansion of a large retail facility in East Knoxville, Tennessee. The design plan included a greenway that parallels Love Creek that was requested by the City of Knoxville, and increased the overall stream length by 90 feet and wetlands acreage by 0.7 acres.

The realigned reach was designed using new natural channel design techniques combined with more traditional hydraulic engineering methods. S&ME developed a restoration design that included the use of rock vanes, j-hooks, and step pools. A major design factor was the need to comply with “no-rise” provisions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and City of Knoxville and prepare a Conditional Letter of Map Revision (CLOMR) for FEMA. Intensive modeling was undertaken using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers HEC-2 and HEC-RAS surface water models as part of satisfying these requirements. This iterative modeling resulted in modifications to the design to meet the government requirements. A comprehensive approach to construction storm water management was also incorporated into the design. This project provided several benefits to the community including allowing an existing “big-box” retailer to expand in place rather than relocating and creating a “gray field” site as well as improving the natural resource value of Love Creek. The construction and mitigation project was completed in February 20

Our client expressed satisfaction and appreciation of S&ME’s achievements in overcoming challenges to meet and exceed the project’s rigid needs. We worked closely with client and owner representatives to complete tasks on schedule and within budget.