SLR’s Magalloway River Bank stabilization project selected for ACEC-NH 2022 Engineering Excellence Awards

SLR is the Gold Winner recipient for the Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) from the American Council of Engineering Companies New Hampshire (ACEC-NH). ACEC selected the Magalloway River Bank Stabilization project for the gold award based on uniqueness and innovative applications; future value to the engineering profession; perception by the public; social, economic, and sustainable development considerations; complexity; and successful fulfillment of client/owner’s needs. Roy Schiff, Principal Water Resources Engineer & Scientist and Jessica Louisos, Senior Water Resources Engineer led the environmental analysis, engineering, and design for this award-winning project (Roy and Jessica are pictured above with Alex Koutroubas, ACEC-NH Executive Director).

This project included relocating a failed portion of NH Route 16 in Errol and stabilizing the bank along the Magalloway River. Design of the road relocation was completed by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. A key challenge of the project was to use natural materials so that the bank would return to a vegetated state with good habitat and matching surrounding conditions in the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge. SLR’s water resources engineering staff members collaborated with McFarland Johnson (MJ) on an alternatives analysis to repair the failed roadway and bank. The preferred alternative selected was a novel ballasted tree revetment to stabilize the bank and create a base for overlying soil and plantings.

SLR worked with the contractor to complete the final design for the tree revetment. We performed stability calculations following methods developed by the U.S. Forest Service and prepared a design plan to illustrate the plan and section of the proposed tree revetment. This project provides value to the engineering profession as it used a novel approach to a common problem – bank erosion. This approach is growing in popularity in the United States, and we now have an example of a successful installation in New Hampshire to build on. If bank revegetation, fish habitat enhancement, and natural site aesthetics are high on the list of project objectives, the ballasted tree revetment can be used in place of common riprap.

ABOUT ACEC-NH EEA Competition:

ACEC-NH’s annual EEA competition recognizes exemplary Member Firm achievements. For over 35 years, NH engineering firms have entered their most innovative projects and studies which honors the year’s most outstanding engineering accomplishments. Projects that are winners at state level EEA competitions are eligible for ACEC’s national EEA competition.