Constraints and Opportunities
Nicasio, California | Design Engineer II
Context: A 6,000-acre working ranch in the mountains of Marin County required infrastructure planning to support expanded operations while protecting sensitive watershed resources. The site presented steep terrain, seasonal creek corridors, and areas lacking reliable water access. The project brought together ranch managers, architects, biologists, and contractors to align operational goals with ecological stewardship and permitting constraints.
Task: Evaluate constraints and opportunities across the ranch to enhance the existing water system and support future development, including an equestrian center, utility shed and expanded livestock management. Key objectives included bringing water to underserved pasture areas, designing a ranch access road through wet creek-adjacent conditions, and repairing actively eroding gullies to prevent further sediment delivery to creeks.
Approach:
Collaborative Site Assessment: Worked with multidisciplinary team to map existing water infrastructure, soil stability, creek hydrology, and gully erosion hotspots. Identified high-priority zones for water distribution and road alignment that minimized ecological impact.
Water System & Road Design: Developed civil design concepts for extending water service to new livestock paddocks and the planned equestrian center. Engineered an access road that hugged creek contours to reduce grading, incorporating drainage and stabilization for persistently wet conditions.
Erosion Control & Gully Repair: Specified gully stabilization using bioengineering with local willow and natural materials to halt head cutting and reduce sediment transport. Designs met Marin County resource agency standards while improving slope stability and watershed health.