September 20, 2011 - EarthFax Develops a Storm Water Master Plan for a Rural Utah Community

EarthFax Engineering, Inc. has completed the preparation of a storm water runoff control master plan for the rural community of Loa located in southeastern Utah. Loa is a town of approximately 600 residents that has routinely experienced flooding in the eastern portion of the town during summer thunderstorms and snowmelt runoff events.

EarthFax prepared the master plan, which included conceptual design information to upgrade the town’s storm water runoff with a minimum capacity to safely pass the peak flow resulting from a 10-year, 24-hour precipitation event. Critical areas of the town’s system were designed to handle runoff from the 25-year, 24-hour precipitation event. After evaluating available background information, EarthFax conducted hydrologic analyses to determine the capacity of the existing storm water runoff system to convey the design precipitation event. Further hydrologic analyses were then conducted to assist in determining improvements that would be needed to meet the capacity of the design precipitation event.

Included in the recommendations for improvements was a construction cost estimate that accounted for excavation and hauling of soil, installation of structures, reseeding of disturbed areas, performance of materials testing for placement of new soil and asphalt, surveying, and indirect costs. EarthFax assisted the client in obtaining funding from the Utah Permanent Community Impact Fund Board for preparation of the master plan.

EarthFax Engineering, Inc. is a consulting engineering firm that was founded in 1982, with offices in Midvale, Utah. The firm provides services in the areas of civil engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydrology, geology, land reclamation, and environmental planning. Additional information regarding EarthFax can be found at www.earthfax.com.