Design and management services through on-call retainer contracts to assist Forest, Parks and Recreation (FPR) staff with improvement projects. Projects include:

Delaware and Hudson Rail-Trail Bridge Improvements, West Pawlet and Rupert. Design and construction phase services to replace deteriorated wooden decks on 10 bridges located throughout a 20-mile segment of the Delaware and Hudson Rail-Trail. Services were completed in accordance with the VTrans Transportation Enhancements program and included design of the wooden decks, attachment to existing girders, wooden railings, and steel fasteners. Provided construction cost estimates, bid phase and contractor procurement assistance, and construction inspection services.

Branbury State Park Bathhouse Improvements, Salisbury. Design of final plans and specifications for improvements to the Branbury State Park Bathhouse facility, which was originally constructed in the 1960’s. The primary objective was to add two showers and provide a comprehensive upgrade of the aging facility including new plumbing, lighting, electrical, mechanical, ventilation, handicap accessibility, and structural improvements to both the existing bathhouse and shower addition. The project also included design of landscaping and sidewalk access improvements. The design provided accommodation for a solar hot water initiative that Forests, Parks and Recreation has conducted for this and numerous other bathhouse facilities in the State Park system. D&K provided professional services in civil, structural, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical engineering.

Camp Plymouth State Park Flood Recovery, Plymouth. Engineering services for emergency flood restoration repairs to Camp Plymouth State Park in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene. The park incurred heavy flooding during the storm that washed out access roads and parking areas and deposited large amounts of silt over the entire site. D&K developed contract documents for the restoration project that included the removal of deposited material; repairs to access roads, paths, and parking areas; and restored pre-established turf, beaches, picnic, and other recreational areas. Permitting assistance was provided during the design phase. Cost estimates and bid-phase services were provided. Bid-phase services included conducting a pre-bid meeting, responding to prospective bidder questions, developing an addendum to the contract documents, and reviewing bids received.

Sweet Pond Dam Alternatives Evaluation, Guilford. Engineering services to conduct an alternatives analysis for the Sweet Pond Dam, owned and maintained by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation located in Guilford, Vermont. Vermont’s Dam Safety Section had deemed the 80-ft dam unsafe and the Pond was drained to mitigate public safety concerns. FPR was considering the removal of the dam, but encountered strong public opposition to the dam removal option and the resulting permanent loss of Sweet Pond. D&K conducted an inspection and survey at the dam and provided a written report summarizing the dam’s history and evaluating various alternatives for the future of the dam. These alternatives were presented in a public meeting in which the public voted in support of rehabilitating the existing dam.

Quechee State Park Flood Recovery, Quechee. Engineering services for emergency flood restoration repairs to Quechee Gorge State Park in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene. Hiking trails in the park incurred heavy flooding during the storm that washed out portions of the trail and deposited large amounts of silt over the lower trails network. D&K developed contract documents for the restoration project that included the removal of deposited material and debris, repairs and restoration to the hiking trails, fence repair, site cleanup, and river access repairs. Cost estimates and bid phase services were provided.

Plymouth-Shrewsbury CCC Road Repairs, Plymouth. Engineering design services for repairs to a portion of Forest Road located in Plymouth, Vermont, which was significantly damaged/washed out during Tropical Storm Irene. Sections of the road are very steep and significant repairs and slope stabilization was necessary. Project included design of a 50-ft-long retaining wall that required drilling and grouting to existing ledge to provide a secure base, extensive ditching, culvert replacement sizing and design, and several culvert headwalls of varying type (concrete, dry stack, cement masonry).

Engineering and permitting services for the restoration of the Dog River and related drainage improvements to alleviate flooding problems in the Village of Roxbury. The river has been affected by historic changes, including a railroad that parallels the river and cuts the valley in half and historic dredging that resulted in a straight channel with little habitat value. Sediment deposition at the project site has blocked culverts under the railroad causing regular flooding and an elevated water table that has impacted wells, septic systems, structures, and roads.

DuBois & King’s solution involved restoring 550 ft of the Dog River to provide more natural sinuosity and to move sediment deposition away from existing drainage infrastructure. The solution included creating a new drainage swale, berm, and sediment basins to allow floodwaters to again flow under the railroad tracks to the Dog River. The Water Resources team prepared engineering drawings, including a site plan, channel profiles, river and swale cross sections, and details.

The project involved significant wetland disturbance and required clearance from both State and Federal regulators. DuBois & King conducted a site inspection to document functions and values of the wetland; conducted an alternatives analysis; coordinated with property owners and State and Federal regulators; and prepared applications for Conditional Use Determination (CUD) from the VT DEC Wetlands Program and Section 404 clearance from the US Army Corps of Engineers.