Tolt Water Treatment Facility

Lawhon & Associates, Inc. (L&A) staff performed a wide array of environmental services, including the lead for SEPA documentation, on the design/build/operate (DBO) contract for a new City of Seattle water treatment facility at the Tolt Reservoir in Seattle, Washington.  L&A’s lead ecologist spearheaded the work with the design and construction professionals, and changed the facility layout, location, and modified construction activities.  The result was:  1) an additional avoidance of over 30 acres of woodlands, which were preserved for wildlife protection, 2) the reduction in wetland impacts by over 90%, 3) a modification of the construction schedule to avoid impacts to bald eagles in the area, and importantly 4) Seattle realized a net savings of over $45 million for a facility that met or exceeded all the City’s quality and functional goals.

L&A staff responsibilities included, but were not limited to:

• Final EIS preparation and approval
• wetland delineation and mitigation
• wetland construction oversight
• T&E species trustee coordination, bald eagle surveys
• Obtaining Forest Practices permit
• Managing of archaeological surveys.