Civil and Environmental Engineering and Consulting
Now offering and
*Hinds Engineering does NOT provide Structural Engineering or Surveying services*
Engineering Services
Site Evaluations
Now offering comprehensive site evaluations onsite or via web-video call with screen-share. For those looking to buy undeveloped raw land or considering improvements on undeveloped land you own, site evaluations include evaluating the buildability of a site based on applicable codes, estimated well depth based on nearby well logs, evaluating septic system feasibility based on nearby and web-based soil data and site observations, evaluating grading and drainage demands including flooding risk based on existing topographic and hydrology data and site observations, evaluating fire risk and mitigation opportunities, exploring options for build sites and driveways/access roads/parking/turn-around areas, evaluating power supply options (grid and off-grid), and evaluating onsite soil and ecological resources and improvement opportunities. Site evaluations for developed land include evaluating opportunities for site improvements to meet owner-defined goals and objectives, usually pertaining to water, soil, vegetation, and/or other "R3S" topics (see R3S Consulting below). General project cost information and site planning recommendations can also be provided upon request. The cost for site evaluations typically ranges from $300-$450.
Site Development
If you're ready to build on undeveloped land, I am your one-stop shop for getting your project underway. I will join you in visiting a site you're interested in buying to discuss site development opportunities and limitations. If you already own your land, I will walk the site with you, describe design and permitting requirements, discuss financial and design implications of applicable local and state building codes and water and energy considerations, and assist you in the development of your site plan. I will also introduce and promote sustainability technologies that are both economical and beneficial to public and environmental health - because that's my thing (see R3S Consulting below for additional information). Once a site plan is in place, I provide the permitting and design services (excluding architectural & structural) needed to get development of your site underway. My strong relationship with local realtors, permitting agencies, contractors, and custom home designers and builders ensures an efficient and smooth progression from finding & acquiring the best property for you to designing and completing your new home.
Percolation, Mantel/Profile, and Piezometric Tests
Percolation, mantel/profile, and piezometric testing for septic system design.
Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) Design
Septic system and leachfield designs based on percolation, mantle, & piezometric data, site conditions, and local building codes.
Fire Safe Driveway Design
Driveway designs in accordance with CalFire's fire safe standards, including coordinating exemptions as applicable.
Grading Plans
Grading plans designed to transition smoothly to adjacent grades, minimize interruption of natural hydrology, protect and integrate native vegetation, and prevent erosion; includes essential elements of site drainage design.
Underground Utilities
Designs for connection to community water and sewer systems detailing connection at structure and at mains, backflow prevention assemblies, clean-outs, and other applicable components required per local and state codes.
Permitting Services
Permitting services ranging from complete permit application preparation and submittals to assistance with understanding permitting requirements and preparing permit applications for permits including septic permits, grading permits, building permits, water well permits, tree removal permits (less than 3-acre exemption coordination), and more.
Hydrology and Hydraulics
Hydrology and hydraulics are far from simple and the implications of poor foresight when it comes to hydrology/hydraulics can be catastrophic. With training in groundwater, open channels, and pipeline hydraulics, and contacts with a network of hydrologic/hydraulic professionals throughout the Northern California and Northern Nevada regions, I am equipped to offer technical expertise for the majority of your water-related needs.
Hydrology and Hydraulics Analyses
Watershed delineations, hydrology data processing, calculations, and/or modeling to determine design discharges; hydraulic computations and/or modeling to determine hydraulic forces for use in drainage designs.
Drainage Assessments
Drainage assessments to determine erosion and flood risk, causes of erosion, hydrologic impacts, and to inform drainage design.
Drainage Design
Drainage designs to prevent localized flooding, protect structures from flooding, prevent erosion, minimize hydrologic impacts, and improve local habitat and water quality, including:
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Residential/commercial "best management practice" (BMP) designs, i.e. dripline infiltration trenches, rain gardens, stormwater infiltration basins, and french drains.
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Stormwater conveyance designs, i.e. open channel and pipeline stormwater conveyance.
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Roadway drainage designs, i.e. water bars/rolling dips, roadside drainage ditches, culverts, low-water crossings, fish-passage crossings, rocked outlet protection, rock energy dissipation, and other OHV BMP designs for erosion control.
Elevation Certificates
Completion of FEMA Floodplain Base Flood Elevation Certificates as required for new construction or major improvements of existing structures within FEMA floodplains, include Base Flood Elevation Determinations for projects in Zone A floodplains.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Services
Stormwater BMP designs and stormwater inspection and sampling services for industrial facilities permitted under California's Industrial General Permit; general compliance consulting to industrial facilities permitted under California's Industrial General Permit and to contractors permitted under California's Construction General Permit.
Ecological Restoration Services
In collaboration with Wildscape Engineering, Inc., a full service ecological restoration firm based in South Lake Tahoe - planning, design, permitting, pre- and post-project monitoring, and construction oversight services for stream, meadow, and upland restoration, including biotechnical bank stabilization, in-stream habitat creation, reconnecting floodplain, restoring wetland, decommissioning spur roads and restoring hydrologic function, and more. For more information, visit: https://www.wildscape-engineering.com.
R3S Consulting
Resilience, Sustainability, and Self-Sufficiency (R3S) Consulting
The primary driver of my career efforts can be summed up in the acronym "R3S", which stands for Resilience, Sustainability, and Self-Sufficiency. I am motivated to assist in reducing anthropogenic impacts to the environment and rectifying some of the damage that has been incurred over the past couple centuries through researching, experimenting with, and promoting R3S technologies, systems, concepts, community programs, etc. I spend much of my time, energy, and resources developing this branch of my practice, as it is my true passion. R3S consulting services I currently provide are described below and I expect to expand them over time as work on the "R3S Research Farm" continues.
R3S isn't only good for the environment - it's also good for your bank account and overall quality of life. Give me a call to discuss typical payback periods and long-term savings from R3S investments, or for information on environmental and other benefits, and/or to schedule a tour to view and learn about existing demonstration systems at the R3S Research Farm (see R3S Research Farm Educational Tours below for additional information).
Water
Consulting services for improving the water use efficiency of your home or business, or ensuring your new home is built to optimize water use efficiency. Services include identifying opportunities, developing designs, and providing construction oversight for onsite domestic and irrigation water supply systems, rain-water harvesting systems including earth-based systems (key-line design), grey-water reuse systems, and composting toilet systems, and integrating water-efficient appliances and fixtures. Note, these systems have potential to negatively affect the environment if they are not thoughtfully designed and operated. It's important to consult an expert for the design of these systems and to work with your local environmental health department to ensure you remain in compliance with local and state regulations.
Energy
Consulting services for improving the energy efficiency and resilience of your home or business, or ensuring your new home is built to optimize energy efficiency. Services include providing designs and construction oversight for solar hot water systems and small-scale hydroelectic systems, providing general consulting for solar and wind energy systems, and providing recommendations for integrating passive solar principles into the design or remodel of your home or business.
"Living Landscapes"
Consulting services for improving the ecological function and productive value of your landscape, including improving habitat diversity, reducing erosion, and improving soil and water retention on your property through site drainage improvements and native plantings, opportunities to plant useful crops, and guidance for composting, mulching, and building soil health.
R3S Research Farm Educational Tours
Now offering education tours of the "R3S Research Farm", our off-grid homestead at 5,000' elevation in eastern Plumas County. The tours include detailed overview of the following project elements, including operational demonstration of systems: site plan and site development summary from raw land in 2019 to the present day condition including driveway alignment and design, water well site selection and design parameters, build site selection, septic system site selection and design, initial earthworks and underground utilities, self-designed and self-built fully permitted custom structures (cabin, utility shed, and barn) built from local materials prioritizing cost-effectiveness and longevity, custom coupled domestic/irrigation/emergency off-grid water supply system, off-grid solar system powering the entire property including all-electric appliances (no propane or other fuel-based appliances), "living landscape" improvements including plantings and associated earthworks and other onsite natural resource management including soil and mulch development, and sawmill operations and woodworks. Other systems in the works for future tours include solar hot water system, wood-fired hot water system, small wind and hydro electric systems, animal husbandry systems (chickens, goats), greenhouse systems, and indigenous knowledge/practices applications.
For additional information on the R3S Research Farm project and to see select photographs, see:
Non-Profit Services
Through the development of low-maintenance systems for resilience, sustainability, and self-sufficiency at the R3S Research Farm, I am developing skills and knowledge that I offer to others through professional consulting services as described above. But, the reduction of cost of living/business overhead resulting from this work is another important outcome, as it frees up time to pursue meaningful projects for which typical compensation may not be feasible, i.e. projects serving developing and/or disadvantaged communities and individuals in need who have a lack of capacity to organize/fund such projects. The current state of this work is such that availability to provide volunteer services and non-profit/discount services is limited (I do my best to meet the needs of my clients while accommodating financial limitations on a case-by-case basis), but as this work continues to progress, I expect non-profit services will comprise an increasingly large portion of services that I provide. My long-term goal is to launch a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a colleague of mine, "R3S Engineers", which will enable access to public funds for such services, and to develop an open-access "R3S Manual" to make the knowledge, skills, tools, and resources developed/discovered along the way more widely available.
“Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course... No more than one or a few decades remain before the chance to avert the threats we now confront will be lost and the prospects for humanity immeasurably diminished.”
1,600 Senior Scientists, November 18, 1992 — World Scientists Warning to Humanity
"An estimated 12.6 million people died as a result of living or working in an unhealthy environment in 2012 – nearly 1 in 4 of total global deaths..." World Health Organization, March 15, 2016
"As long as profit is the priority, it is inevitable that all else - including public and environmental health, quality of life, and human progress - will fall by the wayside. What is more important to you - Gross Domestic Product/perpetual economic growth or health/life/progress? It is clear that this model that prioritizes profit above all else is a recipe for disaster and therefore ought to be superseded. A better way is on the horizon and it is up to us to find it..." Unanimous