SierraScape August - September 2003
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Over the past decade our understanding of the interaction between land and water has increased dramatically. While we have long known that current development practices damage water resources, we have not been able to quantitatively understand how the damage occurs until recently. Fortunately with this new understanding comes the ability to prevent the damage. In this presentation, Mark will illustrate fundamental stream mechanics and demonstrate how the dynamic equilibrium is critical to the physical and ecological health of our streams. He will present management methods that work with stream processes to maintain stream health while still providing protection to people and infrastructure. Some of these methods include using native riparian vegetation as a functional, structural element of stabilization designs.

Outside of the stream channels Mark will describe development practices that mimic the natural water cycle and counteract the damaging influence of increased impervious surfaces. These techniques, many of which use the interception, infiltration and filtering capacity of plants add beauty to the landscape while protecting the riparian zone. Green roofs, micro-detention, micro- or "eyebrow" wetlands and a myriad of infiltration technologies have been developed and tested over the past few years. He will illustrate how these practices can also be used to retrofit existing sites as well. Finally, Mark will describe the economic advantages of conservation design.

Mark Meyer is a registered professional engineer in Missouri and Kansas. He specializes in the hydrology and hydraulics of natural streams and has developed a professional practice in urban stream protection and restoration. His stream practice extends to conservation site design. His storm water designs on commercial sites are some of the first in our region to closely mimic natural hydrographs and virtually eliminate site runoff for frequent storms. Mark received a B.S. in business from St. Louis University, a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado in Denver and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla. Mark joined Intuition & Logic in 2000 and now manages the St. Louis office.

The meeting will be held at Litzsinger School.