COLUMBIA MIDDLE SCHOOL SOLAR INSPECTION
During the winter of 2023 GEI was pleased to perform a solar array inspection for this public school located in Redding, CA. We were able to fly the area and collect both visual and thermal imagery from both the ground-mount and roof-mount sites with a total of 0.26 MW DC power. The imagery was provided to Raptor Maps where they evaluated it with AI and provided a report in accordance with IEC standards. After providing a review and comments/suggestions, GEI then submitted this report to the school, and the school was then able to give specific direction to solar maintenance technicians to perform much-needed maintenance, resulting in significant increased productivity for the system and cost savings for the school.
LEWISTON STREAM RESTORATION
In 2018 GEI was asked to get involved in a restoration project in response to a notice of violation from both the Water Boards and CA Fish and Wildlife. GEI began with providing a temporary site stabilization plan and SWPPP. We helped the landowner perform the stabilization work, then began negotiating a mutual agreement for final site stabilization, which include illegal fill material removal and full restoration of a class III stream. Compensatory mitigation measures were also required in accordance with USACE Section 12501 requirements, which consisted of both on- and off-site stream channel improvements. The project included several sub-consultants to assist with all of the planning, all of which performed extremely well! On-site stream restoration is complete as of Summer, 2020, and offsite mitigation will be completed by end of season 2021.
CA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE FEEDBIN STAIRS
This project consisted of civil and structural design, fabrication, and installation of a set of stairs in Bishop, CA at a fish hatchery owned by CDFW. GEI designed the stairs, stringers, handrails, and foundations himself, then used his construction crew to fabricate and install them on site in Bishop. It was an excellent opportunity to experience the construction of a project from design phase through final construction. This project was completed on time and within budget!
DRIVEWAY CREEK CROSSING – CHRIS AND DENISE HALL, MILLVILLE, CA
This project began with a landowner contacting GEI was requested to provide a hydrology study and stream crossing design for a driveway entering a newly purchased property in Millville. Originally it was thought that a three-culvert crossing would be the most efficient, but due to time constraints with the owner, the bridge concept was developed. GEI provided the 350-acre hydrology study, civil design, project management, and agency coordination (fire department, county building department, USACE, CDFW, CSWRCB). Chris and Denise were extremely happy with the final product, and have repeatedly expressed their appreciation for GEI’s help with meeting the requirements of the applicable agencies.
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, KAPUSTA 1A SIDE CHANNEL PROJECT – MIKE AND BERTHA MICHALAK, ANDERSON, CA
The intent of the project began as an effort to restore flow to an ancient oxbow of the Sacramento River and aid habitat restoration and the recovery of federally listed salmonids. It is a multi-agency project that has the support and funding of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Water Resources, City of Redding, Western Shasta Resource Conservation District, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Over the past fifty years the oxbow has slowly been filled in so that only backwater can enter it from the river. Mr. Michalak, a recognized conservationist in Northern California, decided that it should be restored to near-original condition to allow water to flow through it, providing excellent habitat for salmonids. However, unless some kind of access route could be established to his remaining property on the other side of the channel, the project would significantly devalue the property.
Therefore Mr. Michalak contacted Gregory Engineering, Inc to obtain assistance with the design and installation of a pedestrian bridge for crossing of the channel. GEI was hired to provide the bridge abutment design, general project consulting, and construction contractor procurement.
RED-IRON SHOP FOUNDATION DESIGN – CHET BUTLER, SHASTA LAKE CITY, CA
This project consisted of the design of a residential shop floor and column footings for Mr. Butler. He provided a design package (by Rapidset Metal Buildings) to GEI which included factored loads at the bottom of each of the columns. With this, GEI was able to tie together the column bases using strength from the floor and provide frost depth accommodation. He was able to accommodate for no soils testing on the site by providing an allowable soil bearing capacity of 1,500 psf, an acceptable capacity according to the Shasta County Building Department. The 40’x60′ steel building was successfully installed on time and within budget.
