Awards

 

HUFF & HUFF, INC.

Watershed Analysis – DuPage River and Salt Creek

Owner:  DuPage River/Salt Creek Workgroup

Consultants:  HDR and Interfluve, Inc.

 

To identify the primary causes of the low levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) in Salt Creek and the East Branch of the DuPage River, the Project Team developed a water quality model that required two years of additional monitoring data.  After calibrating and verifying these models, we used them to identify the main causes of the low levels of DO and evaluate alternative approaches for improving DO levels, including their respective costs.  Our studies definitively showed that dams on these waterways were the primary cause of DO impairment.  Public outreach was also a key component of our work.

 

 

   

2009

I-LAST

Illinois – Livable and Sustainable Transportation Rating System and Guide

Owner: Illinois Department of Transportation

In conjunction with the

Illinois Joint Sustainability Group

 

The I-LASTS (Illinois Livable and Sustainable Transportation Systems) sustainable practices workbook was the culmination of two years of research, collaboration, and deliberation by the Illinois Joint Sustainability Group.  The workbook targets seven aspects of roadway design and introduces 150 concepts for sustainable practices implementation.  Group members from the Illinois Department of Transportation, engineering firms, and contractors collaborated to achieve the following goals:

• Provide a tool to assist in planning design decisions.
• Establish an efficient method of evaluating projects for livability, sustainability, and effects upon the environment.
• Record the use of sustainable practices in the transportation industry.

    

2008

HUFF & HUFF, INC.

Bioswales for Stormwater/Water Quality Benefit I-294

Owner:  Illinois Tollway

Consultants:  TranSystems Corporation – Development of CAD Conceptual Drawings

In 2004, the Illinois Tollway initiated a system-wide improvement in the Chicago Metropolitan area, including Interstate 294.  One section of Interstate 294 extended through Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC) land.  The Tollway tasked Huff & Huff (H&H) with development of a stormwater management system of bioswales that offset the use of 16 acres of FPDCC lands, improved water quality, established methods of evaluating effectiveness, and could receive approval of the FPDCC Board in less than three months.  This system was developed with input from stakeholder groups:  The FPDCC Staff, federal and state resource agencies, environmental groups, and Tollway staff.

The bioswales design study is first in terms of its magnitude (6 miles), its consensus process, established of performance measures, and methods for analyzing effectiveness.  Twenty-one individual plans for treating stormwater over the 6 miles of FPDCC frontage accounted for soil types, groundwater depth, vegetation, and habitat.

 

   

2006

 Paxton MGP Remediation and Site Restoration

Owner:  Nicor Gas

Consultants: Huff & Huff, Inc. / Clark Dietz, Inc.

The former Paxton Manufactured Gas Plant was an active Nicor Gas Reporting Center.  Huff & Huff, Inc. on behalf of Nicor Gas was challenged to remediate this site and build a facility consistent with Nicor’s philosophy of providing sustainability and partnering with the community. Coal tar extended beneath the original building, which was demolished and rebuilt during the course of the project.  Building activities were relocated during remediation and construction.  Temporary soil vapor extraction and groundwater treatment systems were set-up to reduce the benzene levels prior to excavation and treat any water encountered within the excavation, respectively.  Subsequently, 20,100 tons of coal tar impacted soil was removed. Groundbreaking for the new building was held in October 2005 and construction was completed in eleven months, with many “green” features incorporated into the design.

 

 

  

  

2005

STUDIES, RESEARCH, AND CONSULTING

HUFF & HUFF, INC.

Owner:  Bureau of Design & Environment, Illinois Department of Transportation

Huff & Huff, Inc. developed an innovative noise education program for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to use in explaining potential impacts of highway improvement projects.  The focus of the initiative was to present complex traffic noise issues in an easy to understand format.  The three distinct parts of this noise education program make the best use of available media.  A web-based module includes information on noise analysis, noise abatement, and noise fundamentals; a series of three pamphlets; and a slide show presentation for use at public meetings provide the same information as the web-based module.  This program may be used at over 100 public meetings held by IDOT each ear and has the potential to reach 2,000,000 people through the web and print media.