Should Water Resource Management Address Downcutting?
Downcutting influences community planning, protection, and water management strategies, making understanding it vital for professionals safeguarding infrastructure and ecosystems. Table of Contents What is downcutting? Downcutting occurs when flowing water erodes a stream or riverbed faster than sediment deposits. Over time, this vertical erosion deepens the channel, alters its stability, and changes how water moves […]
What Does a Dam Engineer Do? EAPs, Dam Safety, and Texas Requirements
Dams and levees are critical infrastructure across Texas. They control flooding, store water for municipal and agricultural use, and support the long-term resilience of communities throughout the state. As of June 2025, TCEQ regulates 7,384 dams in Texas, of which 4,147 are non-exempt. Among those, 1,574 are classified as high-hazard and 295 as significant-hazard, meaning […]
Engineer HUB: Texas Firm Helps Communities Mitigate Risk Through Grant Programs
Managing community infrastructure safeguards resources and provides focus for every civil engineer, HUB, Texas city and county. Infrastructure management is becoming more complicated and requires an increasing number of resources, including Texas-certified Historically Underutilized Businesses, or HUBs. There are many government-funded projects to aid communities and HUB engineering firms with infrastructure projects. OEI has the […]
Utility easement rights: Understanding project, legal, and landowner implications
Utility easement rights can be extremely complicated and vary widely among locations. A documented easement gives an individual or agency the right to use or access a property for a specific purpose. In the case of civil engineers, an easement can be used when implementing or updating infrastructure. An easement grants access to private property […]
Wastewater Collection System Design FAQ
Wastewater collection system design is integral to the proper management of a community’s water resource management system. More than 3.5 billion people don’t have access to properly managed sanitation. Civil engineers continue to work with communities and other entities to provide more efficient water management systems. Here are three frequently asked questions about basic wastewater […]
Texas GIS Map Guides Planning
A Texas GIS map has many applications when planning, implementing, and maintaining community infrastructure. A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer representation of specific data sets that can be layered and analyzed. GIS technology is used in almost every industry with a multitude of practical applications. Mapping Benefits The ability to layer data that […]
Floodplain Development Permit Needs
A floodplain development permit is required before any construction or development of any type begins in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Communities are responsible for ensuring all proposed developments attain the required documentation and approvals as mandated by local, state, and federal law. Furthermore, a community must develop floodplain management ordinances to ensure the […]
Environment Studies and Sustainable Community Planning
Environment studies are imperative for community decision makers. These reports contain empirical data of the environmental impact of current or potential infrastructure. The beginning of the industrial revolution created a need for regulations that prevent pollution. Introducing any type of waste substance into an environment can have major consequences to land, water, plants, animals, and […]
National Flood Experts Predict Higher Flood Incidents
National flood experts collect and interpret data regarding water movement. These observations have multiple applications including the prediction of future event intensity, rate of occurrence, and response recommendations. The results of new studies indicate the coastal areas of the United States, including the gulf of Mexico, will see a higher rate of flooding in the […]
What are Phase Construction Services?
What are Phase Construction Services? Phase construction services are project management services provided by an expert to ensure each step or phase of a project is properly completed. Each phase of a construction project takes specific skills to coordinate while ensuring a quality end product that aligns with regulations and stakeholder expectations. 5 Steps of […]