Kurt Norrell, PE, PMP
Managing Partner
Mr. Norrell has over 15 years of experience in industrial engineering and project management for site civil and water resource infrastructure projects up to $25 million. His master’s degree in Engineering Management and his Project Management Professional certification give him the tools to put the right people in the right place at the right time to efficiently complete any design or construction project. Kurt is a licensed Professional Engineer for civil engineering in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, California, and Hawaii. Kurt also has extensive experience managing multi-faceted projects involving a full range of engineering disciplines including surveying, electrical engineering, geotechnical engineering, and structural engineering.
One of Kurt’s several civil engineering design focuses is developing and calibrating hydraulic models using actual data to give his clients a high level of confidence that their system will perform according to the model. He has a broad range of design experience in both open channel and pressure irrigation systems. His in-depth, technical understanding of both closed conduit and channel hydraulic systems results in a highly accurate and efficient design. Kurt has developed several efficiency analyses that utilized hydraulic integrated with an economic analysis to perform robust and long-term decision making for future river, irrigation, potable water and stormwater system improvements. Additionally, seamlessly integrates hydraulic models with ArcGIS® mapping software for graphical results and an up-to-date electronic database of their physical system.
Kurt’s technical background includes extensive open channel water modeling, treatment process design and cost analysis. His wastewater modeling experience includes the use of flow monitoring, nutrient testing and various software platforms for seamless integration into any client’s infrastructure database. These skills, combined with his knowledge of process hydraulics, allow him to efficiently optimize existing treatment facilities or design a greenfield wastewater treatment facility. His design approach begins with ensuring the highest value by maximizing the existing site conditions and facilities. These skills, combined with his use of cutting-edge software, will allow him to maximize the property of the existing facility while simultaneously minimizing cost.
Site civil engineering and storm water management engineering are other key areas where Kurt has significant expertise. He has managed the successful and prompt permitting for several sites in the western United States. His relationships with regulating agencies make him a valued asset to any site civil project. Kurt has managed the site civil design and permitting efforts for grocery stores, gas stations, pump stations, office buildings and residential housing. Kurt has ready access to key staff through Western Consulting Group and can draw on that expertise as necessary for any size site civil or water resource project.
Caroline Neighbor, PE, CFM
Managing Partner
Mrs. Neighbor is a licensed engineer and in responsible charge for engineering work performed by WCG in the states of Montana and Maryland. She has 10 years of experience in water resource engineering and design. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies, a master’s degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Water Resources Management, and a post-master’s advanced certificate in Environmental Engineering and Science. Her background provides her the unique ability to view projects with both an engineering and ecological perspective.
Caroline is a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) and member of the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM). As a CFM, she offers technical expertise in floodplain development regulations, permitting, hydraulic modeling, and flood studies. She is skilled in one-dimensional and two-dimensional HEC-RAS modeling and has vast experience modeling complex and detailed flow scenarios.
Caroline approaches engineering challenges with a multidisciplinary approach stemming from her dual background in engineering and environmental science. She specializes in open channel hydraulics including stream and wetland restoration, stream bank stabilization, flood studies, culvert design and replacement, fish passage and screening, irrigation diversion design, stock water design, and stormwater management and treatment. She has participated in several trainings including applied fluvial morphology, river morphology and applications, river assessment and monitoring and has developed and implemented in-house river restoration workshops. Her degree of technical understanding of open channel hydraulics and 404 permitting makes her a valued asset on any project involving regulated resources. She has had the opportunity to be involved in every aspect of ecological restoration including field and office studies, modeling and design tasks, reporting, permitting, and monitoring.
While her passions lie in waterways and floodplain management, she also provides services in civil engineering and site development including site civil design, site grading, utility, stormwater, roadway development, erosion and sediment control, and pressure irrigation designs. She is a strong project manager with a record of keeping projects on-schedule and on-budget. Her attention to detail and understanding of standards for public works construction is advantageous on any civil development project. Caroline is active in her small, rural community and serves on the board of her local water district which recently constructed a multimillion-dollar water treatment plant update.
TAWNA BARNES, PE
Senior PROJECT MANAGER
Tawna is a licensed Professional Engineer in Idaho and Washington and has over 10 years of experience in water resources and site civil design. She routinely uses software such as ArcGIS, WaterGEMS, and AutoCAD Civil 3D. Utilizing these programs, she can develop figures integral in the planning stages to succinctly convey information to stakeholders. Tawna has specific experience in stream simulation for fish passage culvert replacements. She has designed projects including potable water systems, booster pump stations, and on-site utilities on a design-build schedule which strengthens her ability to be flexible working on projects with compressed timelines. Her background also includes significant site civil design for industrial, commercial, and residential clients focusing on grading and utility design including high-pressure gas, potable water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater.