Summary of Experience:

Randolph J. Stowe possesses a unique background for approaching and resolving environmental issues.  His educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance, with a minor in Geography & Environmental Studies, from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago .  Mr. Stowe has also completed coursework towards a Master’s Degree in Geography & Environmental Studies, with a focus on Water Resource Management, also from Northeastern Illinois University .  This educational background, combined with eighteen years of practical design and construction experience, allows for a balanced approach in implementing cost-effective projects that yield multiple environmental benefits.

Natural Areas Ecosystem Management

In 1986, Randolph J. Stowe established Natural Areas Ecosystem Management (NAEM), an environmental planning firm specializing in water resource planning and watershed management. NAEM focuses on the assessment, rehabilitation, and management of stream corridors and shorelines in urbanizing areas. NAEM is recognized as a wetland consultant by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and has prepared over 400 wetland delineation’s and Section 404 permit submittals.

 BioTechnical Erosion Control Limited

In 1992, Mr. Stowe established BioTechnical Erosion Control Ltd. (BECL).  BECL specializes in bioengineering, a discipline that combines the use of structural and vegetative practices to create low cost, environmentally sensitive streambank, shoreline, and slope stabilization practices.  Working together, NAEM/BECL is one of the most experienced design/build firms specializing in this field.  To date, NAEM/BECL have designed and/or installed over sixty bioengineering projects in northern Illinois , ranging in cost from $ 2,500 to over $ 500,000.  These projects included the use of Lunker Structures, A-Jacks Structures, Vegetated Geo-Grids, Dormant Cuttings, and Coir (Coconut) Fiber Rolls. Other projects are located in Decatur , Illinois ; Green Bay , Wisconsin ; Kansas City , Kansas ; Raleigh , North Carolina ; Lincoln , Nebraska ; Indianapolis , Indiana ; and Austin , Texas .  

 Watershed Resource Consultants, Inc.

License / Certification

Certified Professional in Erosion & Sediment Control CPESC # 750

Certified Professional in Stormwater Quality CPSWQ # 28

Certified Floodplain Manager (ASFPM)

Education

    ·    Northeastern Illinois University : Chicago , Illinois

            Bachelors of Arts in Business Finance – 1984 Minor in Geography & Environmental Studies

    ·    Northeastern Illinois University : Chicago , Illinois

            Coursework Completed towards Master of Arts in Geography & Environmental Studies 1984 – 1987

Courses Taught / Lectures Presented by Mr. Stowe  

Restoration & Management of Urban Streams, Portland , Oregon             April 25th - 28th, 1990

Waukegan River Restoration Workshop, Waukegan , Illinois                    September 24th, 1992

Managing Stream Landscapes, Glencoe , Illinois                                      September 29th, 1992

APWA Innovative Stream Management, Arlington Heights , Illinois           November 24th, 1992

APA Stream Corridor Management, Chicago , Illinois                               May 2nd, 1993

Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems, St. Paul , Minnesota                          June 20th - 23rd, 1994

ASCE Bioengineering Workshop,   Elmhurst , Illinois                                August 9th, 1994

Coalition to Restore Urban Waters, New York , New York                         Sept. 29th – Oct. 1st, 1994

BioTechnical Methods for Streambank Protection, Atlanta, Georgia         March 1st, 1995

Bioengineering for Land Stewards, St. Charles , Illinois                           April 8th, 1995

Bioengineering for Streambank Stabilization, Wauwatosa , Wisconsin    June 15th - 16th, 1995

Bioengineering for Streambank Stabilization, Winona , Minnesota          September 7th, 1995

Stream Bioengineering Workshop, Green Bay , Wisconsin                      October 25th - 26th, 1995

Innovative Streambank Repair, Raleigh , North Carolina                           Oct. 31st – Nov. 1st, 1995

Bioengineering for Streambank Stabilization, Seattle , Washington        March 1st, 1996

Minnesota Erosion Control Conference, Minneapolis , Minnesota              March 15th, 1996

Coalition to Restore Urban Waters, Chicago , Illinois                                 May 16th, 1996

Water Quality For Local Programs, Greenville , North Carolina                  January 28th - 29th, 1997

Water Quality For Local Programs, Raleigh, North Carolina                      February 11th - 12th, 1997

Innovative Streambank Repair, Raleigh, North Carolina                           March 19th - 20th, 1997

Water Quality For Local Programs, Hickory, North Carolina                     March 26th - 27th, 1997

Contractor’s Bioengineering Workshop, Kansas City, Missouri               May 6^th, 1997

North Carolina Association of Flood Plain Mngrs. Asheville, North Carolina       May 19, 1997

Watershed Modeling with GIS, Springfield , Illinois                                  July 29th, 1997

Applied Biogeotechnology 97,  San Francisco , California                        August 11th – 13th, 1997

Bioengineering Training Course, Austin , Texas                                    November 17^th - 21^st, 1997

Streambank Stabilization in Urban Watersheds, Minneapolis , Minnesota     February 4th, 1998

Bioengineering as a Watershed Management Tool, Rockford , Illinois    May 5th, 1998

University of Wisconsin Stream Restoration, Madison , Wisconsin          February 2nd, 1999

Restoring Streams in Urbanizing Watersheds, Nashville , Tennessee      February 25th, 1999

Bioengineering For Streambanks & Shorelines,  Rockford , Illinois         April 10^th, 1999

Fluvial Geomorphology Workshop, Elgin , Illinois                                   May 13^th - May 14^th, 1999

Stream Restoration Workshop, Bloomingdale , Illinois                             July 20th, 1999

Streambank Stabilization for Golf Courses, Kansas City , Missouri        January 21^st, 2000

Bioengineering for Wisconsin DNR Projects, Madison , Wisconsin         March 1st, 2000

Stream Management and Watershed Urbanization, Louisville , Kentucky Oct 17th –18^th, 2000

Bioengineering For Streambanks & Shorelines, Peoria , Illinois             March 24th, 2001

Bioengineering for Streambank Stabilization, Elgin , Illinois                  June, 2001

Restoring Streams in Urbanizing Watersheds, Albany, New York           September, 2001

Restoring Streams in Urbanizing Watersheds, Tampa, Florida               October, 2001

Representative Project Experience

May 2003 – Present

 Retained by the City of Waupaca, Wisconsin to develop a streambank stabilization plan for a section of the Waupaca River adjacent to the City Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Ongoing erosion was beginning to encroach on elements of the WWTP.  The project will go to construction during the summer of 2004.

May 2003- Present

 Retained by a Private Client to resolve a 2.2 acre fill encroachment into a State Owner buffer area, adjacent to an Illinois State Nature Preserve which is home to the Hines Emerald Dragonfly, a federally listed endangered species.  Services include development of a Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, Stormwater Management Plan, and site revegetation / management Plan.  The project will go to construction during the summer of 2004.

July 2002 – Present

 Retained as part of a project team by the City of Austin, Texas to help develop a stream corridor restoration plan for West Bouldin Creek, which drains a heavily urbanized watershed in South Austin .

July 2001 – December 2003

 Retained by Camp Dresser McKee to assist in preparing a Technical Reference Manual for a proposed Watershed Development Ordinance for McHenry County , IL .  A collar county of Chicago , McHenry County has featured one of the highest urban growth rates in the state and had been attempting to implement an ordinance for the past decade.  In addition to preparing the TRM, the project team also made final revisions to the actual ordinance, and assisted the County in holding hearings throughout the County.   The Ordinance was adopted in early 2004.

June 2001 – October 2003

 Selected as part of a project team by the Taubman Company to investigate the potential for environmental impacts resulting from a $ 250 million dollar fashion mall in Richmond , Virginia .  Additional tasks included assisting the design team in selecting Best Management Practices to minimize any water quality impacts run-off from the site which drains directly into the James River , a tributary to Chesapeake Bay , and designing and supervising construction of a stormwater channel leaving the project site.

July 2000 – October 2001

 Retained by the Association of State Floodplain Managers to organize and conduct three two-day workshops on stream and floodplain management in urbanizing watersheds.  The first of these workshops was held in Louisville , Kentucky in October 2000, with the second workshop conducted in Albany , New York , in September 2001, and third in Tampa , Florida in October 2001.

May 2000 – Present

 Retained by the Prestbury Homeowners Association to develop a shoreline stabilization plan for three lakes in Sugar Grove , Illinois .  Approximately 2 miles of shorelines were inventoried for erosion problems, with this information used to select appropriate shoreline stabilization practices.  A $50,000 demonstration project was implemented by BECL during 2001.  A new design phase, funded by a Section 319 grant will be designed in 2004.

March 2000 – Present

 Retained by Deerfield (IL) Community High School to prepare a Preliminary Stream Restoration Plan for the North Branch of the Chicago River . The intent of this project was to identify critical erosion areas, and formulate appropriate stream restoration and bioengineering practices applicable in a highly urbanized area.  The first phase of this project was implemented during the summer of 2001, partially funded by a USEPA Section 319 grant.   The project is currently in its third and final phase.  Additional enhancements are being implemented elsewhere on the high school campus, including rain gardens, woodland management, and incorporating school educational programs into the work being performed.

March 2000 – August 2000

 Retained by the Friends of the Chicago River to prepare a Preliminary Stream Restoration Plan for the North Branch of the Chicago River in Glenview , Illinois . The intent of this project was to identify critical erosion areas, and formulate appropriate stream restoration and bioengineering practices applicable in a highly urbanized area.

March 2000 – October 2000

 Retained by the Tower Lakes Improvement Association to develop a shoreline stabilization plan for Tower Lake , and three smaller lakes in Barrington , Illinois .  Approximately 4 miles of shorelines were inventoried for erosion problems, with this information used to select appropriate shoreline stabilization practices.

December 1999 – October 2002

 Preparing a comprehensive stream management plan for Coon Creek in McHenry County under funding provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation 2000 Program.  This plan provided a detailed assessment and analysis of the geomorphic, biotic, and cultural characteristics of the stream corridor, with recommendations for instream woody debris management, streambank stabilization, and stream buffer Best Management Practices.

December 1999 – December 2000

 Retained by the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission to prepare a Preliminary Stream Restoration Plan for Bull Creek, one of the few streams in Illinois that drains into Lake Michigan .  Past watershed development, without stormwater detention provided, has resulted in the incision and widening of the stream channel, causing widespread streambank erosion and significant sediment delivery into Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, Illinois.

December 1999 – December 2000

 Prepared a preliminary dam removal feasibility study for a historic dam on Blackberry Creek in Yorkville , Illinois under funding provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation 2000 Program. Tasks performed include conducting alternatives analysis, biological and geomorphic assessment of the project area watershed, and preliminary design of the dam removal plan.

March 1999 – October 1999

 Prepared a preliminary watershed plan under funding provided by McHenry County Community Development Block Grant Program for Coon Creek, a tributary to the Kishwaukee River .  These watercourses represent some of the highest quality streams and rivers in Illinois , which are being threatened by watershed development activities.

February 1999 – November 2000

 Retained by Robert H. Anderson & Associates to conduct a dam removal feasibility study on Brewster Creek , a tributary to the Fox River , near Elgin Illinois .  Tasks performed included conducting alternatives analysis, biological and geomorphic assessment of the project watershed, and preliminary design of the dam removal plan.

November 1998 – April 2003

 Retained by the State of North Carolina for a three-year contract to provide design/build services for stream restoration projects implemented as mitigation for state highway project impacts.  NAEM/BECL provided design/build stream restoration services along a 1/2 mile highly urbanized reach of stream originating in downtown Raleigh .  Project budget was $ 400,000.

October 1998 – November 1999

 Retained by Del Webb’s Sun City to design and implement stream restoration practices for the remeandering of up 1.5 miles of high quality, but channelized, stream in Huntley , Illinois . Project services included coordinating with site planners to address regulatory permitting, construction timing with regards to soil erosion and sediment control, and integrating channel design / sediment transport issues with the selection of appropriate bioengineering streambank stabilization practices.  A variety of bioengineering practices were selected and installed by NAEM/BECL, including coir fiber products, lunker structures, and artificial riffles.  The streambank stabilization portion of the project was approximately $ 300,000.

May 1998 – September 1999

 Retained by a Private Client to successfully resolve a stream alteration project that removed four meander bends from their property along Stoney Creek , a tributary to the Fox River in Kane County .  The situation had moved into an enforcement action with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Justice.  Services provided included facilitating inter-agency field meetings to resolve regulatory conflicts between affected agencies, conduct project design and permitting, and implementing the project on a design/build basis. Total project cost exceeded $ 250,000.

May 1997 – November 1997

 Retained by the City of Austin, Texas to develop and implement a stream restoration project in a City Park , and to concurrently conduct a bioengineering training workshop for local design professionals, government officials, and contractors.

March 1997 – February 1998

 Selected as part of a project team led by Harza Engineers to develop a shoreline stabilization plan for the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe , Illinois .  Approximately seven miles of shorelines were inventoried for erosion problems, with this information used to select appropriate shoreline stabilization practice.

September 1996 – October 1998

 Retained by the Village of Downers Grove (IL) to implement an urban stream corridor restoration project on a one-mile reach of Prentiss Creek.  Elements of this project included installing a variety of bioengineering streambank stabilization practices.  Total project cost $ 384,000.

August 1996 - April 1999

 Selected as part of a project team by the Taubman Company to investigate the potential for environmental impacts resulting from a $ 300 million dollar fashion mall proposed for North Barrington , Illinois .  Additional tasks included assisting the design team in selecting Best Management Practices to minimize any water quality impacts from site run-off.

May 1996 - October 1996

 Selected as part of a project team by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County to install over three and one-half miles of bio-engineered shoreline stabilization practices on the Skokie Lagoons in Glencoe , Illinois .  Total project cost  $ 475,000.

March 1996 - September 1996 

Retained by the Union Drainage District to design and install bioengineering practices on the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River (IL).  Total project cost $ 63,000.

March 1996 - July 1996

 Retained by the Village of Lake Zurich (IL) to implement an urban stream corridor restoration project on a one-third mile reach of Flint Creek.  Elements of this project included installing a variety of bioengineering streambank stabilization practices.  Total project cost $ 65,000.

January 1996 - March 1996

 Retained by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County (IL) to design a stream corridor management plan for a one half mile reach of Kline Creek.  This plan focused on plant community management, selecting bioengineering practices that could be implemented by volunteer groups, and enhancing fishery habitat. 

September 1995 - January 1995

 Retained by the Open Lands Project to prepare a concept plan to address streambank erosion along Tyler Creek , a regionally significant tributary to the Fox River near Elgin , Illinois .  This plan was a component of a watershed management plan developed by Open Lands to identify stream protection, preservation, and enhancement strategies in a rapidly developing watershed.

August 1995 - August 1997

 Retained by the Village of Barrington (IL) to design and implement an urban stream corridor restoration project on a one half mile reach of Flint Creek.  Elements of this project included installing a variety of bio-engineered streambank stabilization practices; conducting native plant community restoration; and identifying the approximate alignment of a future interpretive trail.  Total project cost  $ 85,000.

May 1995 – May 1998

 Served as sub-contractor to Robert H. Anderson & Associates to assist in preparing a feasibility study to remove a 1950 era dam from the Fox River in northeastern Illinois .  This activity would be implemented to provide riparian enhancements and compensatory storage requirements as part of the development of a Riverwalk for the City of Aurora .

March 1995 - May 1995

 Retained by the Seavey Drainage District to conduct an inventory of approximately 0.75 miles of the Seavey Drainage Ditch in Mundelein , Illinois .  The intent of this project was to identify critical erosion areas, and formulate appropriate bioengineering practices applicable in a highly urbanized area.

February 1995 - May 1995 

Retained by the Union Drainage District Number 1 to conduct an inventory of approximately 1.5 miles of the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River (IL).  The intent of this project was to identify critical erosion areas, and formulate appropriate bioengineering practices applicable in a highly urbanized area.

March 1994 - August 1994

 Retained by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (IL) to design and construct a shoreline stabilization demonstration project at the Skokie Lagoons.  This project, undertaken in conjunction with recent dredging, was intended to identify bioengineering practices that can be used to stabilize eroding shorelines, restore native plant communities, and provide fish and wildlife habitat.  Total project cost $ 25,000.

March 1994 - May 1996

 Assisted the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to develop a watershed management plan for the 8.5 square mile Camp - Center Lake Watershed in Kenosha County .  This project involved the use of the ARC-INFO Geographic Information System to inventory and analyze watershed land use practices, and the use of the WINHUSLE and SLAMM water quality models.  This project represented the first time that WDNR retained an outside firm to prepare a watershed plan.

September 1993 - June 1994

 Assisted Environmental Planning Team in developing a wetland mitigation plan for a proposed oil refinery expansion in Lawrenceville , Illinois .  Tasks included wetland delineation; alternatives analysis, and design of an 11 acre bottomland hardwood forest mitigation area.

June 1993 - August 1997

 Served as sub-contractor to Robert H. Anderson & Associates to design a 5,000-foot long riverwalk for the City of Aurora (IL).  Tasks included analysis of wetland and riparian impacts, project permitting, design of the soil erosion and sediment control plan, and assisting in the development of construction specifications.

February 1993 - June 1994

 Retained by the Village of Barrington (IL) to design a wetland filtration basin for a new storm sewer outfall to Flint Creek.  Tasks included delineating existing jurisdictional wetlands, designing the wetland basin grading plan, streambank stabilization practices, and planting schedules, and construction supervision.  This project won numerous awards for the Village.

November 1992 - July 1994

 Retained by Woodward-Clyde Consultants to assist in the design of the Meacham Grove Dam & Reservoir in DuPage County (IL). Tasks include alternatives analysis, design of wetland and riparian mitigation areas, soil erosion and sediment control plan design, and construction management supervision of mitigation activities.

October 1992 - March 1994

 Selected by the Lake County (IL) Stormwater Management Commission to conduct a stream inventory of Flint and Mutton Creek.  Information on the biological, geomorphological, and hydraulic characteristics of the streams was gathered, analyzed, and entered into a NAEM designed computer database to facilitate information retrieval and integration into an ARC/INFO database. 

June 1992 - June 1994

Provided assistance to the City of Highland Park (IL) on controlling ravine erosion on streams tributary to Lake Michigan .  Tasks included preparing a stream maintenance plan, conducting an inventory of existing geomorphological and biological conditions, and designing biotechnical practices.

August 1991 - May 1993

 Served as a sub-contractor to the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission on a USEPA 319 project to demonstrate water quality improvement benefits afforded by stream maintenance and stabilization practices conducted in DuPage County .

August 1991 - October 1993

 Served as local project manager for the Illinois State Water Survey on a two-year, $200,000 study of streambank erosion control and improvement of aquatic habitat for salmon on the Waukegan River .  This project serves as a regional case study of low impact, low cost bio-engineered streambank stabilization techniques, utilizing natural materials, and native vegetation enhancement. 

June 1991 - November 1992

 Retained by the DuPage County (IL) Department of Environmental Concerns to coordinate implementation of a $200,000 stream bank stabilization program on a 1.5-mile urban stream corridor, demonstrating bio-engineered stream bank stabilization techniques, and aquatic habitat and water quality enhancements.

June 1990 - May 1992

 Retained by Conco - Western Stone Company to prepare a conceptual reclamation plan for a 90-acre quarry in North Aurora , Illinois .  Tasks included development of a Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, and design of the revegetation plan.

May 1990 - November 1992

 NAEM assisted DuPage County (IL) Department of Environmental Concerns staff in developing the wetland, riparian, and soil erosion control components of the DuPage County Stormwater Management Ordinance and accompanying guidance manual.

January 1990 - July 1991

 Retained by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. to prepare the Section 404 permit application for the WoodDale-Itasca Reservoir, a $40 million, 160-acre flood control project in DuPage County (IL).  Tasks included design of wetland and riparian mitigation and soil erosion and sediment control.

May 1988 - November 1992

 Retained by the DuPage County (IL) Department of Environmental Concerns to coordinate a $ 650,000 pilot stream maintenance program, and to prepare a report on implementing this program Countywide.  The program was designed to restore the ability of streams to convey runoff, while recognizing environmental factors. Tasks included conducting a helicopter inventory of County streams; identifying obstructions to be removed and eroding stream banks in need of stabilization; supervising work crews; and interacting with local agencies.   

March 1988 - September 1991

 Served as local project manager for the Illinois State Water Survey on a three-year, $250,000 study of streambank erosion control and improvement of aquatic habitat for smallmouth bass. This project, conducted in Franklin Creek State Park , near Dixon , Illinois , was a regional case study of low impact, low cost bio-engineered streambank stabilization techniques, utilizing natural materials, and native vegetation enhancement.  Lunker structures and dormant willow cuttings were among the stabilization techniques utilized.

August 1987 - October 1991

 Retained by the Lake County (IL) Soil & Water Conservation District to assist staff in implementation of conservation programs.  Duties included conducting inspections of soil erosion control practices on construction sites, assisting property owners with water resource related problems, and participating in field visits of disturbed wetlands with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Co-organized a Stream Corridor Management conference, held in October, 1987.  Co-organized a Wetland Seminar for Lake County Municipal Officials, held in November, 1988.

August 1987 - May 1990

 Retained by the Avon-Fremont Drainage District, Lake County , Illinois to conduct a TR-20/HEC-2 flood modeling study.  The 4,500-acre project watershed is tributary to the Des Plaines River and is comprised of agricultural, suburban and urban areas.  Through the use of ARC-INFO GIS software, land use information was compiled, enabling analysis of various land development and detention scenarios, and their respective impacts on flooding events.

October 1986 - June 1990

 Retained by the DuPage County (IL) Department of Public Works for assistance in the development of a FEQ flood modeling study for the East Branch of the DuPage River .  Duties on the project were similar to those for the Salt Creek study.

July 1986 - October 1991 

Retained by the Lake County (IL) Soil & Water Conservation District to prepare Natural Resource Opinions.  Tasks included conducting field inspections of parcels that were undergoing annexation, subdivision, or rezoning; reviewing available site and natural resource information; and presenting conclusions on potential natural resource impacts to the District.  Over 24,000 acres were reviewed, comprising 15% of all of the land in Lake County .

September 1985 - June 1988

 Provided technical assistance on the Salt Creek computer flood modeling study, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Transportation - Division of Water Resources.  This study utilized the Full Equations (FEQ) model.  Tasks included analysis of existing and future land use, conversion of stream channel cross section information into digital format, field study of storm water conveyance systems, and operation of the model.

January 1984 - February 1987

 Co-authored over 75 lake management reports while providing technical assistance to the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, in their administration of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency "Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program".  The major emphasis of these reports was on water quality impacts caused by watershed activity in the six county Chicago area.