Harmony Design & Engineering
  • Home
  • Services
    • Civil Engineering
    • Land Surveying
    • Water Resources
    • Landscape Architecture
    • Planning and Community Outreach
  • Project Gallery
    • Civil Engineering Projects
    • Water Resource Projects
    • Landscape Architecture Projects
    • Planning and Outreach Projects
  • About Us
    • Blog
    • Press and News
    • Community Involvement
  • Contact
    • Helpful Links

Harmony Design & Engineering is the lead firm on the Portneuf River Levee Setback and Ecosystem Enhancement Project in Pocatello, Idaho

3/28/2019

0 Comments

 
PictureMaggie Clark, City of Pocatello’s Public Works Project Manager, looks over one of the informational signs that are along the Portneuf Greenway. Her department is looking at extending the levee that contains the Portneuf River and extending it over the Rainey Field softball diamond (in the background) and turn it into a wetland. Photo by Doug Lindley/Idaho State Journal







By John O'Connell joconnell@journalnet.com  
March 27, 2019​

City progressing on vision of recreation, restored wetland in Portneuf
POCATELLO, IDAHO — At the moment, Rainey Park is just a small fast-pitch softball field.

City officials are poised, however, to take the first step toward transforming it into a wetland ecosystem, where the Portneuf River's natural flooding will sustain native vegetation and associated wildlife.

It's among the initial projects the city has in the planning stages to implement the goals of the community's Portneuf River Vision Study, developed in 2016 based on an extensive public outreach process.

The City Council is scheduled to vote April 4 on a $115,000 contract with Driggs-based Harmony Design & Engineering to commence the first phase of designing the wetland.

The city's concept includes a channel bisecting the marsh, nature trails and an outdoor amphitheater, where local students will meet to study the aquatic habitat.

City officials are also moving forward on plans to develop short, placid reaches of the river for recreation. Hannah Sanger, the city's Science and Environment Division manager, has applied for a $16,000 grant through Idaho Parks and Recreation to build a small parking area for river users and accessible locations for people with small watercraft to start and end float trips.

Sanger said the city is in the process of developing an implementation plan spelling out how it intends to realize the goals of its vision study. She said the study identified that the community should focus on improving water quality and river access, establishing river recreation, engaging community members with the river and enhancing the local quality of life.

"The river could be a real center for economic revitalization," Sanger said. "It's a broad community effort. There are lots groups working on it."

She believes the wetland would further all of those goals. The aquatic vegetation would capture sediment and naturally filter the river water. The marsh would provide residents with easy access to the river, where, banks are now lined with jagged rip-rap. Furthermore, residents would frequent the marsh to enjoy nature.

Maggie Clark, the city's public works project manager, said construction of the wetland is likely still at least five years out, and more fundraising will be needed to build it. She said Valley Pride contributed $26,000 toward the engineering.

Clark explained the earthen levee would likely be pulled back roughly 200 feet into the park to allow river water to enter without flooding into surrounding areas. The Portneuf Greenway trail would also be rerouted onto the newly built portion of the levee.
​
Clark said the forthcoming engineering plan will build on a conceptual plan created by Utah State University students studying landscape architecture.

"We're planning on attracting various wildlife — several species of birds and different aquatic vegetation," Clark said. "There are a lot of sedges, grasses, rushes, dogwoods, small willows — a lot of different things we've been thinking about, but nothing has been planned yet."

Clark explained some areas of the wetland will be inundated for longer periods of the year than others, thereby supporting a broader diversity of riparian plants.

Michael Mendive, dean of the Pocatello Community Charter School, which is adjacent to the planned wetland, has been an ardent supporter of the project and anticipates his students will use it for science and biology lessons.

His fifth- and sixth-graders study water quality and take water samples from the Portneuf River. The project would provide them better access for sampling. The classes also study macroinvertebrates and the health of river ecosystems. His first- and second-graders nurture an area along the river to support monarch butterfly habitat, and Mendive imagines that area could be relocated into the wetland.

"This wetland, the way it's designed would be ideal for us," said Mendive, who served on the committee that oversaw the Portneuf River Vision plan. "We would gladly lend our kids to help develop that and maintain that."

Sanger said the city has already installed signs along the river offering information about water quality, and she's proposing three initial Portneuf River reaches for floating.

The shortest float would be a half mile, starting at Taysom Rotary Park and ending with put-outs in Centennial Park along the west bank and Rainey Park on the east bank. 

A 2-mile float would span from Edson Fichter Nature Area to Taysom Rotary Park. A 5-mile float is planned to begin off of Portneuf Road about a half mile south of Fort Hall Mine Road, where a small parking area is also planned on Bureau of Land Management property. The float would end at the Edson Fichter Nature Area.

Sanger plans to host a "test float" during August, when she'll invite the community to float the proposed recreational river reaches. She plans to book food trucks and bring in flotation devices to give the event a festive atmosphere.

​She said the test float should give the city "a sense of how the community members want to use this space" and will inform the city's designs. Sanger said she's had strong interest from community members in serving on a committee to plan the test float. Anyone interested in aiding the committee may contact her at hsanger@pocatello.us.

View the original article in the Idaho State Journal: ​https://bit.ly/2G1WlwI 
0 Comments

2017 Grow Smart Award for West Little Avenue Complete Street in Driggs, Idaho

3/5/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
​​Driggs Mayor Hyrum Johnson (second from right) traveled to Boise, Idaho in November 2017 to receive the Grow Smart Award for the West Little Avenue Complete Street, which was designed and engineered by Harmony. 
Check it out for yourself when you're in downtown Driggs! It's the first two blocks as you head toward the Big Hole Mountains from the stoplight in the center of town. Or, see the photo below.
The November 2, 2017 Teton Valley News article summarized the features of the project as one that had, "community involvement that informed a wide range of design decisions including sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping, pedestrian amenities, parking, public art, civic space, signage, and green stormwater treatment." 
Idaho Smart Growth said, "it packs a lot of transportation, economic, environmental and aesthetic improvements into its two-block length."

Picture
0 Comments

Blaine County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan gets another vote of confidence

1/8/2015

0 Comments

 
                  http://www.kmvt.com/news/latest/Another-Vote-Of-Confidence-In-Blaine-County-Bike-And-Pedestrian-Master-Plan-287735741.html
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Sun Valley, Idaho ( KMVT-TV / KSVT-TV ) -  One of the last votes of confidence needed to move forward with the community plan, the Sun Valley City Council voted in favor of the Blaine County Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan.

The Master Plan is intended to provide a tool to help organizations in Blaine County work together to create an interconnected transportation and recreation system.

“The resolution that the council just voted on and passed today incorporates Sun Valley and includes us with a county wide transportation plan, primarily for bicycles. It enhances our already extensive bicycle paths throughout Sun Valley and the community and affords another mode of transportation to our citizens, to alleviate the loads on the highways and our bus service,” said Dewayne Briscoe, Sun Valley Mayor.

By adopting the resolution, there is no financial obligation on behalf of the City of Sun Valley at this time. They are just showing their support and each project will be voted on a case by case basis.

“Tonight was one of the last resolutions of support in all of the different governments that have been involved. So, we’ve had approval from the City of Ketchum, City of Hailey, Blaine County, and we are now wrapping up with the City of Sun Valley. So it was great to have their support and complete that process. And now we move forward to figure out how to get work done that’s identified in the plan,” said Jason Miller, Executive Director at Mountain Rides.

The Master Plan represents an ongoing community vision. It will be reviewed, revised, and updated annually.

This plan was completed by Harmony Design & Engineering in May of 2014.



0 Comments

McCall Downtown Master Plan wins multiple Awards

10/14/2014

0 Comments

 
The McCall Downtown Master Plan was awarded the Idaho Chapter of the American Planning Association the 2014 Outstanding Planning Award at their annual conference on October 8, 2104. This award recognizes outstanding planning projects in the state of Idaho, and McCall’s Downtown Master Plan uses an innovative and creative approach to developing McCall’s downtown core.  As the lead planner and consultant, Harmony Design & Engineering  worked closely with City staff and coordinated the planning team, which included Logan Simpson Design and RPI Consulting, both out of Colorado. 

Check out the Idaho APA video on the Downtown Master Plan!
0 Comments

Pathway Plan awarded I-Way Leadership Award

3/20/2013

0 Comments

 
The McCall Pathways Master Plan was just awarded the 2013 I-Way Leadership Award!  This plan was completed by Harmony Design & Engineering with assistance from the City of McCall and the McCall Pathways Steering Committee.  The I-way Leadership Award recognizes leadership and innovation for effective coordination of mobility options in Idaho.
0 Comments

Teton County Finds Harmony

8/31/2011

0 Comments

 
We are looking forward to working with Teton County to help create the Teton County Comprehensive Plan.  Our consultant team, which is known as Team 2020, includes Jorgensen Associates and Intermountain Aquatics from Driggs, Idaho as well as AECOM from Fort Collins, Colorado.  More information on the Comprehensive Plan process can be found at www.tetonvalley2020.org.  Click here for the full text of the article "County Finds Harmony" in the April 6, 2011 Valley Citizen.
Picture
0 Comments

Harmony featured in Cornerstones

4/29/2011

0 Comments

 
Harmony Design & Engineering was just featured in the November 2010 issue of the Idaho Housing and Finance Associations publication, "Cornerstones".  This issue focused on taking a closer look at sustainable communities and included Harmony as an industry innovator.  To read the full issue, click here.
Picture
0 Comments

Harmony Featured in Teton Home and Living

2/1/2011

0 Comments

 
Harmony Design & Engineering and our principals, Jennifer Zung and Randy Blough, were recently featured in the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of Teton Home & Living magazine. This magazine was distributed throughout Teton Valley, Idaho and Teton County, Wyoming.  Click here to read the full article.



Picture
0 Comments

Uncommon Sense Graduation

5/12/2010

0 Comments

 
Harmony Design & Engineering is currently preparing for our graduation from the Uncommon Sense program which is scheduled for April 23, 2010.  Uncommon Sense is a two-year leadership program that helps businesses become more sustainable in all aspects of their operations. Facilitated by the Yellowstone Business Partnership, the program encourages its participants to incorporate environmentally-sound and community-friendly practices that make long-term business sense for a variety of enterprises within the Greater Yellowstone area.  With the help of this program, Harmony has been able to reduce our waste stream, increase energy efficiency, and save money.  We’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of the volunteers on the leadership team and our “Growler” classmates.   

0 Comments

Idaho Business Woman of the Year

2/2/2009

0 Comments

 
Harmony's Jennifer Zung was awarded the 2009 Business Woman of the Year Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners. She was among three finalists in the state and was nominated by employees at Harmony.
Picture
0 Comments
Picture
Copyright © 2009 Harmony Design, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
18 N. Main, Suite 305 | PO Box 369 | Driggs, ID 83422
208.354.1331 (tel)   



Home      Services       Projects       About        Contact