Site Grading Design

grading siteGrading plans can be required by your approving agency (a City or the County) whenever you move a significant amount of earth.  The cut and fill amounts vary from agency to agency.   A grading plan is used to get a grading permit, and when it is obtained, the agency inspector will check the work done by the grading contractor to assure that it is done according to the grading plan.

Today in San Diego there is an increased emphasis to make sure that whenever there is grading, that it not contribute any pollution to the region’s environment.  This means that the grading plan must have a drainage plan component which clearly shows how the site will safely drain storm water without polluting the area both during the grading construction and when the project is completed.

Recent changes in State and Federal regulations require that the grading plan also have a complete Erosion Control Plan which delineates the devices and methods of pollution prevention.  The methods of pollution prevention are now called BMPs (Best Management Practices).  Failure to adequately provide these BMPs can result in significant fines and the stoppage of construction at the job site.

EARTH WIND WATER Civil Engineering has great expertise in the preparation of Grading Plans, Drainage Plans and Erosion Control Plans for any kind of residential, industrial, or commercial project.

Rapid Project Previews

For decades as we have worked with Architects, Developers and Engineers, they have asked for a "quick and dirty" idea of what their planned project would look like on this or that piece of property. After privately rolling our eyes, we would begin the process of...

Integration of “Zoom” for Virtual Meetings

It is unfortunate that it took an emergency like the Covid-19 pandemic to bring about this change, but because of it Earth Wind Water Civil Engineering is announcing that effective immediately, we have fully integrated the ZOOM remote meeting conferencing system...

Our COVID-19 Response

We are in the middle of an epidemic that is unprecedented.  Our hearts go out to all who are affected by the disease, the work stoppages, and the generally high level of stress it is causing around the country.  In response to the government's request for isolation,...

Our SLIP Design Process

We are often asked by design-teams "what's different about designing for low environmental impact projects"?  The answer is that we "SLIP" a couple of things into the normal process. SLIP refers to a "Sensitive Low Impact Project".  Low-Impact development is simply...

36 Acre Truck Parking Facility is Designed

Earth Wind Water Civil Engineering has completed the design of a large light industrial park near San Diego's Brown Field, cargo airport.  Similar to many of our previous projects in this area (called Otay Mesa) the transportation facility will meet a need created by...

Site Development Visualization

We are often asked ... Why do you offer a service to do "visualizations" of engineering projects? It's a fair question.  And the answer is not based on high-technology or anything like that.  It is because all decision-makers who approve civil engineering projects (no...

Earth Wind Water Completes Urban Infill Project

Even though we have completed almost 100 water quality projects in San Diego, it is still satisfying to reach approval on the design of another one.  Our most recent project, a 14 unit apartment "in-fill-project" located in eastern San Diego.  The project was designed...

ASFPM Issues Flooding Resilience Paper

Earth Wind Water Civil Engineering frequently performs floodplain civil engineering work.  Our founder, Dan Biggs is a Certified Floodplain Manager (a national certification) so we closely follow changes to regulations and policies of urban flooding. Recently the...

26 Acre Truck Transport Facility

Earth Wind Water Civil Engineering has been selected to design the grading and improvements for a 26-acre trucking facility in Otay Mesa, CA.  The facility known as a Truck Transport Facility is used to transfer freight trailers from Mexican trucking companies to US...

New office in Colorado Springs

Earth Wind Water Civil Engineering (EWW)  announced the opening of an office in Colorado Springs today.  The office will be in a new office building north of the downtown area.  The plans are to offer a menu of services to support local civil engineers and architect...