Environmental Business Journal Awards

Strategic undergrounding program
Won by: San Diego Gas & Electric
Award: EBJ Industry Leadership – Strategic Undergrounding Program

The team delivered industry-leading results on a Southern California utility’s Strategic Undergrounding Program, addressing escalating wildfire risks driven by drought, extreme heat and high winds. By placing the environmental team at the center of delivery alongside engineering and construction, ArchTam cut cost per mile, accelerated permitting and significantly increased the pace of undergrounding. The program managed 18 service categories, maintained strong safety and quality, and enabled 112 miles of powerline undergrounding — a 53 percent annual increase and 23 percent cost per mile reduction. Sustainability and equity were embedded throughout, achieving 38 percent Diverse Business Enterprise participation, minimizing environmental impacts, engaging nine Tribes through 37 meetings, and securing more than 500 permits and easements. This integrated model sets a new benchmark for wildfire mitigation and resilient infrastructure.

Realigning the Lower San Acacia Reach: A model for sustainable river management in the Rio Grande watershed
Won by: ArchTam
Award: EBJ Project Merit – Sustainability Model for Rio Grande Watershed

The Rio Grande watershed is critical for water users, ecosystems, and recreation, but its highly dynamic channel has shifted significantly over the past century. To address challenges in the Lower San Acacia Reach — such as channel perching, conveyance losses, and declining habitat — the Bureau of Reclamation is planning a 20‑mile river realignment south of Socorro, NM that works with natural geomorphic trends to improve water delivery, enhance ecosystem health, and reduce long‑term maintenance. ArchTam is supporting a four‑year environmental program with robust stakeholder engagement and regulatory compliance, producing key analyses including a 2024 geomorphology and alternatives report and a 2025 Draft Environmental Impact Statement. This forward‑looking effort integrates engineering, science, and collaboration to strengthen river resilience.

Closing the loop on PFAS: Advanced technology for ARFF vehicle decontamination
Won by: ArchTam, TRS Group, Inc., Denver International Airport
Award: EBJ Technology Merit Awards – PFAS Decontamination

Airports face growing PFAS contamination challenges from decades of AFFF use, intensified by the EPA’s 2024 designation of PFOA and PFOS as CERCLA hazardous substances. Denver International Airport, with ArchTam and TRS Group, implemented a groundbreaking closed-loop cleaning system to decontaminate ARFF vehicles, circulating heated water and cleaning agents through foam systems on each vehicle. After three to five cycles, PFAS levels dropped an average of 98.72 percent, enabling safe conversion to fluorine-free foam without replacing vehicles and saving millions in equipment costs. A total of 20 firefighting vehicles were cleaned, supported by SOP development, rigorous sampling, and validation of analytical results. This innovative, repeatable approach sets a national precedent for cost-effective PFAS remediation and regulatory compliance.

Leading the charge in post-wildfire environmental recovery
Won by: ArchTam and ECC for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Award: EBJ Industry Leadership – Post-Wildfire Rapid Environmental Recovery

After the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers led a six-month recovery effort that cleared more than 12,000 parcels, enabling communities to rebuild while safely managing hazards such as asbestos, lead and lithium batteries without harming wildlife or cultural resources. The team’s custom mobile and GIS-enabled apps streamlined more than 27,000 biological and archaeological monitoring forms, reducing errors and accelerating clearance through real-time digital reporting. Working long hours, crews recovered artifacts and documented historic structures, preserving cultural heritage, while the program also provided hands-on training for recent graduates through mentorship with senior experts. This effort set a national standard for innovative, coordinated and resilience-focused disaster recovery.

Klamath Dam removal project
Won by: RES
Award: EBJ Project Merit – Large-Scale River Restoration

When four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River were deemed environmentally and economically unsustainable, a diverse coalition — led by Tribes — advanced the landmark 2016 Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, creating the Klamath River Renewal Corporation to deliver the largest dam removal project in history. The final dam came down in October 2024, and by fall 2025 over 10,000 Chinook salmon had returned to the upper basin. The project restored habitat, reconnected floodplains, improved tribal subsistence resources, created public access to world‑class whitewater, and will return 2,000 acres to the Shasta Indian Nation. ArchTam facilitated federal cultural resource compliance, protected cultural sites, and supported listing part of Kikacéki on the National Register.

Climate Change Business Journal awards

Innovating energy and carbon management for the world’s largest chemical company
Won by: ArchTam and BASF
Award: CCBJ Consulting & Engineering – Sustainability Target Architecture Solution Implementation

ArchTam partnered with BASF to deliver a global energy and carbon management solution that provides transparent, asset‑management GHG estimation to support Product Carbon Footprints. Using BASF’s STArS architecture for data collection on Enablon, ArchTam created a scalable, assurance-ready approach to automize data collection for CO2 emissions that can be rapidly deployed plant by plant. Three proof-of‑concept sites validated the method, enabling expansion across 550 plants worldwide, including Ludwigshafen, Germany. The solution automates significant parts of the data collection for GHG reporting, supports sustainable product design, reduces energy use and lowers operating costs. By combining advanced technology with strategic consulting, ArchTam helped BASF to significantly increase efficiency in the processes and transform complex environmental data into actionable insights.

Building Brazil’s carbon future: A transformative national carbon certification program
Won by: ArchTam, BNDES, Bradesco Bank and Ecogreen Fund
Award: CCBJ Consulting & Engineering – Carbon Certification Program for Brazil

ECORA is a national carbon credit certification program positioned to become a reference for Brazil and the Global South, strengthening trust and transparency while enabling market-wide growth. Structured through ArchTam’s advisory program and formally launched in partnership with BNDES, Bradesco and the Ecogreen Fund at COP30, it enhances security and scalability in a sector that must grow 400 percent by 2030. Integrated with the Conservare Digital Platform, ECORA digitizes the full credit generation lifecycle — from feasibility to retirement — using geospatial analytics, predictive modeling and automated traceability. The solution reduces transaction costs, accelerates certification, and aligns methodologies and safeguards with Brazil’s diverse biomes, regulatory frameworks and socioenvironmental realities. By delivering high-integrity, locally tailored certification and expanding market access, ECORA attracts global investment and supports Brazil’s low carbon transition, demonstrating ArchTam’s leadership in scaling climate solutions.

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Sally Homoncik is passionate about the natural environment and helping communities that depend on it. Since her early career days, she has gained valuable experiences and discovered her strengths and the types of work opportunities that energize and excite her. She finds great satisfaction in seeing river systems returned to being healthier, naturally functioning and self-sustaining. Alongside this, she finds working for the benefit of local communities incredibly rewarding.

What inspired you to join the industry?

I studied geology as an undergraduate, which I found incredibly inspiring and exciting, and was very keen to work in a sector where I could do something practical for the benefit of the natural environment. I worked with British Geological Survey as part of my master’s by research degree in hydrogeology and then joined a small consultancy working on flood risk, and river and catchment restoration projects. I gained practical experience in implementing natural flood management (NFM) measures and was part of the team leading a workshop for members of the European Working Group on NFM. I found my way to river restoration when some key projects landed on my desk as a new project manager. I used my previous knowledge and experiences to inform my approach to leading these projects.

Over time, I gained more confidence and built relationships internally within ArchTam and externally with local authorities and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) teams. I enjoyed working with others to persevere through the challenges to see these projects through to construction and found immense satisfaction in the end result. I love working collaboratively and bring my enthusiasm for people and projects to my role.

What is your favorite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?

I am incredibly proud of the Levern Water restoration project in Barrhead, Scotland, which our team developed from feasibility through design stages to construction, and where we were heavily involved with site supervision and project management. I was the design project manager and technical lead for the project, working extensively with the client, SEPA and the ArchTam multidisciplinary team.

The project was located at a brownfield site, next to the town centre and a play park, which felt unsafe due to the site being overgrown and dark with no natural surveillance, with piles of garbage and broken glass. The project involved the realignment of the river, the creation of a lower and wider floodplain area, the removal of two weirs that were barriers to fish passage and extensive landscaping.

We worked through many design challenges including contaminated land, underground utilities, invasive non-native species and large volumes of waste materials. Following ground investigation and an assessment of the waste classification of material to be excavated, it was established that the design would generate an excessive volume of contaminated waste, resulting in a high financial and carbon cost. Our team responded quickly and redesigned the scheme to reduce the volume of excavated material and reuse all material within the site boundary. The constructed scheme resulted in only minimal removal of material due to elevated contamination levels, with the majority of material retained on site. This benefitted the project by significantly reducing costs and minimising the carbon cost. By using a capping layer, agreed with the local authority and Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the existing material could be reused and made safer for public health by breaking the connection to contaminated ground that had existed for many years. The result is a well-loved, open and beautiful greenspace where people can enjoy nature in a safe environment and where biodiversity has been enhanced.

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community.

The Levern Water restoration project has delivered numerous, lasting positive impacts. The park has become a safe haven for the local community with open views, safe access to the river, and new greenspace full of wildflowers, and with paths and benches. In 2024, spawning salmon were surveyed in the Levern Water within the project site for the first time in over 100 years. The floodplain is more regularly inundated and during floods in winter 2023-2024, the wider floodplain contained flows and prevented damage to the site.

Carlibar Primary School is located adjacent to the river at the project site, and they have been very involved in the project, visiting numerous times during construction to see progress and learn about the project. Once the site was opened, students began doing invertebrate surveys and have taken part in ‘Clyde in the Classroom’ — a project run by Clyde River Foundation that involves looking after a brown trout hatchery in the classroom for two months, then releasing the fry to the river.

We have had positive feedback from the local community. Here’s what a local family had to share:

“Carlibar Park has always been a really central pathway to Barrhead ever since we moved here, however I used to frequently avoid it for fear of my wee ones stepping on broken glass or worse due to the antisocial behaviour in the area. I’d find myself taking long detours to avoid a journey full of “don’t touch that” and “don’t step on that”. I’m so glad there is now a local outdoor space for my girls to play and explore safely. The new wildlife in the area is great as well – my eldest loves bird spotting and we’re excited to see if we can spot any fish once they’re released. The walk home from the library is no longer rushed but something we plan extra time into our day so we can enjoy it. It’s become Barrhead’s hidden gem.”

Share a piece of career advice.

Value every experience early in your career, even if you yourself doing tasks that you don’t enjoy, nothing is wasted. Use all your experience to find your way to the type of work or specialism that you enjoy most. Learn all you can and seek opportunities to improve your skills wherever possible. Speak up and ask about being involved in a variety of projects and seek feedback on your work and progress.

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Mark Biesta specializes in river restoration, dams and reservoirs, nature-based solutions and flood protection. He enjoys finding creative ways to balance the needs of complex multi-disciplinary projects with technical challenges, and numerous environmental and social considerations. By leading efforts to reduce the carbon impacts of his projects, he is helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. 

What inspired you to join the industry? 

As a kid, I always liked the idea of being an ‘inventor’ – inspired by reading Disney’s Willie Wortel (Gyro Gearloose in the English version) comics. However, as a teenager I thought I’d become a pilot. I remember finding a massive book in the library with a big list of occupations that led me from pilot to aeronautical engineer to civil engineer. That sounded an awful lot like the inventor I always wanted to be! It turned out to be the perfect match for me, applying my analytical skills to solving real problems and making the world a better place. Thanks, Willie!  

What is your favourite ArchTam project that you’ve worked on and why?  

In 2015, we were selected to design a series of fish passes on the River Almond in central Scotland. Over the nine years that followed, we worked with West Lothian Council and the City of Edinburgh Council to build six fish passes. Each one had its challenges. For example, making sure the fish would find the fish pass entrance required combining my hydraulic engineering expertise with our aquatic ecologists’ understanding of fish behaviour to maximise fish attraction. Given their industrial history of the site, many of the weirs were also covered by heritage designations. Through sensitive design and understanding of the heritage value, we were able to improve fish passage whilst maintaining important pieces of the River Almond history. Overcoming the challenges was what made the project satisfying to work on, and it is even more rewarding to witness the fish passes delivering fantastic benefits to fish habitats and the surrounding natural environment. 

I’m currently the technical lead for the seventh and final fish pass on the river, at Dowies Mill Weir in Edinburgh. This promises to be one of the biggest rock ramp fish passes in the UK and we are using it as a case study to see how far we can push decarbonisation on a project like this. I’ve learnt so much from these projects and have loved working with a great team of engineers, water scientists, ecologists, landscape architects, structural engineers and geotechnical engineers. 

I also hope that some members of the public that see these structures will be inspired to become engineers of the future! 

Tell us a story of how your work positively impacted the community. 

One of the first projects I started working on when I joined ArchTam in 2013 was the Upper Garnock Flood Protection Scheme in Ayrshire, Scotland. Several towns along the River Garnock and its tributaries had experienced flooding over the years and the ongoing threat was holding back investment in the area. 

Climate change was expected to add to future flood risk, and the deterioration of existing old flood walls would have exacerbated this further. We worked with our client, North Ayrshire Council, to carry out a detailed options assessment and consulted with local communities to build a business case for a flood protection project. 

North Ayrshire Council was successful in obtaining funding for the project and after many years of hard work, a new flood storage dam, flood walls and flood embankments have now been built. The project will protect the communities from future flooding, reduce the social impacts of flooding and support regeneration of the towns. It was great to see all the analysis, optioneering, design and reporting turn into something tangible that makes a real difference to people’s lives. 

Share a piece of career advice. 

Make your own luck. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunities I have, but when I look back, I can point to key decisions that helped make these things happen. I’ve always been interested in tackling the climate crisis, and on flood protection projects, I took the initiative to study the implications of climate change and developed a process and tool to allow future climate change to be a key decision-making factor.  

In 2014, I came across an opportunity to get involved with climate change volunteering. This led me to become one of the founding members of 2050 Climate Group and sit on its board of trustees. I spent six brilliant years delivering climate change and leadership training for young professionals. The experience I gained filtered back into my work, and I proactively found opportunities to address climate change issues on the projects I worked on. Recently, my experience and enthusiasm were recognised as I was asked to join the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) steering group for our UK & Ireland Water business. Through this leadership position, I am now working to empower ArchTam’s teams to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. 

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