News Room / Archived News

Stephen Caruana to Present at 2008 StormCon

Wednesday, 16 July 2008 00:00

Environmental Permitting and Planning Leader for the Northwest region, Stephen Caruana, will present the paper co-authored with David Johnson, P.G., Manager of the Diamond Bar Environmental and Water Resources Groups titled, “Post-Fire Erosion Control, Flood Mitigation, and Burn Area Recovery, Griffith Park, City of Los Angeles,” at the 2008 International StormCon Conference and Exposition to be held August 3rd through 7th in Orlando, Florida.

The 2007 Griffith Park fire in the City of Los Angeles burned 840 acres of the park in a fast-moving firestorm that consumed dry chaparral on steep, rugged terrain. After completing assessments of geologic hazards, burn area severity, plant communities, and soil types; Kleinfelder provided the City of Los Angeles with modeling of the erosion rates and debris flows expected. The RUSLE model was used to characterize the areas of Griffith Park subject to surface erosion. A comprehensive erosion control and management program was developed for the City of Los Angeles for the long-term ecological restoration of Griffith Park. The restoration plan addressed the local communities’ concerns for public safety, restoration of native and threatened plant communities, park beautification, and improved animal habitat. Incorporation of field data into a GIS database facilitated project coordination and development of recovery planning and implementation of post-fire erosion and flood control measures. Click hero download pa

Caruana is experienced in providing services to both private and public sector clients. He has a broad background working in a wide variety of ecological settings including midwestern agriculture, Columbia Basin dryland range and steppe communities and Western streams and mountains. Caruana has particular expertise in the establishment of permanent vegetation, especially in harsh or low rainfall environments. Additionally, he has worked with regulations and permitting requirements for NEPA, US Army Corps of Engineer’s 401 permits, wetland delineations and federal cost share programs.

About Kleinfelder
Kleinfelder is an employee-owned science and engineering consulting firm providing solutions to meet our world’s complex infrastructure and natural resource challenges. A nationwide firm with more than 2,000 employee owners, Kleinfelder provides planning, engineering, scientific, technical and management solutions. With nearly 50 years of experience, Kleinfelder’s reputation of providing innovative, commonsense solutions to the most complex challenges has solidified its status as a trusted partner to its clients and a leader in the industry. Working as a team, our bright people will deliver the right solutions. Visit www.kleinfelder.com.