December - Sacramento Section

The Engineerogram
Capital Branch
December 2010
Central Valley Branch
Feather River Branch
The Engineerogram
December 2010
President's Message
by Oscar Serrano, P.E., President
I
t has been another busy month at
the Section. I spent some time travelling in Mexico this past month and it
was interesting to observe the infrastructure. One definitely needs to be
awake when driving on the roads to
avoid the potholes. Freeways for the
most part are in decent condition if
you can afford to pay the high priced
tolls. Water, well we all know the stories. Don’t drink the tap water. Air quality, especially in the larger cities, is horrible. But boy
are their beaches beautiful, A+! As you travel during the holiday
season take a look at the infrastructure. Wherever you go you will
probably see the signs of our Nation’s aging infrastructure. It is our
responsibility as engineers to uphold our profession and better our
environment. We also need to continue to inform our leaders about
the lack of funding for infrastructure projects.
In the monthly President’s Message column, I will try to touch
IN THIS ISSUE
Advertising Rates
ASCE President-elect Nominee Greg DiLoreto
ASCE Region 9 Update
ASCE Sacramento Section 2010 Outstanding Engineering Project Award Entry Criteria
ASCE Sacramento Section 2010 Outstanding
Engineering Project Award Entry Form
Calendar
Capital Branch
Central Valley Branch
Engineers Day at the Mall
Feather River Branch
History and Heritage
Honors and Awards
Is Your Membership Information Current?
Law and Civil Engineering
Officer Contacts
Outstanding Projects and Leaders
President’s Message
Shasta Branch
YMF
YMF Ski Trip
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Shasta Branch
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on each of the four objectives I have set for the Section this year.
Maintain a Strong Workforce: One of the many pleasures I’ve
found in my career as a Civil Engineer is when I drive by a project
I’ve designed or worked on and said to someone “I worked on that.”
What would be even better would be to say to someone that it was
an award winning project!
A great way to recognize your team is to apply for the 2010 ASCE
Outstanding Engineering Project Award. There are many categories
to choose from; just take a look at the website:
http://www.asce-sacto.org/Sacramento_Section/Documents/Project_Awards.htm.
The January 7th deadline to apply is fast approaching. I encourage
you all to apply for project awards as this is a great opportunity to
recognize your project team and their work.
Increase Member Involvement: Did you know that there are
four branches within the Sacramento Section. They are the Central
Valley, Capital, Feather River and the Shasta Branches. Check out
an upcoming Branch meeting near you. The Central Valley Branch
holds their meetings in the Stockton/Modesto area. The Capital
Branch holds their meetings in Sacramento at their new location
at the Radisson. The Feather River Branch holds their meetings in
the Chico/Marysville area.
The Shasta Branch is currently looking for someone to reinvigorate life into the group and kick start the branch. If you know of
someone or a group of individuals that would be good candidates
or interested in leading the effort please let us know.
Increase ASCE Legislative Presence:
Elections have come and gone. The voters approved several
propositions and rejected several others including Prop 23 that
would have suspended air pollution control laws. There was no
water bond to vote on this year. For that, voters will have to wait
until 2012. Time will tell if the new regime will have an impact
on California’s infrastructure.
Increase Interaction with Students and Younger Members:
The YMF holiday dinner is fast approaching. This is a great
event and a great opportunity for young engineers within the Section to network.
Funding letters for universities are rolling in. If you too are in
a giving mood this season and would like to donate to one of the
ASCE student chapters in our section please let us know and we
can put you in contact with the student chapter presidents.
Happy holidays and I am looking forward to seeing you all in
the New Year.
Please let us know what you think:
[email protected]
Thank you,
Oscar
The Engineerogram
December 2010
The Engineerogram, P.O. Box 1492, Lincoln, CA 95648-1441
(916) 961-2723 (phone and fax) • e-mail: [email protected] • Web site: www.asce-sacto.org
The Engineerogram is the official publication of the Sacramento Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers and made available to ASCE
members paying local dues to the Section. It is published regularly at the beginning of the month. To contribute articles, mail, fax, or e-mail
to ASCE/Sacramento Section Executive Secretary, Vivian Mevorah, at [email protected]. Deadline for articles is on the 20th of the
month prior to the issue.
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President
President-Elect
Senior Director
Junior Director
Secretary
Treasurer
Past President 2009-2010
Executive Director
YMF Board Representative
Younger Members Forum President
Region 9 Chair Region 9 Sacramento Section Governor
Executive Secretary
Engineerogram Editor
Capital Branch President
Central Valley Branch President
Feather River Branch President
Shasta Branch President
OFFICER CONTACTS
Oscar Serrano, P.E.
Jon Balzer, P.E.
Greg Young, P.E.
Kimberly Brown, P.E.
Mark Quito
Joshua Wagner
Larry J. Smith, P.E., F.ASCE
Greg Zeiss
Kevin Gilton, P.E.
Kristy Chapman
Chuck Spinks, P.E.
Fareed Pittalwala, P.E.
Vivian Mevorah
Vivian Mevorah
Thor Larsen, PE
Anthony Mazzei
Amie McAllister, P.E.
Present status is Inactive
530-458-8231
916-855-4400
916-368-9181
916-476-6790
916-567-2500
530-227-7937
916-261-1545 -
916-858-2419
916-375-8706
916-797-3811
916-928-1113
916-961-2723
916-961-2723
916-973-0356
-
530-879-6911
-
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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[email protected]
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[email protected]
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Coasts, Oceans Ports & Rivers Institute
Construction Institute
Environmental & Water Resources Institute
Geo-Institute
Structural Engineering Institute
Transportation & Development Institute
INSTITUTES
Zia Zafir, P.E.
Larry J. Smith, P.E., F.ASCE
Pal Hegedus, P.E., D.WRE
Matt Moyneur, P.E.
Joyce Copelan, P.E., MS
Nader Tamannaie
916-366-1701
916-261-1545
916-928-5177
916-372-1434
530-908-8372
916-448-1980
[email protected]
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College Accreditation
Disaster Preparedness
Education & Awards
Government Relations
History & Heritage
Membership-Life Members
Scholarship
Sustainability
Publications
STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Joan Al-Kazily, Ph.D, P.E., M.ASCE
530-756-9530
Howard Zabel, P.E.
530-622-7493
Thor Larsen, P.E.
916-973-0356
Craig Copelan, P.E.
530-908-4790
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-
Ray Zelinski, P.E.
-
Eric Polson, P.E.
916-801-6290
Robert Roscoe, P.E.
916-679-3994
Martin A. Farber, P.E., D.WRE
707-253-9606
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
California State University, Chico
California State University, Sacramento
Univeristy of the Pacific
Univeristy of California, Davis
UNIVERSITIES
Samantha Moose, President
Jesse Ogren, President
Caroline Grant, President
Karan Singh and Neil Hannan
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
530-898-4436
-
-
Co-Presidents
For more ASCE activities if you wish to be active in a committee, career opportunities, complete text for the legislative activities, go to the Sacramento Section web site at www.asce-sacto.org, or contact a current officer. To MAKE CHANGES OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP, go to website:
www.asce.org. For MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS, please e-mail to [email protected].
The Engineerogram
December 2010
MASTER CALENDAR
Date(s) (Times)
Event
Location
Information
2010
December
Capital Branch Meeting, Page 3
Radisson Hotel - Crocodiles
Lounge, 500 Leisure Lane,
Sacramento, CA
Thor Larsen, 916-973-0356
[email protected]
Central Valley Branch Meeting, Page 3
Marie Calendar's, 2628 W. March
Lane, Stockton
Anthony Mazzei, [email protected]
Feather River Branch Meeting, Page 3
El Zarape Restaurant
(530-755-2888), 1005 Stafford Way,
Yuba City, CA
Amie McAllister – 530.228.6003;
[email protected]
Wednesday, 8th
6:30 pm
Sacramento Valley Professional Chapter
of Engineers Without Borders Meeting
RBF Consulting, 4540 Duckhorn
Drive, Suite 202, Sacramento
Mark Quito, 916-567-2500, [email protected]
9th - 10th
Pipe Selection for Municipal Facilities
Doubletree Hotel, 2001 Point West
Way, Sacramento, CA
1-800-548-2723
www.asce.org/conted/seminars
Monday, 20th
6:00 pm
Sacramento Section Board Meeting
Quincy Engineering, 3247 Ramos
Circle, Sacramento
Greg Young, 916-368-9181
2011 January
Thursday, 6th
6:00 pm
YMF Résumé Workshop
UC Davis, Room TBD
Saturday, 22nd
6:15 am
YMF Ski Trip
Sugar Bowl (pick up in Sacramento)
Location TBD
Tuesday, 15th
Sacramento Chapter of EWRI Hosting the
Second Annual Symposium
Hyatt Regency, Downtown
Sacramento, CA
Saturday, 26th
Engineers Day at the Mall
Sunrise Mall
www.sacymf.org
www.sacymf.org
February
Joyce Copelan at 530-908-8372 cell, or
[email protected]
Conferences
Section Officer Meetings
Seminars
YMF Events
Section Meetings
Region 9 Events
Outreach Events
Student Events
Branch Meetings
  Branch Meeting
  Meeting
If you have suggestions or recommendations for a
meeting topic or location, please contact Amie McAllister at [email protected] or Shane Cummings at
[email protected]. We are looking to increase our
membership participation in our monthly meetings and
regular community outreach activities, so please drop us
some suggestions.
For more information about the Capital Branch meetings,
please contact Thor Larsen at [email protected], 916973-0356.
Is Your Membership Information Current?
by Fareed Pittalwala, Past-President
Please ensure that your membership information is up to date
with ASCE’s national database, as our local system is dependent
on your information being current. It’s a quick and easy fix
that you can accomplish in less than five minutes by going to:
http://tinyurl.com/yhl6pvd.
   Meeting
For more information about the Central Valley Branch meetings,
please contact Anthony Mazzei at [email protected].
Shasta 
The Sacramento Section is currently looking for volunteers
who would like to take a leadership position within ASCE and
re-invigorate the Shasta Branch. For more information, contact
Section President Oscar Serrano at [email protected] or
Region 9 Governor Fareed Pittalwala at [email protected].
The Engineerogram
December 2010
The Law and Civil Engineering
by Eugene L. Bass, Esq.
You May be Able to Record Successive Mechanic’s Liens
The law requires that a lawsuit to foreclose a mechanic’s lien
must be filed within 90 days of the date that the lien is recorded.
If no lawsuit is filed, the lien becomes void and unenforceable. The presence of the old lien, however, typically causes
problems with the title of the property and must be removed if
the problems are to be avoided. There are court procedures by
which old liens can be removed but these can involve time and
expense. The most efficient means to deal with the situation
is to release the old lien and to record a new lien if it is still
possible. It is critical, however, that the new lien be recorded
before the expiration of the original lien recording period.
The determination of the expiration of the lien recording
period can be complicated and depends on a number of factors. The completion of the project and whether or not a notice
of completion was recorded affects the lien recording period.
Another scenario occurs where the project was never completed
but construction ceased. A notice of cessation may or may not
have been recorded. Still another consideration is your status
in relation to the project. Your lien recording time will depend
on whether you were an original contractor, subcontractor, or
material supplier.
A California case addressed the issue of recording of successive liens. In the case, a lien claimant had recorded a mechanic’s
lien but did not file a lawsuit to foreclose the lien within the
required 90 day period following the recording of the lien.
After a dispute arose over the presence of the old lien, the lien
claimant recorded a release of lien that stated, in substance, that
the old lien was released and discharged. There was nothing
in the recorded release that stated that the obligation on which
the lien had been based was ever satisfied.
The party opposing the lien claimant argued that the recording of the release of the old lien acted to release all lien rights
that the claimant had in the property and that the lien claimant could not later record another lien. The appellate court
disagreed with that contention.
The court held that the claimants lien rights could only be
released where the release stated that the claim had been fully
satisfied. The lien rights could be lost, however, where the
claimant’s right to a lien, upon which the claim of lien was
based, was extinguished.
Whenever an old lien is released so that a new lien can
be recorded, special care should be taken to assure that the
wording of the lien release does not cause the loss of any still
effective lien rights.
The author’s discussion of legal ramifications of the particular case(s) are provided only for educational purposes and
should not be relied on as legal advice. If you have a specific
legal problem, please consult with your attorney.
Honors and Awards
by Martin A. Farber, PE, D.WRE
The Employer Recognition Award, and the Superior Employer
Recognition Award, are presented ever year by ASCE’s national
Committee on Younger Members (CYM), to honor employers
that offer exemplary support to their younger engineers’ growth
and professional development through their involvement and
participation in ASCE activities. This month, ASCE News announced the award-winners for the year 2010.
In all, the Committee chose to present 27 employers with the
Employer Recognition Award. I’m pleased to report that two of
these 27 award-winning firms are from our local area: David
Ford Consulting Engineers, Inc., of Sacramento, and Mark
Thomas and Company, Inc., also of Sacramento.
The Superior Employer Recognition Award is awarded to only
two recipients each year, one in the public sector, and one in the
private sector. I’m pleased to report that one of the two winners
of this award, the outstanding employer in the private sector, is
the Folsom, CA office of HDR, Inc. ASCE News reports that
“All young engineers in the Folsom HDR office are members
of ASCE. The company has supported continuing education
and professional development with its tuition reimbursement
program, webinar sponsorship, and encouragement of off-site
training courses. The company also pays for dues and meetings
and encourages employees to host ASCE events in its office.”
HDR engineers also serve in key volunteer positions in the
Sacramento Section, including Executive Director Greg Zeiss,
Junior Director Kimberly Brown, and Capital Branch Secretary
Mario Carreon.
“Training, mentoring, and supporting the academic growth of
our staff members is one of our top priorities,” Dr. David Ford,
president of David Ford Consulting Engineers, Inc., said. Senior
engineers at the firm lead small teams of junior engineers to
facilitate a collaborative learning environment. Senior engineers
mentor junior engineers not only in technical skills, but also in
ethics, client relationships, and project management. The firm
encourages its staff members to have an enterprising spirit—to
develop ideas, always learn something new, and engage with
the engineering community. This includes involvement with
ASCE. To support its employees’ participation in the Younger
Member Forum, David Ford Consulting Engineers pays membership dues, hosts events, and gives educational presentations
at YMF’s request.
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The Engineerogram
December 2010
Outstanding Projects and Leaders
by Dan Nover, President, UC Davis Chapter,
Engineers Without Borders
This month’s outstanding project:
Sustainable Infrastructure, Nkokonjeru, Uganda
Students from St. Paul’s primary school gather in front of the rainwater
harvesting tank constructed by RASD after implementation of interlocking
soil stabilized brick (ISSB) technology by EWB Davis. Before construction
of the tank, water was brought by students from spring boxes several
kilometers away.
The summer 2010 group of travelers from EWB Davis with Sam Mwebe and
Jacky Dumba from Rural Agency for Sustainable Development (RASD).
Behind the group is the community of Nkokonjeru’s aging municipal water
supply reservoirs. Not shown is Aaron Luna, who appears in the pump
repair photo.
It’s been a year since Engineers Without Borders at the University
of California Davis (EWB-Davis) last contributed to The Engineerogram and what a busy year it has been! In addition to continuing
our work in rural Uganda, we are excited to open a new program in
Bolivia. Our first assessment trip to Bolivia took place in the second
week of October 2010 and our efforts to address water supply issues
there will be the subject of a future Engineerogram entry. This year,
our group once again made the trek from Davis to Uganda for the
better part of June 2010, with a traveling group of seven, including
EWB Davis worked to repair bore hole well pumps in Nkokonjeru during
the 2010 trip. This one is located at Providence House, an orphanage in
Nkokonjeru run by the Catholic church. Here you can see some of the
children who live in the orphanage and the director, Sister Juliet, after
well repair was completed.
A recent recipient of a new biosand water filter poses during a survey
conducted by EWB Davis to investigate project success, operation and
maintenance issues.
Continued on Page 6
December 2010
Outstanding Projects and Leaders - Continued from Page 5
A recently constructed unreinforced dome slab latrine is now covered with
a hut and ready for use.
our faculty advisor, Bill Fleenor, in addition to six students from
various disciplines; Amelia Holmes, Geetika Joshi, Will Labarge,
Aaron Luna, Dan Nover, and Alexander Scott.
EWB-Davis has been working on multiple projects in Nkokonjeru, Uganda since 2006. Nkokonjeru is the
home of the Rural Agency for Sustainable Development,
(RASD - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rural_Agency_for_Sustainable_Development), a community based NGO that is committed to
finding sustainable solutions to problems as diverse as water quality,
education, and vocational training. RASD was founded in 2000 by
a group of concerned citizens of the Buikwe, Mukono and Kayunga
districts who sought to alleviate poverty by improving the health and
economic opportunities of their communities.
Since conducting an assessment and three implementation trips,
EWB-Davis has introduced numerous technologies to the community including unreinforced dome slab latrine covers, several
point-of-use drinking water treatment solutions, various designs
for rain-water harvesting, fuel-efficient stoves, and educational
seminars. Our efforts have always been and remain committed to
The Engineerogram
identifying appropriate technologies that are affordable, made from
locally available materials with local skills, profitable to RASD and
therefore ultimately sustainable by the community. To that end, we
spend a great deal of our time training trainers who we encourage
to continue project implementation well into the future.
Upon arrival in Nkokonjeru this June, it was immediately clear
that almost none of the borehole wells used for water supply in the
community were working. Although we had a carefully planned
schedule for our trip, we quickly made arrangements to spend a great
deal of time repairing the India Mark II and Mark III pumps that are
common in Uganda and many parts of Africa. With guidance from
our mentor, we found time to repair 10 of 12 pumps during the trip
and have learned that the remaining 2 have been repaired since our
departure, along with a newly-discovered 13th pump. The town
council of Nkokonjeru provided a plumber who we trained during
the pump repair process and who is now the proud manager of a
complete set of pump repair tools. We have also made progress in
developing community based pump committees for each location,
in which local representatives are responsible for the maintenance
and repair of the pump in their area.
We were eager to follow up on the many projects that were implemented in the past, and we spent a great deal of time surveying users
of dome slab latrines, biosand filters and efficient stoves. Overall,
public reception to these projects has been enormously positive and
our projects continue to see enthusiastic support.
Now that we are back in Davis, we are once again busy recruiting
new students, planning next year’s trips, and, of course, fundraising.
If you would like to help EWB-Davis in their efforts, please email
[email protected].
For more information on the student chapter of EWB at UC Davis
or this project, please visit www.ewbdavis.net. For information on
the Sacramento Valley Professional Chapter of EWB, please visit
www.ewb-sac.org. For information on Engineers Without Borders
nationwide, please visit www.ewb-usa.org. For information, or to
get involved in volunteer activities in our Community, please contact
ASCE at (916) 961-2723, or write to [email protected].
ASCE Region 9 Update
by Fareed S. Pittalwala, P.E., M. ASCE, Governor
Mentor and fearless leader Bill Fleenor shows that there’s more to
community development than engineering. EWB Davis played a full
game against an Nkokonjeru based team. The event was announced
on the community loudspeakers so the entire town turned out. The
final score was 4 to 4 and the Nkokonjeru team won during the
tie-breaker penalty kicks.
It is my pleasure and honor to
be writing this article to you as the
newly elected Governor for Region
9, representing the greater Sacramento
Region, and the State of California. I
look forward to serving on the Board
of Governors for the next three years,
and helping enhance our professional
standing while serving the needs of
our membership.
The new ASCE year has started with
a lot of action for me, both at the local and national level. I recently
visited ASCE’s headquarters in Reston, Virginia, where I was introduced to the operations of the ASCE Society and the amazing ASCE
staff that makes our organization the well-oiled machine that it is.
Gaining this insight into the operations of ASCE enables me to serve
our local membership better by providing a conduit to the plethora of
services that ASCE offers. There are too many to list in this article, but
Continued on Page 7
The Engineerogram
ASCE Region 9 Update - Continued from Page 6
I encourage you to contact me at any time if you have any questions
regarding how ASCE can help you in any of several areas, including
career development, continuing education, student outreach, codes and
standards, certification and licensure, and political advocacy.
While visiting the Reston office, I also took advantage of an opportunity to visit ASCE’s government relations headquarters in Washington
D.C. This office, located right across the street from the United States
Capitol building, is staffed by our diligent and motivated government
relations crew. They have been instrumental in setting the standard
for motivating the thousands of ASCE members across the country
into involvement in public policy. I have for several years now been
writing about the virtue of civil engineers having a greater voice in
public policy, and have been proud to stand by my colleagues as we
continue to have a greater and greater impact on legislation regarding
infrastructure.
There is no doubt that recent involvement from ASCE membership
and staff has made an impact on decision making at local, state and
national levels. From the release of the Infrastructure Report Card, the
ever-expanding Key Contact Program, and various other grass-roots
efforts, ASCE’s voice is being heard at the highest levels. Recent
initiatives at local and national levels have pushed for increased infrastructure spending, and it has also been a hot topic among many
political campaigns across the country. Candidates have included
plans for reviving public infrastructure in their campaigns, including
funding key projects, while others call for the formation of a National
Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank or leveraging private investments
to help fund public improvements. I urge you, as practicing professionals, to stay informed about these proposals and to join ASCE’s
efforts to educate our elected officials on the need to upgrade our aging
infrastructure. During my term as Governor and as a member of our
newly formed Government Relations Committee, I will be looking to
enhance and expand our efforts in legislative action. Our political leaders are anxiously looking for good technical information and advice,
and this is the time for the civil engineering community to bring our
expertise to the forefront.
This has been quite a year for civil engineers in our nation and
our state, and we have seen our profession thrust to the forefront of
politics and public interest. I’ve seen my colleagues step up to the
challenge time and time again, putting forth our collective expertise,
shifting public policy and gaining the trust of our fellow citizens as
professionals and experts. I am proud to be among you and look forward to our collective continued success in these efforts. As always,
I encourage you to participate in our legislative actions here in our
state’s capitol. With that, I wish you all happy holidays and look
forward to a great 2011.
History and Heritage
Story by John D. Galloway, Hon. M. ASCE,
Consulting Engineer, Berkeley, CA,
reprinted from Civil Engineering, October and November, 1941
On September 9, 2010, officers, members, and guests of the
Sacramento Section of ASCE gathered at the Holiday Inn, Capitol
Plaza, for our annual Installation and Awards Dinner. Many of the
Sacramento Section’s awards are named after civil engineers from
this area’s history, now deceased, that the Section has chosen to
honor for their notable contributions to the profession, this Society,
December 2010
our community, the country, and the world. Each month, in this
column, we will profile one of these remarkable engineers.
Theodore D. Judah (1826 –1863)
This month’s historic engineer: Theodore D. Judah
Part I. Concept of Conquest
Those who today enjoy the luxury of air-conditioned
transcontinental railroad service little realize the hardships
of the early builders who made this service possible. Among
the epics of the West is the story of the building of the Central
Pacific line, still in active use. One man, Theodore Judah,
envisioned the great possibilities of this route, and “Civil
Engineering” is here privileged to present the story of his
life, in line with its policy of publicizing major engineering
accomplishments and personalities. Mr. Galloway here sets
forth Judah’s apprenticeship years in the East and the West,
his dream of the Sierra crossing, and his realization of its
formidable difficulties. The story of his final triumph against
odds of physical and human nature will be told in a later
issue.
On the green lawn in front of the Station Building of the Southern
Pacific Railroad, in the City of Sacramento, the capital of California,
may be seen one of the few monuments erected in America to the
memory of an engineer. Most fittingly, the monument is made up of
the massive granite boulders from the high Sierras, the snowy summits of which may be seen on a clear day from the capital city. It
bears in enduring bronze the medallion of the engineer, together with
a brief statement of his services in organizing and locating the Central
Pacific system. This monument was erected to preserve the memory
of one of the most gifted engineers of the previous century, Theodore
Dahone Judah. But one other American railroad engineer seems to
have been thus honored—John F. Stevens, whose statue stands on the
Marias Pass where the Great Northern Railroad crosses the summit
of the Rocky Mountains. On the abandoned line of the Union Pacific
Continued on Page 8
December 2010
History and Heritage - Continued from Page 7
over the Rocky Mountains, at the Sherman summit, over 8,000 ft.
above sea level, a huge granite pyramid has long stood recording the
services of Oakes and Oliver Ames, the Boston financiers who made
the railroad possible. The monument should have been dedicated to
Grenville M. Dodge, the great chief engineer who located the line
through Sherman Pass.
Almost two-thirds of a century elapsed after Judah left the scene
of his labors in the mountains of California before his name was
perpetuated by the memorial. The trains of the great railroad have
passed and repassed over the line he located countless times since
his death, and they bid fair to do so as far into the future as one may
see. Yet few recall his name or services.
It is a pleasure to turn back to the middle of the nineteenth century,
when a pioneer society allowed the engineer great freedom of initiative and accomplishment. The work of Judah and of the other able men
who projected and carried out the building of the Union and Central
Pacific railroads in the decades of 1850 and 1860 was done as the
culminating effort in the movement of the American people from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. That movement took place because able men
were allowed to come to the front and lead in the great enterprise.
It is altogether fitting to remind the present generation of one in the
long line of brilliant engineers who built the railroads of the country.
The list of such men is an honorable one and deserves to be recorded
for the benefit and inspiration of those who come after.
Inscription Appearing on Judah Memorial
THAT THE WEST MAY REMEMBER THEODORE
DEHONE JUDAH, PIONEER, CIVIL ENGINEER
AND TIRELESS ADVOCATE OF A GREAT
TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD – AMERICA’S
FIRST – THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY THE
MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC
COMPANY, WHO, IN 1930, WERE CARRYING ON
THE WORK HE BEGAN IN 1860. HE CONVINCED
FOUR SACRAMENTO MERCHANTS THAT HIS
PLAN WAS PRACTICABLE AND ENLISTED THEIR
HELP. GROUND WAS BROKEN FOR THE RAILROAD
JANUARY 8, 1863, AT THE FOOT OF K STREET,
NEARBY. JUDAH DIED NOVEMBER 2, 1863.
THE ROAD WAS BUILT PAST THE SITE OF THIS
MONUMENT, OVER THE LOFTY SIERRA – ALONG
THE LINE OF JUDAH’S SURVEY – TO A JUNCTION
WITH THE UNION PACIFIC ON A PROMONTORY,
UTAH, WHERE ON MAY 10, 1869, THE “LAST SPIKE”
WAS DRIVEN.
This memorial project was initiated and carried through by
W. H. Kirkbride, Chief Engineer of the Southern Pacific
Company.
The claim of Theodore Judah for a place in the record rests on a
number of counts—on qualities and accomplishments not ordinarily
found in engineers, especially not in a single person. As a young
man engaged in railroad work, he was a dreamer who envisioned
the great project of a railroad crossing deserts and mountains to
connect the East and West. As a promoter he was subjected to
The Engineerogram
the slurs and backbiting of his contemporaries—the crowd ever
unwilling to recognize a great man among them and resisting his
efforts to “lead them a little from the ruck of things.” He projected
a railroad across a great range of granite mountains, snow covered
in winter and so high and difficult that their conquest had never
before been considered or attempted. He departed from established
procedure in locating the line on a ridge of the mountains and not in
a canyon following a river. As an organizer he formed the railroad
company and enlisted the services and abilities of other men who
carried out the project long after he was dead. Finally, as a clear
exponent of the project, Judah was able to convince the wrangling
men of the nation’s Congress that here at last, after years of talking,
was a feasible project.
Before he died, the work he had dreamed of was well on its way
to realization. The general route of the road had been determined,
the necessary laws passed, the financial problems partly solved, the
rails laid on a short stretch of the line—and trains were running! An
untimely illness ended his career, but his clear vision in locating the
western end of the first transcontinental railroad entitles him to lasting recognition. No one has challenged his work; many have voiced
approval’ and no essential changes have been made in the line that he
located. Other transcontinental railroads have been built, but to the
builders of the first one, in the face of the unprecedented difficulties
that confronted them, must go the greater credit that is theirs.
Theodore Dehone Judah was born at Bridgeport, CT, on March 4,
1826. When he died in New York on November 2, 1863, he lacked
four months of being thirty-eight years of age. Into those brief years
he packed more than a normal lifetime of accomplishment. His father,
an Episcopal clergyman, had three sons. Besides Theodore, there were
Henry M. Judah, who became a brigadier general in the Civil War,
and Charles D. Judah, who went to California in 1849 and became
a member of the law firm of Hackett and Judah.
While Theodore was a boy, the family moved to Troy, NY. There
was some thought of entering the youth in the Navy, but he was attracted to engineering and was sent instead to Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, from which he graduated. Out of school, his first work was
on the Troy and Schenectady Railroad, and he continued in railroad
work until his death, the only exception being his position as construction engineer on a section of the Erie Canal between Jordan and
Seneca, NY. His railroad work included service on the New Haven,
Hartford and Springfield Railroad, the Connecticut River Railway,
and the Buffalo and New York Railway, now a part of the Erie system.
He also located and built the Niagara Gorge Railroad, then considered a difficult piece of construction. At one time he supervised the
construction of a bridge at Vergennes, VT.
At Greenfield, MA, Judah met Anna Ferona Pierce, the daughter of
a local merchant, and married her on May 10, 1947. That young lady,
like many other engineer’s wife, followed her wandering husband
to the distant and unknown land of California. After his death she
wrote a description of his work and defended him against the unjust
slanders which the enemies of his project directed against him to
serve their own interests.
In 1852 a group of Californians, among them the young Capt.
William Tecumseh Sherman, were projecting a railroad eastward
from Sacramento towards the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and also
northward along the range in order to secure the trade of the mining
regions in the mountains beyond. The president of the road, on the
recommendation of Governor Horatio Seymour of New York and his
Continued on Page 9
The Engineerogram
History and Heritage - Continued from Page 8
brother, Silas Seymour, a railroad engineer of prominence, sought
Judah’s services as chief engineer. Judah telegraphed his wife: “Be
home tonight, we sail for California April second.” This was in March
1854, while he was engaged on the Buffalo and New York Railway.
Mrs. Judah described his homecoming thus: “You can imagine my
consternation on his arrival that night. It was all laid out in these
words: ‘Anna, I am going to California to be the pioneer railroad
engineer of the Pacific Coast. It is my opportunity, although I have
so much here.’ He had always talked, read, and studied the problem
of a continental railway and would say: ‘It will be built and I am
going to have something to do with it.’”
The young couple sailed by the Nicaragua route, and by May 1854
Judah was at work on his surveys for the Sacramento Railroad. It
was to be built due eastward from Sacramento to Folsom, a distance
of about 25 miles. A contract was awarded in November 1854;
grading commenced in April 1855; the first rail was laid on August
9 of that year; and the line was in operation by February of the next.
All the work was done under the charge of Judah although he left
shortly before its completion. This was the first railroad to operate
in California. Later, as mining fell off, traffic declined, and the road
was afterwards sold to the Central Pacific. The cost had been about
$60,000 per mile.
This was the period when railroad projects were being proposed in
every direction in the central valley of California. And for the next
three years, 1856-1859, Judah was connected with several of these.
However, he never lost sight of the main problem, one of much greater
magnitude, the railroad across the country to the Missouri River. In
this connection, Mrs. Judah writes:
“Everything he did from the time he went to California to the day of
his death was for the great continental Pacific Railway. Time, money,
brains, strength, body and soul were absorbed. It was the burden of
this thought day and night, largely of his conversation, till it used to
be said ‘Judah’s Pacific Railroad crazy’ and I would say: ‘Theodore,
those people don’t care’ or ‘You give your thunder away.’ He’d laugh
and say ‘But we must keep the ball rolling.’”
It was his persistence in advocating the railroad that finally won
the day but at times he was a great nuisance to his acquaintances by
his constant discussion of the project.
It will not be out of order at this point to examine for a moment
the problems to be faced in building a railroad across the country.
Such a road had been talked of for many years. On the eastern
end the problem had been solved by the men of the Union Pacific,
among whom Grenville M. Dodge, one time Honorary Member of
the Society, is perhaps the best known. The chief barriers in the way
of a road from Omaha to Sacramento were several mountain ranges
and over a thousand miles of desert. The California end of the line
was to be at Sacramento, capital of the state. A later extension to San
Francisco was projected.
Eastward of the great valley of California lies the Sierra Nevada,
a mountain barrier about 400 miles long. Where the Central Pacific
was built the peaks vary from 8,000 to 11,000 ft. in height and the
passes from 7,000 ft. up. The mountains are a tilted fault block, with
a long sloping rise of 7,000 ft on the west from Sacramento Valley
to the passes and a sharp descent of about 3,000 ft on the east to the
bordering valleys.
A feature of this mountain chain in the area under consideration is
that it breaks into two ranges of about equal elevation, between which
lies beautiful Lake Tahoe. The lake and the surrounding watershed
December 2010
are drained by the Truckee River. This stream flows northward,
then turns east, and after passing through the eastern range of the
Sierra Nevada, the Truckee meadows, and the Virginia range, turns
another right angle to flow northwestward into Pyramid Lake. Thus
the Truckee River furnished a route eastward except for a barrier of
some fifty miles between it and the Humboldt River, the only stream
of Nevada that finds its way through the basin ranges of that state.
To reach the Truckee River by a direct route from the west, it was
necessary to cross the Sierra Nevada through a pass at an elevation
of at least 7,000 ft.
Emigrant trails from the East had led down the Humboldt and across
the Sierra Nevada either by Carson Pass at the headwaters of the
Carson River (El. 8,650 ft) or across several passes at the headwaters
of the Truckee River. The route was well known and the passes used
were largely determined by the destination of the traveler. However,
it will be recognized that a railroad must be built with practicable
grades, a factor that, as a rule, was not of such great importance in
the wagon travel of that day.
On the western slope of the Sierra Nevada the rivers have a steep
pitch near the granite summits, and have incised deep canyons into the
original plane of the mountains. For this reason, the usual method of
locating a railroad along and up a river channel could not be followed.
A line so located would be deep in a canyon when it reached the main
mass of the mountains and would have to climb out on impossible
grades, in order to cross the range. Tunnels might be a solution, but
at the time under review they were out of the question.
It was indeed a formidable task that faced Judah as he came to
tackle his greatest work, in conquering the western end of the transcontinental line. He had the vision of a great accomplishment; he
had the training and experience to cope with difficult engineering
problems; he had the will and the indomitable energy to prosecute
the venture. What he could hardly anticipate—fortunately for him,
perhaps—were the obstacles of personality, of human cupidity, that
were to loom even larger in their effect than the mountain barriers
themselves. The account of his success forms a separate story.
Engineers Day at the Mall
You are invited to join us in celebrating 2011 Engineers Week.
“Engineers Day at the Mall” will be held at Sunrise Mall on Saturday,
February 26, 2011. Fun free hands-on educational activities will be
provided. Bring your families, friends, students and teachers; all are
welcome to come.
For more information, please contact Joyce Copelan at 530-908
-8372 cell or [email protected].
The Engineerogram
December 2010
ASCE Sacramento Section 2010 Outstanding Engineering Project Award Entry Criteria
The Sacramento Section Outstanding Civil Engineering Project Award is presented by the Sacramento Section of ASCE to a
project that demonstrates the greatest engineering skills and represents the greatest contribution to civil engineering progress
and to society. In addition to the Outstanding Project of the Year award, additional subcategory awards will be given to
projects of significance for their particular category of civil engineering. The sub-categories are listed on the Entry Form and
below. Given to the project rather than to an individual, the Award(s) honor the outstanding work of the many engineers who
have contributed to the project.
Rules:
1. The project must be predominantly civil engineering work.
2. The project must be located in the Sacramento Section area.
3. The project must meet one of the following eligibility criteria:
Bridges, tunnels, waterways, structures, roads: eligible when carrying traffic.
Water supply, flood control facilities: eligible when ready to take the full design head of water.
Power dams: eligible when the major civil-engineered construction is completed.
Fuel power plants, heating or cooling facilities: eligible when power goes on-line.
Buildings and structures: eligible when ready for use.
Airports and other similar large developments: eligible when initial phase is 75% operational.
Water supply, waste disposal: the entire project is eligible when its initial phase is 50% operational.
Military projects (such as bases, launching units and harbor facilities): eligible for their engineering aspects.
Urban development or recreation facilities: When open for public use.
Natural resources restorations: When restoration is complete
The judging committee will determine the eligibility of projects not categorized above.
Judging Criteria:
1. Contribution to the well-being of people and communities.
2. Resourcefulness in planning and solving design challenges.
3. Pioneering in use of materials and methods.
4. Innovations in construction.
5. Impact on physical environment.
6. Beneficial as well as adverse effects of the project, including aesthetic value.
Entry Format:
The award entry should be in the form of a newsletter article, similar to the Outstanding Projects and Leaders column in The
Engineerogram. The entry should inform the reader about the project and emphasize the appropriate items listed in the
judging criteria above as well as any significant features of the project. Photos, images, and/or drawings of significance
should be included with appropriate and informative captions.
Nominations:
1. Nominations may be submitted by any ASCE - Sacramento Section member.
2. Nomination materials must be received by January 7, 2011, for projects meeting eligibility in 2010.
3. Five (5) copies of the nomination must be submitted and accompanied by the Entry Form.
4. A non-winning project from an earlier year may be renominated if it meets the eligibility rules.
5. Send Project Award to Fareed Pittalwala, 4540 Duckhorn Drive, Suite 202, Sacramento, CA 95834-2597.
6. e-mail of electronic files can also be sent to: [email protected]
Nominations will be judged by a panel comprised of Awards Committee (made up of past presidents or other section officers)
of the Sacramento Section. A plaque for permanent display will be given to the project owner and a certificate to the designer
by the Section in an award presentation ceremony as part of Engineers Week in February. For further information, contact the
ASCE office at 916-961-2723 or [email protected].
Additional Categories: Small Project (under $5.0 million)
Environmental
Transportation and Development
10
Structural
Geotechnical
Sustainability
Water/Wastewater
Architectural
Bridge
The Engineerogram
December 2010
2010 ASCE Outstanding Engineering Project Award
Entry Form
General Information:
Please complete the following information and submit 5 copies with a letter explaining the
project and stating why you feel this project should receive this award.
Entries Due: January 7, 2011
Please send this information to:
Fareed Pittalwala
ASCE Sacramento Section
4540 Duckhorn Drive, Suite 202
Sacramento, CA 95834-2597
e-mail: [email protected]
Entries should meet the entry criteria stated for this award, will not be returned, and will become
the property of ASCE, Sacramento Section.
Project Information:
Project name (exactly as it should appear on a plaque):
Project location (city, state):
Completion date:
Enter up to three (3) categories to be considered for in addition to Project of the Year:
Small Project ___
Structural ___
Water/Wastewater ___ Environmental ___
Geotechnical ___ Architectural ___ Transportation ___ Sustainability ___ Bridge ___
Entrant Information:
ASCE Member: __Yes ___No
Sacramento Section Member: _____ Yes _____ No
Submitted by: _________________________________________________________________
Title: ________________________________________________________________________
Employer: ____________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
City: _______________________ State ________ Zip _______________
Phone ________________________ Fax __________________________
Signature__________________________________________ Date ________________________
Project Owner Information:
Project owner (attach addendum for more names) _____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Contact Person: ________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________
City: __________________ State ________ Zip __________________
Phone ________________________________ Fax ____________________________________
11
The Engineerogram
December 2010
ASCE President-elect Nominee
Greg DiLoreto, P.E., P.LS, F.ASCE
The following summary was taken from information in a memo sent out by
Patrick J. Natale, P.E., F.ASCE, CAE, ASCE Executive Director,
regarding the position of President-elect of ASCE.
Greg DiLoreto, P.E., P.LS, F.ASCE
has submitted his declaration to pursue
the office of President-elect. Please
find below Mr. DiLoreto’s Vision
Statement.
Vision Statement:
As a member of the American Society
of Civil Engineers for 35 years I have
enjoyed the opportunity ASCE has provided me to assist in the advancement
of our profession.
Based on a long list of activities in ASCE, it has always been my hope
that I have contributed some small part to ensuring the continuation
and success of the civil engineering profession. It is with that thought
that I am firmly committed to continuing these endeavors and provide
an opportunity for those members that follow to contribute to ASCE.
. . .To that end my vision is to continue the work of my predecessors
in three key areas:
Infrastructure:
I have spent 17 years of my career as a city engineer and public works
director, and for the last 11 years as a CEO of a publicly owned water
utility. For those 28 years I have been the owner of the infrastructure,
which has consisted of water pipes, reservoirs and water treatment
plants, sanitary sewer lines and wastewater treatment plants, streets,
parks, and storm and surface water facilities. As the owner I have observed firsthand the requirements for adequate funding to maintain our
infrastructure. I am proud to say that I have been successful in working
with elected officials in ensuring that adequate funds are available.
Locally, elected officials have adopted necessary rate increases every
time I have recommended they were needed. . . .
Sustainability:
The Tualatin Valley Water District, of which I am the Chief Executive Officer, is considered to be a leader in this area. Our headquarters
building was one of the first in Oregon to achieve LEED certification.
TVWD has received a number of awards for our efforts to incorporate sustainability into the operations of the utility. Our commitment
to sustainability has been cited by job applicants as one of the most
important reasons that they are considering a position with TVWD.
. . . Are we operating our companies in a sustainable manner? What
assistance can ASCE provide its members that can be shared with the
companies they work for?
Raising the Bar: Every civil engineer knows that learning does not
stop with a college degree. ASCE has been discussing the issue of
the required engineering knowledge in its Raising the Bar policy for
over ten years. . . .As education requirements for a bachelor’s degree
decrease and as infrastructure projects become more technically advanced, will the engineers of tomorrow be adequately prepared? To
that end, ASCE has continued to refine its minimum education policy,
with the goal of protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public
we serve. I support our efforts in this regard.
Finally, we must remember that ASCE is a member-driven or-
12
ganization. We must work with our members to meet their needs.
We must also remember that our membershipdemographics are
changing, reflecting the change in demographics in the US. . . .
As demonstrated by my over 30 years of service to ASCE, I have
a passion for this organization, and I intend to continue that passion
of service as the President-elect and President of ASCE.
The Engineerogram
December 2010
13
The Engineerogram
December 2010
December 2010
WELCOME YOUR 2011 OFFICERS!
RÉSUMÉ WORKSHOP
At October’s Business Meeting, new officers and committee chairs
were elected to serve for the 2011 year at YMF! The crew kicked off the
year at the Officer’s Retreat on Saturday, November 6. We’re all looking forward to a fun-filled year. Here are your 2011 officers—come out
and join us at our upcoming events and get to know your officers!
Executive Director
Kevin Gilton
President
Kristy Chapman
Vice President
Elizabeth Weeks
Secretary
Shauna England
Treasurer
Mike Konieczki
Education Director
Adam Randolph
Awards & Recognition Chair
Tyler Whaley
Community Outreach Chair
Kimberly Brown
Luis Sarmiento (Co-Chair)
Education Committee
Guy Hopes (Co-Chair)
Golf Tournament Chair
James Pangburn
Government Affairs Chair
Rachel Radell
Historian
Joe Emond
Membership Chair
Megan Henderson
Newsletter Editor
Marie Silveira
Programs Chair
Elias Karam
Scholarship Committee Chair
Jill Henrikson
Student Affairs Chair
Steven Soldati
Student Outreach Chair
Randi Hines
A Résumé Workshop is coming up at UC Davis, and we need you!
If anyone is interested in volunteering for Résumé Critique and Mock
Interviews, please contact Greg at [email protected] for more
information. The Résumé Workshop will be held on Thursday, January
6, 2011, 6 pm, at UC Davis (room to be determined). This is a great
opportunity to help our future engineers!
CANNED FOOD DRIVE - LAST DAYS!
Special thanks to Elias Karam for presenting the good, the bad, and
the ugly of the design-build project he worked on at our November
Mixer!
There’s still time to donate to the YMF Canned Food Drive! Please
contact Randi Hines ([email protected]) for donation locations.
Containers will be picked up by December 5, so please hurry to make
those last donations! A special thanks goes out to Blackburn Consulting and SACDOT for their support in the 2010 YMF Canned Food
Drive. Congratulations go out to Kristy Chapman for winning the
YMF decorating contest!
SKI TRIP!!
Calling all Snow Busters and Bunnies! Mark your calendars for
Saturday, January 22nd! YMF is renting a bus to Sugar Bowl Ski
Resort for a fun-filled snow day!
When:
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Time:
Depart Sacramento 6:15 am
Depart Sugar Bowl 4:30 pm
Cost:
$90 per person
What’s included:
Bus Ride To / From
Lift Ticket
Lunch Voucher and Pizza in the bus on the way home
We’ll be at the Resort from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, a full day of fun
in the snow! Plus, you can sleep on the way up and back, since the
driving is being done for you! The trip will also be a great opportunity
to mingle with YMF’ers from Truckee Meadows and Central Valley!
Contact Elias Karam at [email protected] for more information
and to RSVP. We hope you can join us on this fun filled trip!
NOVEMBER MIXER
UPCOMING EVENTS
* Résumé Workshop, UC Davis (Room TBD), Thursday,
January 6, 2011, 6:00 pm
* Ski Trip, Sugar Bowl (pick-up in Sacramento, Location
TBD), Saturday, January 22, 2011, departs at 6:15 am
For more information, visit
www.sacymf.org
14
The Engineerogram
December 2010
EARLY REGISTRATION
BEFORE 1/07/2011
$595.00
Office of Wate
r Pr
ogr
a ms
Regular Price $795.00
Includes Meal, Parking,
and Training Materials!
LRFD & Seismic Design of Bridges
Day 1
� Sponsored by
LRFD Loads & Limit States
Office of Water Programs
Susperstructure Analysis/Design
� Instructors
Substructure Analysis/Design
Dr. Toorak Zokaie
Dr. Anoosh Shamsabadi
Dr. Amir Malek
Seismic Analysis/Design
Design of Shallow Foundations
� When
Friday, January 21, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
� Where
Day 2
Design of Deep Foundations
� Pile Groups
� Type I/II Shaft
Seismic Foundation Design
� Soil-Structure Interaction
California State
University, Sacramento
Modoc Hall, Willow Suites
� To Register
Call: (916) 278-6142
Email: wateroffi[email protected]
or
Visit OWP’s website:
www.owp.csus.edu/registration
� Liquefaction & Lateral Spreading
� Bridge Abutment
Sacramento State
Office of Water Programs
15