Looking for a smart soils expert

[Rob Halpern]

I have a few current projects where soils are an issue. Anyone have a soil scientist or civil who can design soils and address soil site problems?

Thanks

[Kevin J. Gaughan]

Can you elaborate a little bit more about the issues you are having with the soils?

[Rob Halpern]

To tell the truth, I’d like a long term sub-consultant relationship as issues do crop up in many projects.

Currently I have one new field (for lack of a better term) that was completed in May and then was badly mismanaged and baked to a hardpan in the summer’s Southern heat. It needs to be aerated without ripping it to shreds. Right now it sheds water.
And another is in the mid-west – hasn’t been designed yet – which is a slope with excessive water issues that will need to sustain a great deal of foot traffic.
Either it doesn’t rain or it pours, so to speak

[Jason T. Radice]

Contact your local arborist, they can be very good with soils. Or you can try your local extension office. They usually are partnered with the USDA and can address soil issues on a very local level. I don’t know how far he will travel, but James Urban is the best there is with soils and trees. He has a book out as well.

[Rob Halpern]

Thanks, Jason

[Tanya Olson]

I don’t know if you are looking for a HUGE CE group, but Barr Engineering out of Minneapolis has a good reputation….I know a LA who work(ed?) for them doing wetland restoration and I’m certain soils were are significant part of his work. They do a lot of remediation / contamination / wetlands / etc. I worked with the LA in college, but have not worked with Barr.

[Travis Flohr]

My friend works for Jeffrey L. Bruce and Company, out of Kansas City, a Landscape Architecture firm that has soil scientist in house. I know the have consulted with numerous other landscape architect’s on just soils. They do great work. http://www.jlbruce.com/

They explain their approach right on their main page.

“What if we design soils, sites, and buildings that DO MORE than exploit resources?

What if they acted as GREEN MACHINES which support themselves while restoring the environment around them?

What if we understand that
LIFE UNDERGROUND is as rich and promising as the world above ground?”

[Rob Halpern]

Now that is the thinking I can work with! Thanks for the lead.

[ceyrena]

I met a landscape architect who has a ph.d. in soils: http://www.barrettkays.com/

I just worked with him briefly but he seemed extremely knowledgeable and competent with an understanding of the role that design plays as well.

[Rob Halpern]

From soil scientist to Realtor to L.A. to….can he cook too?

(I apologize for being so slow to respond..been on the road for a week now)

[Dane K. Spencer]

Rob,

Try Biological Tree Services, Tammy Kovar.

http://www.biologicaltreeservices.com

[Gabriel S. Metz]

We use Garn Wallace with Wallance Laboratories for projects throughout the US. http://www.bettersoils.com/. He and his team are great to work with and can full all your needs. I send him soil samples by fedex all the time.

[John Woods]

+1 for Garn Wallace

Also, in the midwest we use CLC Labs – Dr. Chuck Darrah.

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