K&A News

Mark Kieser invited presenter at 2019 Expo Agua Perú

Posted on November 7, 2019 by - Environmental Markets

Mark Kieser, Principal and Senior Scientist at Kieser & Associates, LLC, was an invited speaker at the 2019 Expo Agua Perú. The Expo Agua Perú is the premiere water technology fair in Peru, where leading companies present integral solutions for the water, sanitation, agriculture, industry, mining and energy production sectors. At this annual event, leading national and international experts discuss the state of the art in terms of technologies and trends relevant to the integrated management of water resources. Now in its fifth year, the Expo Agua Perú brings together authorities and government officials, businesses, academia and specialized professionals.

Mr. Kieser presented on market approaches for stabilizing water supply in a presentation titled The Issue of Scale: Can Market-like Approaches Drive Water Supply Improvements? Provision of clean and abundant water supplies is a global challenge. Hard or “Grey” infrastructure for water capture, retention, purification and distribution is costly and often does not address sustainability of supply. Emerging opportunities focusing on more natural solutions, or Green infrastructure, are receiving much broader attention to address critical needs for both sustainability and resilience of water supply. These critical considerations may drive broader and more diversified investment interests in the provision side of the supply and demand equation. Mr. Kieser’s presentation examined the potential for market economics to drive diversified investments in Green infrastructure for enhancing water supplies at scale. Investments require program infrastructure underpinned by sound science, transparency and accountability. How such market elements can help advance sustainability and resilience of supply was discussed in the context of water investments in the U.S., Peru and China.

Progress toward Kalamazoo River/Lake Allegan TMDL Goals Presented to Michigan Water Environment Association

Posted on December 14, 2018 by - Lake & Watershed Management

Patty Hoch-Melluish, Project Scientist, presented on behalf of Kieser & Associates at the 2018 Michigan Water Environment Association Watershed & Stormwater Seminar on December 4, 2018 at the Lansing Community College West Campus in Lansing, Michigan.  Patty presented “The Kalamazoo River/Lake Allegan Total Maximum Daily Load.”  The presentation summarized the history of the Lake Allegan TMDL for Total Phosphorus and monitoring data trends to assess progress toward meeting the TMDL goals.  View the presentation slides at: K&A 2018 Michigan Water Environment Association Presentation.

K&A Featured in Michigan DNR Newsletter

Posted on November 1, 2018 by - Lake & Watershed Management

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) October 2018 Fisheries Bulletin, “Reel in Michigan’s Fisheries”, featured a K&A-led project at the Fort Custer Recreation Area (FCRA). The project to develop and implement an integrated lake management plan for lakes in the recreation area is funded through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment, the Enbridge compensation for injuries to the Kalamazoo River related to the 2010 discharges. The MDNR article focuses on the fisheries and invasive aquatic plant management planning efforts at three FCRA lakes: Eagle Lake, Whitford-Lawler and Jackson Hole.

See the bulletin here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/21825c1

See the full article here: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79236_80245_80707-482116–,00.html?utm_source=govdelivery


Weevil Used as Part of Biocontrol Program at Eagle Lake, FCRA

Patty Hoch-Melluish Presents at 2018 Inland Lakes Convention

Posted on October 10, 2018 by - Lake & Watershed Management

Patty Hoch-Melluish, Project Scientist, presented on behalf of Kieser & Associates at the 2018 Michigan Inland Lakes Convention on October 5, 2018 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Patty presented “Protecting the Nearshore through Upland Lakescaping” as part of the Natural Shorelines session. The presentation summarized how development around lakeshores can impact lake health and included best management practices that can be incorporated on individual properties to help mitigate these impacts. Gabby Metzner, Project Scientist at K&A, also attended the conference. View the presentation slides at: K&A 2018 Inland Lakes Convention Presentation.

Native Plant Installation

K&A Guides Efforts to Manage Aquatic Invasive Species at Fort Custer Recreation Area

Posted on September 5, 2018 by - Lake & Watershed Management

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Fort Custer Recreation Area (FCRA) have engaged a diverse Kieser & Associates, LLC (K&A) Project Team to enhance the FCRA lakes by controlling invasive aquatic plant species.  Three Fort Custer lakes, Eagle Lake, Whitford and Lawler Lake, and Jackson Hole Lake, are being addressed by this three-year project.  Funding is provided as part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment, the Enbridge compensation for injuries to the Kalamazoo River related to the 2010 discharges.

The objectives for the project include:

  • Assess the presence and density of aquatic invasive plants
  • Develop an integrated strategy to control aquatic invasive plant species
  • Monitor and assess invasive aquatic plant presence and density during and after treatments
  • Develop and implement an outreach program for recreational users to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species from and into the FCRA.
  • Design and implement a monitoring program to evaluate aquatic recreational use of all three lakes.

The project was recently highlighted through an interview with Patty Hoch-Melluish and article on MLive. Read about the project and see photos of the weevils and beetles being used for biologic controls at: https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2018/08/beetles_weevils_added_to_michi.html

 

Kieser & Associates Wins Contract for Ecosystem Services Market Protocol Development

Posted on July 23, 2018 by - Environmental Markets

Kieser & Associates, LLC (K&A) has been awarded a contract for protocol development for ecosystem service market credits from agricultural working lands by the Noble Research Institute’s Ecosystem Service Market Program.  The K&A team includes Tetra Tech, Inc. and WestWater Research, LLC and is complemented by expert advisors from the Sand County Foundation, Nyemaster Goode, Troutman Sanders, and Terra Altus Ecosystem Services.  Debbie Reed of DRD Associates LLC (DRD) is one of the lead consultants on the project that will be overseeing protocol development and pilot project implementation work. The K&A team also will be working with Reed and Rori Cowan, who recently joined DRD Associates LLC.  This varied team will develop protocols for ecosystem services related to soil carbon, water quality and water quantity.  To see the Noble Research Institute’s news release, visit https://www.noble.org/news/releases/kieser-and-associates-wins-contract-for-ecosystem-services-market-protocol-development/.

K&A Welcomes Dr. Douglas McLaughlin, Ph.D. as Environmental Engineering Division Manager

Posted on June 21, 2018 by - Kieser & Associates

Kieser & Associates is proud to announce Dr. Douglas McLaughlin, Ph.D. has joined our team as Senior Scientist/Environmental Engineering Division Manager.  He brings years of experience and expertise in improving water resource management and decision making.  He spent the last 15 years as a Principal Research Scientist at the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc, a non-profit environmental research organization. His brief resume and contact information can be found at: www.kieser-associates.com/contact/staff.

 

 

K&A partners with Kalamazoo Valley Community College on new stormwater project

Posted on October 31, 2016 by - Stormwater Solutions

KVCC has obtained Stormwater Neutral® status, not only achieving their TMDL 50% reduction goal, but also systematically eliminating all stormwater outfalls from the main campus. This entire campus is now Stormwater Neutral® verified (i.e., net-zero phosphorus discharge from their stormwater footprint).  As a result, KVCC became the second MS4 within the Kalamazoo River Watershed to achieve this unique distinction.  With the addition of the Healthy Living Campus, KVCC’s commitment to being a good steward of our environment continues.  When developing the new campus, KVCC and K&A plans included on-site stormwater treatment, pervious asphalt pavement, scenic boardwalk overlooks and relocation of Portage Creek and Michigan native vegetation along the a restored, more-meandering stream corridor.  You can find out more about the work already done at several environmental education stations around the campus and you can read more about the newly planned work at mlive.com.