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It’s hard to turn anywhere these days without hearing someone talk about “Going Green.” Green, Sustainable, or Low Impact Design are all terms that represent design that considers its impacts to people, communities, and eco-systems, now and in the future. BLA has always understood that achieving this for our clients would require environmentally sensible solutions where human and natural environments work in tandem rather than opposition.
 Proud Members of USGBC
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- Alternative Energy
- Landfill Gas Pipeline, Evansville, Indiana
Client: Ameresco
BLA designed this 5-mile-long, 10-inch-diameter gas pipeline to transport gas from the local landfill for use at Mead Johnson Nutritionals, replacing most of the natural gas that is currently used to power their factory. This pipeline is expected to reduce Evansville area net carbon dioxide greenhouse gas levels by 22,000 metric tons per year or the equivalent of 4,000 passenger vehicles.
- AlgaeWheel Facility, Biotown USA
Client: Town of Reynolds, Indiana
Design of a 90,0000-gpd treatment system based on its innovative wastewater treatment process that uses algae, in tandem with bacteriological treatment, to break down sludge and convert it to useable by-products in Reynolds dubbed BioTown, because of the community's goal of being the nation's first to use renewable resources to meet all of its energy needs. Wastewater sludge is used to grow algae, which is then harvested, dried and sent to a unit that uses heat to convert it to: 1) syngas, a synthetic natural gas; 2) fats. oil, and grease that can be made into a liquid biofuel; and 3) char, a soil additive that sequesters carbon dioxide. By capturing carbon dioxide, this system also reduces greenhouse gases. The BioTown AlgaeWheel facility was also designed to accept sludge, septage, recycled plastics, and trash from the surrounding communities. To date the facility is exceeding all permit limits for effluent quality.
Alternative Pavements- Eagle Bluff Welcome Center, Cannelton, Indiana
Client: Perry County Parks & Recreation Department
For the rehabilitation design of the Eagle Bluff Overlook and Visitor’s Center, BLA recommended inclusion of recycled rubber tires in the asphalt mix for the walking paths and driveways. Over 280 million tires are discarded every year causing environmental pollution, health, and fire hazards. Asphalt that includes recycled tires resists cracking, reduces noise, and offers better durability. On September 24, 2008, the Perry County Parks & Recreation Board received a County Achievement Award from the Association of Indiana Counties for this project.
Wastewater Treatment- West Side Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements, Evansville, Indiana
Client: Evansville Water & Sewer Utility
One of the major improvements BLA included in this treatment plant design was the addition of a new biofiltration process unit consisting of a submerged floating media, like polystyrene beads, where bacteria grow. Wastewater and air are introduced through the bottom of the media-filled tanks and as the wastewater flows up through the media, the bacteria breakdown the organic matter. This system offers an alternative treatment method that was flexible, expandable, and cost-effective with a small carbon footprint.
- Bradford Woods Wastewater Treatment System Replacement, Martinsville, Indiana
Client: Indiana University
 Bequeathed to Indiana University in 1938, Bradford Woods is a 2,500-acre nature preserve and international leader in outdoor education. Host to a growing number of training, camping, research, and educational programs, in 2005 Bradford Woods’ aging wastewater collection system and treatment plant was long overdue for replacement. Respecting Bradford Wood’s commitment to environmental stewardship, BLA designed a constructed wetland system that rivals advanced mechanical wastewater treatment systems. The soil absorption area is also designed as a prairie restoration project providing added educational value to the University and visitors. This project was awarded 2008 ACEC National Engineering Excellence Honor Award.
Stormwater Handling- Constructed Wetlands for CSO Treatment - Long-Term Control Plan Revisions, Washington, Indiana
Client: City of Washington
When the City of Washington decided to consider “green” alternatives to the city’s sewer overflow problems, they turned to BLA to provide planning and design services to update its current Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP). BLA worked with the city’s existing consultant to revise the previous recommendation of an $88 million sewer separation project by replacing it with an equalization basin to capture the first flush rainfall event and a constructed wetland and ultraviolet disinfection system to treat the remaining overflows up to a 10-year/1-hour storm event. The constructed wetland treatment system not only offered a sustainable solution for the city, but may save as much as $33 million. In addition, the wetlands provided opportunities to develop greenways along the system.
- Constructed Wetlands for Stormwater Run-off Treatment - Beanmeal Processing Facility, Jackson County, Indiana
Client: Rose Acre Farms
 Rose Acre Farms, one of the world’s largest egg producers, selected BLA to design two constructed wetlands to treat stormwater run-off and augment existing wastewater treatment system at its soybean processing facility. The 60,000-gallon-per-day constructed wetland system treats up to ½-inch of rainfall generated over 4.5 acres. The system also treats water from their truck-washing operation. The Beanmeal Processing Facility system is one of the largest subsurface-flow constructed wetlands installed in the US for stormwater treatment. This design won the 2006 Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.
Rose Acre Farms previously retained BLA to design a series of ponds, free-water, surface and subsurface wetlands for its Jennacres Egg Farm to treat stormwater and control ammonia concentrations in runoff.
Threatened & Endangered Species- Two-year Survey of Indiana Bats under Bridges in Indiana
Client: Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)
 Indiana bats were added to the Endangered Species List in 1967. During an INDOT survey of bridges and culverts for Indiana Bats BLA discovered a bridge that serves as a day and night roost for the Indiana bat, little brown bat, big brown bat and eastern pipistrelle; maternity roost for little brown bats; mating site for the Indiana bats and little brown bats; and an apparent “way station” (stop over) during spring and fall migration for the Indiana bat and other bats. The bridge also appears to provide opportunities for mating.
BLA worked with INDOT, US Federal Highway Administration, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to protect this bridge from human disturbance with fencing and signage. BLA was also allowed to monitor the bridge and has been present on a monthly and sometimes weekly basis to account for the total number of bats, number of species, environmental conditions. It is hoped that the knowledge gained from these studies will lead to a greater understanding of the Indiana Bat and its ultimate removal from the Endangered Species List.
Wetland Mitigation- Statewide Wetland Mitigation Services, Indiana
Client: Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)
 BLA has completed on-call wetland mitigation projects across Indiana that includes delineations, design site selections, construction and monitoring. Designs included palustrine emergent, scrub/shrub, forested, and open water wetlands with mitigation sites ranging in size from 0.5 acres to 250 acres. These sites are typically developed in biologically attractive areas next to farmland that flood regularly, providing best results for mitigation of lost functions and value. Each wetland is unique to the individual site with incorporation of bioengineering principals, minimal hydrological alteration, careful selection of appropriate plant species, use of natural materials, and Rosgen natural channel design concepts. In several instances, these mitigation sites were developed for use in mitigating loss of wetlands in future projects.
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