For decades, the cities of Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota, have been plagued by flooding from the Red River of the North. Between 2009 and 2012, Barr worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as part of a consulting team to complete a fast-track feasibility study that developed and compared alternative solutions. The selected solution, called the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion, centers on controlled staging and diversion of flood waters from the Red River and five major tributaries into a 30-mile diversion channel.
As part of the three-year study, Barr developed feasibility designs and developed construction cost estimates for eight major hydraulic structures, including two large, gated control structures, one main inlet structure into the diversion channel, two aqueducts conveying flows over the diversion channel, two drop structures, and one outlet structure to return the waters to the Red River. We led all geotechnical engineering aspects of the design, managing soft clays that are particularly challenging for slope stability and construction with reinforced concrete. We also authored a chapter of the federal Environmental Impact Statement about the project’s potential geomorphologic, erosion, and sedimentation impacts.
Starting in 2012, Barr assisted with value-based design workshops that resulted in over $100 million of cost savings and were recognized by two national awards. We then helped with transitioning the project from feasibility to the initial stages of detailed design for this $3 billion project. During this period, Barr served as the main technical advisor supporting comprehensive physical and numerical modeling of the Maple Aqueduct, working with USACE and a hydraulics research group at the University of Minnesota. We also led a sophisticated probabilistic analysis supporting the design of a meandering low-flow channel within the diversion to offset habitat loss. Our analysis demonstrated that, contrary to initial assumptions, the channel did not need to be lined or filled with riprap to protect lateral embankments, which saved design and construction costs.
The Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion is currently under construction. When complete, this flood diversion project will reduce the risk of flood damage for over 250,000 people.
The Consolidated Packaging Corporation site operated as a paper mill from 1898 to 1978. The site was sold to the Metropolitan Demolition Corporation in 1981, but the company later defaulted on the purchase. As a result, the State of Michigan assumed the site’s environmental liabilities. During its years of operation, the paper mill discharged paper waste into a drainage ditch network that flowed to the River Raisin until the late 1960s, when the discharge was redirected to the City of Monroe sewage treatment plant. Investigations into environmental impacts at the site, completed by others in the 2000s, identified volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, and metals in a historical wastewater lagoon, shallow groundwater, and shallow soils. The site is currently owned by the Port of Monroe, and the port is seeking remediation of the site to use as an additional laydown and storage area. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is currently developing a remediation plan that meets the port’s overall objective.
In 2024, EGLE brought Barr on board to help advance the site toward remediation. Our work involved reviewing historical documentation, aggregating historical information into a site-specific document library and database, developing a conceptual site model, and identifying data gaps that would inform remediation.
After identifying key data gaps, our scope expanded to address those gaps and refine the conceptual site model. In 2025, we conducted a series of investigations including sediment sampling, surface soil sampling, monitoring well installation, groundwater sampling, and slug testing. Water-level monitoring was also performed to evaluate the effect of off-site, third-party dewatering operations on the site’s hydrogeology.
Data from the site investigations addressed the identified data gaps and showed per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impacts at the site. Results were incorporated into the conceptual site model, and we provided EGLE with a summary report of the investigation activities and an updated conceptual site model. The report included recommended steps to move the site toward remediation such that the port can use it as a laydown area. Next steps include further evaluation of the groundwater-surface-water interface pathway and a feasibility study for remediating sediments in wastewater lagoons that are likely impacting shallow groundwater at the site.
In 2023, Barr partnered with the City of Hibbing to create its first comprehensive parks and trails master plan. Working with Ballard*King & Associates and Northspan, we mapped and assessed the city’s recreational assets, analyzed demographics and programming, reviewed national recreation trends, and gathered community input to shape goals and implementation strategies for improving and maintaining the system.
Hibbing’s 33 parks and extensive trail network—spanning 1,800 acres—had never been fully mapped. To establish a planning baseline, Barr created a GIS-based inventory and condition assessment of every park and trail, producing data and maps designed for both city planning and public use. We also mapped proposed trails to strengthen connectivity across the system.
The master plan classifies each park by current use, purpose, amenities, and maintenance needs. Our classification framework helps the city identify priority improvements and align maintenance, programming, and services with each park’s intended role.
Our recommendations were grounded in our conditions assessment, facility and programming evaluations, park classifications, and research, as well as community feedback. A resident survey provided insights into familiarity with, use of, and preferences for the parks and trails system. Nearly 700 responses were analyzed and included in an appendix to the plan.
To support implementation, we prepared an action-oriented plan outlining recommended management priorities and steps for the city to consider. The master and implementation plans highlight how Hibbing’s distinctive regional landscape and recreation opportunities offer significant potential to draw more visitors to the community.
Carey Lake Park is the City of Hibbing’s largest city park, offering hiking and biking trails, swimming and boating access, and a fishing pier. Barr assisted the city in planning improvements, which include new tent and RV camping areas and upgrades to the swimming beach.
Because the city sought state funding for the improvements, the project needed to comply with the Minnesota Historic Sites Act, which requires consultation with the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) so that improvements will not affect properties listed on the State or National Registers of Historic Places. To identify listed, eligible, or potentially eligible resources, Barr conducted a Phase I archaeological reconnaissance investigation.
The investigation followed the field, laboratory, and reporting standards in the State Archaeologist’s Manual for Archaeological Projects in Minnesota. Because the work was on non-federal public property, we also secured a license from the Office of the State Archaeologist before beginning fieldwork.
Our survey identified two archaeological sites. The first—two small scatters of historic artifacts likely from isolated dumping—was determined ineligible for state or national register listing.
The second site contained remnants of a foundation linked to the former DuPont Powder Plant, a significant part of Iron Range history. The plant supplied explosives essential to iron ore mining and to national wartime production during World War I. We concluded the site was potentially eligible for listing and recommended either further investigation or design measures to prevent disturbance.
We documented our methods, findings, and recommendations in a report to the city, supporting continued consultation with SHPO and informing early project adjustments to avoid impacts on archaeological resources. As a result, the city could pursue improvements that meet community needs while protecting regional heritage.
The City of Woodbury undertook an effort to thoughtfully plan its undeveloped outskirts to preserve key ecological resources—including woodlands, heritage trees, swales, and wetlands—while establishing stormwater management systems before residential construction begins. One of the city’s goals is to identify high-quality natural resources so they can be permanently protected through purchase or conservation easements.
To achieve this, Woodbury engaged Barr to assess and prioritize natural resources for protection and to design regional stormwater management systems that can be implemented ahead of development. Barr conducted hydrologic modeling to determine the appropriate sizing for both local and regional stormwater treatment systems. We also planned for strategic placement of ponds and bioretention facilities to minimize mass grading and integrate with natural areas, resulting in larger, contiguous open spaces.
A key feature of the plan is a 100-foot-wide greenway that links open spaces, facilitating wildlife movement and providing trail corridors. These greenways will serve as primary routes for pedestrians and cyclists as well as habitat corridors. Ultimately, the project will create a connected network of stormwater treatment open spaces and natural resources that support people, wildlife, and efficient, low-maintenance stormwater treatment.
Following the completion of its 2022 Wildlife Corridors Action Plan, which identifies projects for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) proceeded to plan and design the state’s first wildlife overpass over U.S. Highway 550, north of the village of Cuba. As part of ongoing cultural resources support for the agency, Barr was tasked with completing a Phase I cultural resource survey to identify and evaluate potential impacts to cultural resources within the project area.
Barr’s cultural resources team conducted a survey of an 8.1-mile segment of U.S. Highway 550 that provided up-to-date information on 21 previously recorded archaeological sites and four previously recorded historic cultural properties. We also discovered and recorded two new archaeological sites.
Barr’s survey data will be used to streamline the process of assessing potential impacts to cultural resources within the wildlife-crossing project area. It will also help NMDOT mitigate any adverse impacts on cultural resources and comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Helping Des Moines protect critical infrastructure
Des Moines Water Works hired Barr to perform an assessment of its flood risk management system for the Fleur Water Treatment Plant, which is safeguarded by a levee that encircles the facility. The system had been realigned and reinforced over time in response to significant flooding that compromised portions of the levee. The goals of the assessment were to identify and prioritize flood risk management concerns and provide remedial actions in accordance with FEMA criteria (44 CFR 65.10) and USACE levee design guidelines.
Desktop review and facility observation
To understand the water treatment plant’s history, operation, and flood risk, Barr compiled and reviewed existing data associated with the levee system, including original plant, floodgate, and levee design documents; historical flooding records; soil boring logs; gallery and tunnel collection system records; hydraulic models of the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers; the plant’s emergency response plan; and other supporting information. The Barr team also visited the site to observe the condition and operation of the plant's floodgate and levee system.
From observations to recommendations
The assessment revealed several vulnerabilities. Barr recommended targeted upgrades to improve resiliency, including realigning the levee to protect key infrastructure, adding an emergency overflow to the north tunnel shaft, replacing floodgate seals, and addressing seepage and structural issues in an aging retaining wall.
Des Moines Water Works prioritized four of these essential modifications to safeguard the potable water supply during flooding of the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers. We are currently administering the construction of these improvements, which are expected to be completed in 2026. By combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of what’s at stake for the community, Barr is helping Des Moines Water Works take proactive steps to protect its vital infrastructure and water service during extreme storms.
Barr successfully navigated Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) state permitting process for the Birch Coulee Solar Project, a proposed 125-megawatt facility in Renville County, Minnesota. From the initial field surveys to the final Site Permit approval, our team provided comprehensive, end-to-end support to AES US Renewables.
Our work began with studies to inform the permitting strategy and optimize project design. Barr’s studies included habitat assessment, noise study with baseline monitoring, and wetland delineation. We also coordinated a cultural resources survey that included active participation from tribal representatives. This process ensured that Traditional Cultural Specialists from local tribes were invited to take part, allowing them to identify areas of cultural significance within the project site that required avoidance.
To strengthen the Site Permit application, Barr produced compelling before-and-after visual renderings, performed a prime farmland analysis, authored an Agricultural Impact Mitigation Plan, and developed a thorough Decommissioning Plan. Our team compiled all technical studies, created clear and user-friendly map sets, and assembled a complete application package that met Minnesota Rule requirements.
The application was submitted in July 2024 and was accepted without comments. The PUC issued the Site Permit in August 2025.
Barr prepared the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project, a proposed 170-mile, 345 kV transmission line project. Barr’s work supporting the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Energy Environmental Review and Analysis (EERA) unit started with participation in seven public scoping meetings. We helped our client answer questions, explain the regulatory process, and facilitate public input on potential alternatives and impacts during preparation of the EIS.
During the scoping comment period, Barr catalogued over 400 comments and more than 60 route alternatives. Barr reviewed these alternatives and assisted EERA in determining which alternatives should be recommended for analysis in the EIS based on Minnesota Rule 7850.2500. Barr assisted EERA in drafting the final scoping decision.
Scoping resulted in more than 10 potential connection points between a western and eastern routing option that were miles apart. To help interested parties assess the viability of these options and their potential combinations, Barr’s GIS and environmental team designed the EIS to study multiple route options within seven regions. To accommodate the remaining alternatives, Barr also completed equivalent comparisons for shorter route refinements. The EIS examined a range of human and environmental impacts, including aesthetics, greenhouse gas emissions, biological resources, human health and safety, and land-based economies.
The Draft EIS was published in October 2024. Barr supported the public hearings with visuals and meeting attendance in November 2024. The Final EIS was published in January 2025. As part of the Final EIS, Barr catalogued over 1,400 unique public comments and prepared draft responses to each. These responses were finalized with EERA staff.
In February 2025, the Administrative Law Judge indicated that the EIS satisfied the requirements set forth in Minnesota Rule and determined it to be adequate under Minnesota law. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) issued the Route Permit and Certificate of Need in June 2025.
In 2024, Barr was hired by the Town of Frederick, Colorado, to assist with a water rights court case around the proposed releases of water from Milavec Reservoir to replace historical irrigation return flows. A key issue centered around downstream water quality impacts from the releases resulting from the reservoir’s history of higher nutrients and algal blooms.
Barr helped the town evaluate the water quality of the reservoir and several sources that supplied water to the reservoir and users downstream, including the Lower Boulder Ditch. We determined it was likely that the water quality of the proposed Milavec Reservoir releases would be comparable to downstream sources owned and operated by others. Barr was then able to help negotiate a settlement to avoid trial. We are now helping the town monitor the water quality of the reservoir and develop a water quality study to determine when and how often releases from the reservoir will be restricted to avoid downstream impacts.