Federal mineland reclamation rules established in the 1970s focused on slope stabilization and rapid revegetation, leading in many cases to over-compaction and domination of aggressive non-native grass and herbaceous flowering plants. In Appalachia, where nearly 1 million acres of forest have been removed for mining, areas that were reclaimed according to those rules stifled the growth of a variety of tree species and contributed sediment to local waterways. There was little hope of reforestation, even in a region that holds some of the most diverse and valuable forests in the world. 

Responding to those outcomes, researchers and mineland reclamation practitioners conducted decades of research in the district to develop a novel technique for reclaiming land. The Forestry Reclamation Approach calls for methods that minimize soil compaction and promote establishment of native tree species. Using FRA effectively jump-starts natural succession and sets reclaimed sites on a trajectory to reforestation. With minimal site preparation, the FRA technique has successfully restored native forests on mining-disturbed lands—and it's often more economical than conventional reclamation.

Barr recognized that similar outcomes from similar state reclamation rules were occurring in reclaimed areas within the Laurentian Mixed Forest ecoregion of Minnesota, potentially preventing the establishment of native forest ecosystems. In partnership with an iron mining client, we’re adapting the Forestry Reclamation Approach and evaluating the technical success, cost, and regulatory acceptance of this potential reclamation technique. 

The test constitutes a novel application of FRA outside of Appalachia. The experiment has two components:

Tree plantings will be monitored for a total of 10 years or until the sites reach reclamation success as defined in the vegetative standards of the state’s administrative rules. Barr also recommended that after four years, understory species be planted to help develop forest-floor detritus and improve the soil profile.

Both the survey and the pilot project have broad industry and community support. Because FRA is usually applied to bare waste rock and involves little or no soil amendment, the ultimate goal is to demonstrate that the method can be a cost-effective reclamation approach in the Great Lakes region that will lead to widespread reforestation.

Safer routes, stronger connections for pedestrians and cyclists

Barr partnered with the City of Hibbing to develop a comprehensive trails and signage plan that strengthens bike and pedestrian trail connectivity, improves pedestrian and biker safety, and supports Hibbing’s recreation and transportation goals. The plan builds on existing local initiatives and prior studies to create a coordinated, phased approach to trails, on-street bike facilities, and citywide wayfinding. 

We began by reviewing existing conditions and previously completed studies, including the Hibbing Parks and Trails Master Plan, city walkability initiatives, Safe Routes to School (a national planning and safety program), and user data from fitness applications such as Strava. We identified trail connectivity gaps, high-priority transit corridors, and opportunities to connect neighborhoods, parks, schools, and regional trail systems. 

Planning safe, strategic trail and bike lane connections

Barr recommended a series of bike and pedestrian trail connections across the city, focusing on safely connecting users from Hibbing’s existing trail network to downtown areas and other popular destinations while remaining compatible with current roadway operations. We selected bike-lane and trail alignments that minimized impacts to parking, traffic flow, and snow clearing operations, supporting practical implementation in a northern Minnesota climate. We then developed a plan-implementation strategy that will help the city manage costs, adapt to community feedback, and coordinate improvements with future roadway and infrastructure projects. 

As a first step, Barr helped the city conduct a pilot to test on street bike and pedestrian infrastructure. The pilot project allowed the city to evaluate recommended bike and pedestrian routes and make adjustments based on user experiences, safety, traffic information, and community input.

Improving citywide signage and wayfinding

In parallel, Barr developed a wayfinding and signage package to improve visibility, navigation, and continuity in parks and along trails across the city. Using Maple Hill Park as a pilot location, we created a wayfinding system that includes:

Our signage designs build on community input from the Parks and Trails Master Plan and incorporates Hibbing’s “Iron Range” identity through materials, colors, and forms that reflect Hibbing’s local character and mining history. 

Outcomes

Completed in 2024, the Hibbing Trails and Signage Plan provides the city with a clear, phased framework for expanding bike and pedestrian infrastructure that improves wayfinding and provides safe connections between neighborhoods and downtown.

Ramsey County Parks and Recreation’s Soil and Water Conservation Division hired Barr to conduct a countywide stormwater reuse assessment. The purpose of the assessment was to identify and prioritize opportunities to use stormwater for irrigation across Ramsey County, with broader goals of conserving groundwater and improving surface water quality through reduced pollutant loading from stormwater. We began by collaborating with the county, watershed management organizations & districts, and other potential project partners to gather initial input and help build support for the assessment.

The assessment was conducted in four phases, beginning with a desktop (GIS) analysis to identify technically feasible sites based on parcel size, estimated available stormwater, and potential irrigation demand. The sites were then ranked using a scoring system that considered reuse volume and alignment with project goals. In the next phase, Ramsey County engaged landowners at top-ranked sites, and Barr conducted field visits to assess irrigation needs and develop reuse concepts. We then optimized reuse system sizing and provided stormwater reuse concepts and planning-level cost estimates for each high-ranking site. 

In the final phase, we prepared a comprehensive report documenting the assessment results. The report now serves as a valuable resource for municipalities and watershed organizations planning or seeking partnerships for stormwater reuse projects across Ramsey County.

The Vadnais Lakes Area Watershed Management Organization (VLAWMO), in partnership with White Bear Township, sought a sustainable alternative to irrigating Polar Lakes Park with 2.7 to 5.4 million gallons of potable groundwater each year. Facing increasing groundwater use restrictions due to its proximity to White Bear Lake and aiming to reduce pollutant loading to the impaired Wilkinson Lake downstream, VLAWMO engaged Barr to evaluate whether the park’s irrigation needs could be met with reused stormwater.

To build a comprehensive understanding of irrigation demand and available reuse water, Barr reviewed existing irrigation use data, analyzed contributing watershed flows, and conducted upland and bathymetric surveys to quantify storage within an on-site constructed mitigation wetland. Our team installed piezometers to understand groundwater interactions at the pond and leveraged wetland water-level, flow, and water-quality monitoring data to assess the potential to reduce pollutants and treatment needs. Using this information, we applied existing water-reuse calculators to optimize feasible system configurations. 

Barr developed two conceptual stormwater reuse designs serving separate irrigation zones within the park and prepared planning-level cost estimates. Results showed that a reuse system could meet more than 90% of the park’s average annual irrigation demand, with potable water needed only as backup. Barr also summarized potential wetland impacts for review by the Board of Water and Soil Resources and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—both of which expressed no permitting concerns at the feasibility stage. 

Through strong collaboration with VLAWMO and township leadership, the feasibility study is now guiding pursuit of grant funding for implementation. The proposed system will help protect groundwater resources, reduce pollutant loading, and support long term water resilience.

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 city's parks and trails.

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.

The Hibbing Parks and Trails 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 incorporated as an appendix to the plan.

To support the city's implementation, we prepared an action-oriented implementation plan outlining recommended management priorities and next steps for the city to consider. The master plan and implementation plan 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 to the park's recreational amenities.

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 adverse impacts on cultural 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 resources 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.