Protecting our History for Future Generations
/Historic preservation: the practice of protecting and preserving sites and structures reflecting elements of cultural, social, economic, political, archaeological or architectural history.
Read MoreHistoric preservation: the practice of protecting and preserving sites and structures reflecting elements of cultural, social, economic, political, archaeological or architectural history.
Read MoreIt’s a perfect day to go out for a walk in the park. Enjoy nature’s beauty and being outside.
Read MoreDid You Know . . . that each day we use an estimated 500 million straws?
That’s an average rate of 1.6 straws per person per day! (http://www.ecocycle.org/bestrawfree)
Read MoreWe can help. Spotts, Stevens and McCoy has the experience to assist you in processing your grant applications.
Read MoreOur team becomes part of our client’s team, and are always available to respond to short notice meetings or emergencies. We can be contacted for service 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Read MoreAxe Throwing - SSM was involved in a renovation project to structurally evaluate the existing roof structure for support of new units for heating and cooling the axe-throwing space.
Read MoreCold water streams provide excellent fish habitats. Unfortunately many streams in southeastern Pennsylvania run too warm to support fish hatcheries. Since most streams in agrarian areas lack sufficient vegetative buffer, tree planting programs are a common practice to stabilize stream banks and provide much needed shade to cool water temperatures.
Read MoreThe Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has introduced a program to make rebates available to businesses, governments, and other entities that install electric vehicle charging stations on their properties.
Read MoreSSM was the Engineer, Contractor, and Construction Manager in the Design-Build project for the analysis, repair, and rehabilitation of the River Park Sewage Treatment Plant.
Read MoreSSM developed a plan to convert a chilled water plant consisting of two independent chilled water systems comprised of 2 – 600 ton chillers (N+1) and associated pumps and 2 – 250 ton chillers (N+1) and associated pumps to a single system consisting of 3 – 400 ton chillers and associated pumps.
Read MoreSSM conducted a survey and performed an energy audit of the existing facility in 2010 and suggested several no cost and low cost strategies for saving energy as well as some capital improvement project that would have an impact on energy efficiency.
Read MoreSSM prepared preliminary and final design plans and specifications for the site and utility improvements associated with the Bingaman House Recreational Center located at Lake Antietam Park, Lower Alsace Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Read MoreSinkholes can be dangerous in many ways. They can cause damage to the foundation of a building as well as buried services like water and electrical lines, because they serve as conduits for surficial contaminants to reach groundwater. Knowing the risk of sinkhole formation is key to minimizing possible damages.
Read MoreThrough routine sanitary sewer inspections, sewer systems will amass a library of inspection videos. Cataloging these records for future reference has always been a challenge.
Read MoreSSM’s GIS department created and is now implementing customized field data collection apps for your mobile device that allow easy and accurate field data collection.
Read MoreWhen evaluating a property for development or improvement, the first questions to arise involve the location of mapped floodplains and wetlands. Increased access to online GIS data has made it quick and easy to answer those questions.
Read MoreA GIS-based infrastructure asset management program can be used to document all MS4 activities, including outfall inspections, basin assessments, public outreach activities, employee training, and BMP installation and maintenance. In addition to functioning as a records management database, the program can be used to generate required compliance reports electronically.
Read MoreIn a study finalized in August 2018, riparian buffers planted along streams provided an economic value to the environment! What exactly is a riparian buffer? This Best Management Practice is a vegetated strip of land along waterways that help protect the water from earth-disturbing activities that may impact water quality and other ecological issues. Planting trees, shrubs, flowering plants, and grasses provide a natural filtering system that can remove sediment, and create a better habitat for insects and wildlife.
The PA Department of Environmental Protection has endorsed restoration of riparian buffers as a key to reduce stormwater containing pollutants from entering these streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. The minimum recommended width of an effective buffer is 35 feet, but any buffer can help with reduction of erosion.
This new study, conducted by ECONorthwest, (ECONorthwest, "The Economic Value of Riparian Buffers in the Delaware River Basin," Delaware Riverkeeper Network, 2018.) discovered that nearly half of riparian forests in the Delaware River Basin have been cleared, and remaining areas are negatively impacted by suburban development. This study assessed the loss of ecosystem services, such as drinking water quality, property values, recreational opportunities, and other services, and compared them to the benefits of an effective riparian buffer. A monetary value was then assigned to the benefits of the ecosystems provided by the buffered areas.
Based on this collected data, the study found that riparian buffers can positively affect air quality, flood mitigation, recreation, wildlife habitats, and other areas.
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