Site Grading and Drainage Design

Performance You Can Count On—Because We Do the Work.

You are here:

Home
Site Grading & Drainage Design…

From the massive earthwork at the Silver Lake Reservoir Complex to the intricate canal systems for Semitropic Water Storage District, we design grading plans that balance aesthetics, rigorous engineering, and constructability.

How We Deliver Value

We deliver value by treating earthwork as a critical budget component. On the Wasco Stored Water Recovery Unit, the grading wasn’t just site prep; it was the project. We managed the excavation and placement for 38,000 linear feet of pipeline, a reservoir spillway, and a forebay, balancing cut and fill to minimize costly off-site hauling.

Optimizing Earthwork Quantities

At the Silver Lake Reservoir Replacement, the scope involved not just burying a 110-million-gallon reservoir but creating a 15-acre park on top of it. We look for opportunities to use onsite material effectively, turning potential disposal costs into structural assets for landscape and recreation features.

Stormwater Management & Compliance

Modern construction faces strict environmental regulations. We integrate stormwater management into the design itself. For the City of Davis WWTP, this meant more than just handling runoff; it involved protecting the adjacent wetlands that rely on treated effluent. Our designs comply with SWPPP and MS4 permits, ensuring your project manages volume and quality without creating maintenance nightmares.

Designing for Constructability

A plan that looks good on paper doesn’t always work for a bulldozer. We design grades with the operator in mind. The Semitropic Pond-Poso Spreading and Recovery Facility required constructing 34 interbasin structures and 20 pond overpours.

Our practical approach ensures that complex slopes and transitions can be built efficiently using standard machinery, reducing staking time and construction costs.

Protecting Structures and Utilities

Our primary grading objective is to move water away from critical infrastructure. This is vital for facilities like the CRR Incorporated Riverside County Environmental Center, where grading had to accommodate large anaerobic digesters and a receiving building while managing site drainage to prevent operational disruptions. We ensure sufficient cover for underground utilities to prevent conflicts and damage.

Design Grounded in Construction Reality

W. M. Lyles Co. approaches site design with the practicality of a general contractor and the precision of a design engineer. We have managed site preparation for complex water, wastewater, and energy facilities throughout California, often in challenging soil conditions and strict regulatory environments.

We don’t just draw contours; we deliver site solutions that account for equipment logistics, soil management, and long-term facility performance. When you need a site that is ready to build and built to last, we provide the groundwork for project success.