Christensen Associates Inc (CAI) services
Asset Management Service
Water resources projects have very long service lives - often exceeding one hundred years. As facilities age, owners face the challenge of extending the service life and modernizing the facility to meet today’s dam safety criteria and environmental standards while maintaining operations and controlling costs. Many owners find that upgrading existing facilities also offers the most practical and cost-effective opportunity to gain additional water resources or renewable energy benefits with least permitting risk.
Construction Management Service
Quality control, cost control, environmental compliance and claims management are some of many challenges facing owners implementing water and hydropower construction projects in today’s world of increasing regulatory oversight and limited budgets. Success requires careful planning of bidding, procurement and construction processes to achieve quality, cost and schedule objectives. Construction experience, knowledge of construction law and construction industry practices are important in developing the best implementation approach for each project.Dam Safety and Compliance Service
As our nation’s dams age, owners face the challenges of extending the service lives of these valuable assets for future generations. This ongoing process involves keeping up with changes in dam safety regulations and technology while at the same time controlling operations and maintenance costs. In addition, new FERC term limits for independent dam safety inspectors have mandated changes in personnel responsible for monitoring safety of hydropower facilities.
Flood Control and Protection Service
Recent catastrophic flooding in New Orleans provides a reminder of the flood risks that face many communities who live within the flood plain of major rivers. Funding for flood protection measures including construction of levees, improvement of water ways and improvements of upstream flood control storage is available from Federal and State Agenciesas an incentive to mitigate future loss of life and property damage.Much of this work is administered by the Corps of Engineers.
Hydrology and Hydraulics Analysis Service
Quantifying watershed runoff and resulting streamflow is essential for successful planning, design and operation of water resources projects.Potential effects of changes in climate present new challenges to the reliability of water supply projects. There is also concern regarding impacts to the magnitude and frequency of extreme floods.Licensing and Relicensing Service
Licensing and relicensing of hydroelectric projects in today`s complex regulatory environment presents opportunities, risks and challenges. Licensing of new hydro projects has become a risky undertaking due to the uncertain scope, duration, cost and outcome of the permitting process. owever, new governmental initiatives seeking to facilitate development of hydropower at existing dams and water resource facilities appear to be paving the way for a more efficient regulatory process. Economic incentives for renewable energy development are also helping to facilitate new development.