Donald L. Hamlin Consulting Engineers, Inc.
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AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING PROJECTS
CHAPUT FAMILY FARMS WASTER TRANSFER SYSTEM - NORTH TROY, VT
The Chaput Family Farms milks approximately 1,400 cows, produces 18.5 million gallons of manure per year, and was the first State-regulated Large Farm Operation. Our firm provided complete land surveying, engineering design, permitting, and construction certification for an underground manure transfer pipe system that can convey manure from the main manure pit to satellite pits and provide riser output locations in key locations along the pipe network, allowing the farm to spread manure across approximately 1,000 acres of agricultural fields. The project team included representatives from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Hamlin Consulting Engineers, Inc.
The project team worked together for months to perform desktop analysis, test excavations, wetland delineations, and route scouting to locate several alignments for the proposed manure transfer pipe. The pipe network included over 3 miles of 8 inch manure transfer pipe.
CONANT’S RIVERSIDE FARM WASTE TRANSFER SYSTEM - RICHMOND, VT
The goal of this project was to design and construct an underground manure transfer pipe system that could convey manure from Conant Farm’s main manure pit to its surrounding agricultural fields by installing riser outputs in key locations along the pipe network, allowing the farm to spread manure with less vehicular transportation.
The project team (Conant’s Riverside Farm, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, and Hamlin Consulting Engineers, Inc.) worked together for months to perform desktop analysis, test excavations, topographic surveys, wetland delineations, archeological investigations, and route scouting in order to locate an appropriate alignment for the proposed manure transfer pipe. Our firm prepared engineering design plans for the manure transfer system, which included crossing the Winooski River to service agricultural fields in the Towns of Richmond, Jericho, and Williston.
J&R FAMILY FARM NEW WASTE STORAGE FACILITY - TROY, VT
DLHCE partnered with the J&R Family Farm, NRCS, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Market to provide water quality improvements to J&R Family Farms. The farm had an existing earthen manure storage structure that was undersized and breached. The project included a significant amount of coordination with the farm and funding agencies to find a balance between the farm’s operational preferences, goals of the water quality improvements, and mechanics of the funding requirements.
The project design included removing the existing earthen manure storage structure and removing the existing holding tanks for the milk house wastewater. The manure gutter cleaner and stacking system were modified to discharge manure from the barn to a new concrete reception pit. In addition, the project included a new concrete barnyard area surrounded by concrete buck walls and expanded and improved heavy use areas for production and agricultural bag storage.
QUARRY HILL FARM - CAMBRIDGE, VT
Our firm worked with the Quarry Hill Farm in Jeffersonville, Vermont on a new 100 x 50 ft. waste storage facility and a 5,500 sq. ft. heavy use area. We prepared concept plans for the farmer, including a 3D model of the foundation in preparation of final design plans. We also worked with the hoop structure manufacturer to provide appropriate fastening and geometry design for the foundation. Our services for this project included topographic surveying, engineering design, permitting, cost estimating, and construction phase services.
THIBAULT FARM MANURE AND WASTEWATER HANDLING AND STORAGE - COLCHESTER, VT
Our firm provided project management services, assistance with a soils investigation, construction inspection, and certification services for the Thibault Farm Manure and Wastewater Handing and Storage Project on Malletts Bay Avenue in Colchester, Vermont. Our firm also teamed up with Knights Consulting Engineers, Inc. to provide geotechnical engineering services for the Slurrystore manure and wastewater storage structure. The project included a new concrete barnyard, milk house wastewater conveyance and storage, and manure conveyance and storage systems. The project included a 112 ft. diameter x 19 ft. tall glass-lined steel tank for manure and wastewater storage. The project team prepared a proposed layout for the soil borings, and our survey crew provided stakeout services for the drilling crew. The project team provided recommendations regarding the fill material needed below the structure and summary reports of the boring logs. Our team performed on-site field testing of the compacted fill material to confirm its compliance with geotechnical recommendations.
POST FARM WASTE STORAGE FACILITY - ROYALTON, VT
Our firm worked with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to provide agricultural water quality project planning, design, and construction services. Our firm was selected to assist the program with the design of structural farm projects that will reduce the phosphorus and nitrogen loads delivered to water sources, including manure storage facilities, heavy use area management, waste transfer, clean water diversion, and milk house waste treatment.
We prepared plans for the Agency for a waste storage facility and waste transfer upgrades at the Post Farm in Royalton, VT. Our firm prepared concept plans and prepared final plans for a 28 x 36 sq. ft. waste storage structure and waste transfer improvements. The goal of the project was to provide a covered concrete structure to store waste and prevent the migration of the waste to the nearby stream. We used the 3D model shown on the left to visually portray the design to the farm’s owner so he could see how the structure would relate and connect to the existing barn shown.
POULIN FARM - RANDOLPH, VT
DLHCE worked with the Poulin Farm in Randolph, Vermont on a new waste storage facility and heavy use area. We prepared several concept plans for the farmer and developed 3D models to visually portray the design to the farmer so he could see what the structure would look like from ground level. Our services for this project included topographic surveying, engineering design, and construction cost estimating.
FORESTRY SERVICES FACILITY - GROTON, VT
DLHCE provided permitting and engineering services for the construction of a large wood chip building, firewood storage building, wood kiln, office, and new equipment storage and working area for Catamount Forest Products, LLC. Our office prepared an Act 250 permit application for the commercial improvements on-site and also performed land surveying services, engineering design, and permitting for a 10,000 sq. ft. expansion to the equipment storage and working area. Our office worked with representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Vermont Wetland Section as the proposed expansion area was in a wetland.