Fall Engineering and Technology Symposium (FEATS)

Submitted by Barbara Broxterman

This fall, Oct. 10-13, 2006, WV hosted the annual Fall Engineering and Technology Symposium (FEATS) for the North East.

The purpose of the four day tour is to share knowledge, new technology and practical information related to conservation engineering planning and design. The idea of viewing the design, installation and maintenance of various conservation engineering practices as well as large scale water resource projects, is intended to lead to dialogue that stimulates discussions, shared experiences, enhanced learning and technology transfer between the states.

Engineers and technicians from CT, IN, MA, ME, MI, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, ENTC, and NHQ were in attendance.

	The FEATS tour started in Morgantown and proceeded to North Fork Hughes River Water Treatment Plant.
	The tour included the Recreation Area at Cokeley and the North Fork Hughes River Dam where Sam Ware discussed the projects.

That evening Al Wood provided a fascinating power point tour of his trip to Afghanistan.

	The next day the group left Bridgeport and met with Mike Mullennex at Pleasant Creek WRP.
	The group traveled onto Harrison County to look at a solar pump and water trough system on the Rice Farm.

Due to incumbent weather, we were unable to drive up to the trough, but Mrs. Rice and Jeff Griffith provided a thorough explanation of the system; the installation and operation and maintenance aspects.

The tour continued to Elkins and the Elkwater Fork Supply Dam. Sam Ware gave a history of the site and answered a number of questions. The RCC Dam is currently under construction and due to the enormity of the job, a lot of interest generated.

The group then traveled onto to Buckeye where Susan Davis and Loren Rice explained the Knapps Creek Natural Stream Restoration Program and from there they traveled to Marlinton to stay the night.

Thursday, the group got up early to tour the Green Bank Radio Observatory, and then traveled on to look at a HUAP and WSF in Pendleton County where Doris Brackenrich and John Weller provided information on the various components and design.

We lunched at Seneca Caverns, stopped to view Seneca Rocks and then headed to Lost River where Dick Judy discussed the various sites. The group stayed overnight in Moorefield. Bob Thompson and Michael Mirage provided the group with a slide slow presentation about their New Orleans and the Gulf Coast EWP experiences.

The next morning the FEATS tour made their way back to Morgantown; but, made a few stops along the way. The group visited an Agrichemical Handling Facility (pictured left) at Mr. Shanholtz’s farm with Steve Ritz leading the discussion.

The last stop was at the Higson Farm, in Wiley Ford, to view a large scale vegetable farm operation where Barbara Broxterman discussed the microirrigation and traveling gun irrigation design which is planned to be installed.

Andy Deichert, set up the tour, but it would not have been complete with out the assistance from the field offices, DC’s, technicians or engineers explanation of the project and the landowners willingness to have a group of 6 vans show up at their farm and view their site.

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