Recent Events

Aqua Engineering is excited to announce the appointments of Doug Macdonald and Darren Salvador to the position of Vice President. In addition to current production and marketing responsibilities, both Doug and Darren have a position on the firm's Board of Directors and join their executive team members in overseeing company operations.

Elaine Bustos, current Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, will also take on the responsibility of Secretary/Treasurer for the firm.

Rich Belt is Aqua Engineering's newest principal, and has the added responsibility of top-level project oversight and market sector management. Rich oversees the agricultural engineering market and is currently pursuing opportunities in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming.

Bob Beccard, President of Aqua Engineering for over ten years, continues his position as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. The remaining members of the ownership and management group include Terry Little, Senior Project Manager; and Cullen Kinoshita, Project Manager.

After founding Aqua Engineering 35 years ago to become an internationally renowned irrigation engineering firm, Stephen Smith and co-founder MaryLou Smith have left the firm, having sold their shares to Aqua Engineering's seven remaining partners. Those partners will continue their roles in the management of the company.

Robert Beccard, PE joined the company in 1981 and has been the firm's president for over ten years. He and the other partners are well-prepared to lead the firm in 2010 and beyond, anticipating a swift and seamless transition. "We will continue to provide our diverse client base with innovative strategies to irrigate landscapes and agriculture, with emphasis on conserving the world's limited supply of water," he said.

 Having long been active players in national and regional irrigation and water activities, both Stephen and MaryLou have immediate plans for the future. Stephen will undertake joint efforts with others, including a founding investment in Regenesis Management Group, LLC, a start-up high technology irrigation and water optimization venture. MaryLou will continue her efforts in facilitating collaboration on water policy issues in Colorado and the West through an association with the Colorado Water Institute.

Firm Principal Doug Macdonald said, "Aqua Engineering has always been about looking to the future - using the latest technology and the best professional experience to solve complex irrigation problems. We are excited about what the future holds for both Aqua Engineering and for the Smiths."

Three of Aqua Engineering's senior managers recently authored an article for Plumbing Systems and Design magazine discussing the elements of a well-engineered golf course irrigation system. The article takes an in-depth look at the importance of hiring a professional irrigation consultant to design an integrated, water-conserving system for an industry that is consistently in the spotlight for water use. Click here to read the article.

The September issue of ASLA's Landscape Architecture magazine contains a feature article on Shangri La Nature Center and Botanic Gardens, a LEED Platinum certified project in Orange, Texas for which Aqua Engineering provided irrigation engineering services. The article is framed by the impact of Hurricane Ike on the facility's construction, and how the project team turned a disaster into a sustainable solution. Click here to read the article. 

What is the future of water measurement? Aqua Engineering knows quite a bit about this topic, which is why Stephen Smith was recently quoted in the Colorado Foundation for Water Education's Headwaters article on the subject titled "A Stream of En-Gaugement." Click here to read the article.

Richard (Rick) Aust, P.E., Partner and Vice President will be leaving Aqua Engineering this summer to pursue his other water passion: boating. We will miss Rick's knack for problem solving and ability to come up with an "out of the box" solution. Thankfully, Rick has mentored a whole generation of young engineers who have caught his problem-solving fever. Together with our strong team of partners who represent over 200 years of combined expertise, you can rest assured that you will received the same innovative water solutions you're accustomed to from Aqua Engineering, Inc.

Bon Voyage, Rick!

The newly replaced 100+ year old diversion headworks structure at Greeley Canal No. 3 was dedicated last Saturday (5/16). Aqua Engineering provided a feasibility analysis for the implementation of a phased canal modernization in 2006, and since then has provided design and construction management services for the diversion structure and other projects on the canal. Aqua Engineering assisted Greeley Irrigation Company in obtaining a low-interest loan from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, a $75K grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the realization of approximately $50K in cost-savings on the construction of the headworks structure. See the Ditch and Reservoir Company Alliance (DARCA) website for additional information.

We are pleased to announce that our irrigation and pumping system design for Bethke Elementary School in Timnath, Colorado received an Excellence in Irrigation Honor Award in Commercial and Public Works from the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC), the highest level of award issued by the organization.

This award is in addition to the LEED® Gold Certification and 3 Green Globes™ rating the school received in 2008.

Aqua Engineering's NCWCD Project Featured in Engineering Colorado

Aqua Engineering intern Travis Bottini won first place in the team Irrigation Assembly event, and fifth place in the individual Irrigation Design event during the Student Career Days for PLANET (Professional Landcare Network) held in March. A total of 798 students participated in individual and team competitions. As a result of his first place win, Travis gets an all expense paid trip to San Antonio, Texas in late fall to attend the annual Irrigation Association (IA) conference.  Congratulations Travis!