Water Quality/Wetlands Archives - Center for Environmental Excellence

FHWA Now Accepting Nominations for 2022 Environmental Excellence Awards

By Amber Garnett November 3, 2021

The Environmental Excellence Awards (EEAs) recognize outstanding transportation projects, processes, and organizations that incorporate environmental stewardship into the planning and project development processes using Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding sources. Any organization, agency, group, or individual in the public, private, or non-profit sectors may submit a nomination Entries are due by December 15, 2021.

MnDOT Trying to Cut Back on Its Salt

By September 9, 2021

When it snows in Minnesota, drivers want the roads and bridges cleared – now. However, simply dumping mass amounts of salt on the roads is an outdated practice for the…

Tennessee DOT Helps Fund Two Trash Exhibits at Aquarium

By aharding April 28, 2021

A pair of new exhibits at the Tennessee Aquarium funded by the grants from the Tennessee Department of Transportation illustrate how microplastics and other roadside trash can negatively affect the…

Video: Caltrans Uses Boat Fleet to Clear Waterways of Trash

By aharding February 10, 2021

The California Department of Transportation recently put together a video highlighting how its boat fleet in the San Francisco Bay Area – typically used to transport engineers, biologists, and maintenance…

Hawaii DOT Launches Storm Water Online Learning Series for Kids

By aharding January 6, 2021

Protecting the ocean, rivers, and streams from pollution is the focus of a new online learning series for kids launched by the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s Storm Water Management Program.…

Filling Pavement Temperature Data Gaps to Prevent Overuse of Road Salt

By aharding December 23, 2020

Could more accurate and consistent pavement temperature data held reduce the overuse of salt and other ice-melting chemicals during winter operations? The Iowa Department of Transportation plans to find out…

Video: WSDOT Makes Bridge Safer for Human Travelers & Fish Species

By aharding October 28, 2020

The Washington State Department of Transportation recently wrapped up a roughly $13 million fish barrier correction project – resulting in a new 440-foot bridge that spans Kilisut Harbor along State Route 116.…

Removal of Causeway Segment Helps Florida DOT Restore Tampa Bay

By Amber Garnett November 18, 2019

The Florida Department of Transportation has come up with a unique solution to help restore water quality and habitat in Tampa Bay: removing over 200 feet of a land bridge…

Colorado DOT Employs Innovative Distillation Approach to Treat Wastewater

By Amber Garnett April 7, 2019

An innovative distillation treatment system is helping the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) treat greywater from the floor drains of its maintenance facilities. This new system not only is showing…

New Hampshire DOT Pioneers New Approach to Construction Stormwater Management

By Amber Garnett December 12, 2016

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s award-winning work managing construction stormwater to protect two water bodies adjacent to Interstate 93 has been a successful demonstration of innovative techniques under real-world…