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Osmosis Day Spa
Osmosis Day Spa has had a commitment to environmental sustainability since its beginning. With a desire to save water and better protect Salmon Creek, owner Michael Stusser decided to implement a graywater reuse plan that included a constructed wetland to clean water before irrigating a garden. We provided all services for planning, permitting and installing the graywater reuse system.
Before this only one other graywater project had been permitted in Sonoma County, and no constructed wetlands for domestic use had been permitted. Heather provided expertise in both of these areas and, with perseverance and creativity in the face of outdated regulations, we were able to develop a plan that could provide useful water while meeting county requirements. The final project will save over 1000 gallons of water per day and decrease loads on the old wastewater system, thus protecting Salmon Creek. On a larger scale, the project provides precedence for similar projects throughout the region and contributes (along with state-wide changes in graywater regulations), to a new set of graywater guidelines for Sonoma County.
Ethan provided expertise to install the system on this steep site with limited access. The business was not in a position to close during construction, and minimal soil disturbance was required adjacent to Salmon Creek, making Ethan’s specialized equipment essential. He used his small-scale, redirect burial drip hose layer to place hose 6 inches below the ground surface (in compliance with Sonoma County requirements at the time) at one foot spacing in an area 30'x185’, requiring over one mile of hose!
Finally, planting the constructed wetland required careful attention since the plants would have to withstand hot, dry summers when the constructed wetland bed would not always be completely full. Tim was able to develop a beautiful selection of plants that not only met project needs, but provided an aesthetically pleasing garden for visitors to view.

Fog Crest Winery
This 10,000 case winery, built on a saddle between two high points, presented challenges and opportunities. Kurt consulted on the location of the new well and water storage tank, placing them on the hill above the winery. This location allowed for gravity feed to the winery and reduced energy costs.
Kurt utilized existing sediment ponds and natural on-site channels to control and treat storm water.
Kurt provided complete civil engineering design for this winery on a challenging hillside site. Plans called for zero erosion or sediment runoff from the property. Specifically, Kurt planned and permitted the grading, drainage, and underground utilities, source water supply system and wastewater management for this facility.

Merriam Winery
Heather, Ethan, Kurt and Tim worked together to provide site development, wastewater management and a constructed wetland for this new winery in Healdsburg, CA. The site had been home to a condemned house, but the grounds were perfect for a new winery and vineyard. Owner Peter Merriam wanted to be able to produce up to 7500 cases of wine annually while limiting impact on water supplies, and preserve a small, though degraded, wetland area on his property. We were able to delineate the wetland area, grade the site to improve drainage and reduce erosion, and provide a wastewater management system that include a constructed wetland and pond. Kurt provided site planning, Heather consulted on the wastewater management system, while Ethan installed the system and Tim provided the planting plan.

Salvation Army
This historic site (500 acres) and building (1904) started its life as a resort, was later converted to an orphanage, and now serves as a drug rehabilitation live-in facility for 100 residents, and is major distribution center. The sewage treatment facility was far overloaded and in need of a complete replacement including all underground plumbing, manholes, septic tanks and treatment ponds. The challenges included 80-to-100-year-old piping and conveyances that were entirely un-mapped. The goal and task was to install over 1.5 miles of new sewer main and laterals without disrupting the daily lives of facility residents while minimizing site disturbance. A 20,000-gallon septic tank with new, effective, and balanced treatment ponds was successfully installed. Buildings were shifted over to the new plumbing before decommissioning the old septic tanks. Upgrading this beautiful, historic site to protect water resources and preserve site integrity exemplifies our commitment to community sustainability through environmental sustainability.

Vogler Residence
As a solution to poor drainage and onsite erosion, this pond was designed and implemented to provide water storage and add aesthetic value to the property. Tim designed and installed the complete pond system that includes an EPDM liner, gravel substrate, aeration system, an aquatic wetland prefilter, perimeter plantings through which water is filtered and returned, including aquatic plantings and a faunal ecosystem in the pond to maintain ecological balance and stability. The result is a pleasant landscape providing diverse habitat and beauty to residents and the community.

Fetzer Vineyards And Winery
Fetzer Vineyards has been a longtime promoter of sustainable practices in the wine industry. Back in 1999, Heather designed and helped install a large constructed wetland for providing a third stage of treatment for this 5 million case facility. She provided water consulting for the winery for several years. Since 2006, Fetzer has hired Kurt to consult on numerous domestic wastewater treatment systems and on a potable water upgrade for one of Fetzer’s farm labor housing locations. Kurt works closely with Fetzer’s management to ensure compliance with their overall philosophy of water conservation and environmental stewardship.

Weyker Residence
A dysfunctional spring-fed creek was an eyesore, required high maintenance, and was contributing to sedimentation issues downstream. Tim used a combination of techniques, including weed blocking, plantings, rockwork, and grading to stabilize and beautify the creek. A stone bridge with culvert was added to reduce traffic through the creek. Finally, the spring itself was cleaned and restored to improve flows and water quality. The final result was a system of spring, creek flow through aquatic plantings, and biological filtration providing clean, sediment-free water for a newly functional spring and pond.

Benziger Family Winery
Located in Glen Ellen, CA., the Benziger Family has had a long interest in sustainability. The first constructed wetland for treatment of winery wastewater was installed by Heather for the Benzigers back in 1998, while she was still in graduate school. An aerated pond already existed on the property, which at the time processed over 100,000 cases of wine. The inclusion of the constructed wetland gave a garden-like feel to the treatment area while improving water quality and decreasing aeration needs of the pond. We demonstrated that a subsurface constructed wetland could be planted with many decorative plants to provide color and texture to the wetland garden. Effluent from the subsurface constructed wetland then flows by gravity to a storage pond for later use as irrigation water.