Real Dirt: When Soil Scientists & Engineers Join Forces

Why Watersheds Sing When Geotech Minds Collide

Soil isn’t just biology – it’s physics. It’s chemistry. It’s infrastructure.
Most farmers know soil health dictates crop yields. Fewer realize that same soil determines whether a dam holds back monsoons or a ditch survives a 100-year flood. That’s where our secret weapon lives: the marriage of soil science and engineering.

FIELD CASE: The Hidden Symphony of a Geotech Test

What looks like noisy machinery? It’s actually a soil symphony:

1. The Drill Rig: Punches 30ft to creek bed level

2. SPT Hammer: Measures resistance with each blow

3. Soil Samples: Reveal secrets through lab analysis

What we learn from this dance:
→ Particle size distribution → Predicts seepage under dams
→ Cohesive strength → Calculates slope stability
→ Bearing capacity → Designs ditch armoring that lasts

WHY OUR COLLABORATION SINGS

At Catena Environmental, our soil scientists and engineers don’t just coexist – we co-design. Here’s how it plays out on watershed projects:

John Mumm, PE, puts it best:
"Gabby’s soil reports are my cheat codes. When she finds a heavy clays and salts, I know exactly where we WON’T be placing concrete or steel structures."

YOUR SOIL’S HIDDEN BLUEPRINT

Want to know what your dirt says about infrastructure resilience? Try this:

DIY Field Test (Engineer-Approved!)

1. Squeeze Test: Grab damp soil. Does it hold shape? (Cohesion clue)

2. Infiltration Timer: Pour 1 cup water. Time disappearance.

3. Shovel Shear: Cut vertical face. Does it crumble or slab?

👉 Share your results on Instagram @catenaenv—we take every chance to look at dirt first.

Psst!!! While our approach to collaboration helps builds better dams, 90 NM watershed dams currently risk collapse with no disaster funds due to non-compliance. Follow us @catenaenv to see how we are helping partners secure lifelines for communities downstream. 💧 #WatershedDamWednesday