cbec specializes in “green infrastructure” / urban stormwater assessment, feasibility and design. Low Impact Development is a primary focus area for our staff. We are innovators in the field of hydromodification planning, and we are influencing the way urban stormwater planning is incorporated into new development.

Low Impact Development (LID) – we are currently writing an LID manual and we try to incorporate LID Best Management Practices (BMPs) into our projects whenever possible.



cbec staff has been involved in hydromodification planning for several years. We are currently undertaking the Hydromodification Management Plan (HMP) for the Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership (SSQP).




Wherever possible, we try to influence the way in which urban stormwater design is incorporated into new development. We are constantly looking for new ways to create multi-functional creek corridors which combine the demands of stormwater management, flood risk reduction, water quality, ecosystem enhancement, recreation and aesthetics.



Concepts developed by C.Bowles/Drawings by Chris Kox, RCH

Typical schematic of traditional stormwater channel.




Typical photograph of traditional stormwater channel.



Concepts developed by C.Bowles/Drawings by Chris Kox, RCH

Gradual inevitable degradation of preserved channels incorporated into urban development where no consideration of the new hydrologic environment or the geomorphic conditions was undertaken (see Geomorphology).




Photograph of a preserved channel where no consideration of the new hydrologic environment or the geomorphic conditions was undertaken.



Concepts developed by C.Bowles/Drawings by Chris Kox, RCH

An alternative to traditional stormwater approaches using cbec’s multi-objective creek corridor approach, whereby stormwater, water quality, ecologic habitat, aesthetics and recreation are combined. In addition, this approach is able to handle the effects of hydromodification (see Geomorphology).




Examples of multi-objective creek corridors.





Multi Objective Creek Corridors

Slow the Flow.

The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water .