Water Resources & Offshore Geotechnics

Conrock/Warner Recharge Basins Transfer Tube Project, Anaheim, CA.

Morteza led the engineering efforts to evaluate the impacts of water level drawdown in 70-foot deep Conrock & Warner basins on the Orange County Feeder embedded in the adjoining berm. Finite element modeling and slope stability analyses coupled with seepage modeling were employed in this project to ensure the structural integrity of the feeder and acceptable deformations within the berm (MIDAS GTS NX/SLIDE/SlopeW).

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City of Carlsbad As- Needed Geotechnical Services, Carlsbad, CA

Lead Engineer and Technical Reviewer for multiple water and sewer projects in the city of Carlsbad, including the Kelly Drive, Tyler Street Alley, and Pio Pico Drive Sewer Replacement projects. The services performed include geotechnical investigation, laboratory testing, groundwater monitoring, and environmental sampling and analyses in preparation of the associated dewatering permits. The geotechnical recommendations included excavation characteristics of the subsurface materials, temporary excavation/shoring design parameters, remedial grading, subgrade modulus, and preliminary pavement structural sections.

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Morro Tank Movement Evaluation, Fallbrook, CA

Lead geotechnical engineer for this forensic geotechnical evaluation of a distressed 40-foot tall and 135-foot diameter hillside water storage tank for Rainbow Municipal Water District. Recently observed distresses and those previously documented consist of vertical and horizontal movements of the tank resulting in separation of the tank from its foundation. Atlas prepared field, laboratory, and inclinometer monitoring programs for the purposes of evaluating the extent and potential causes of the tank movement and to provide repair recommendations.

Atlas’ evaluation consisted of excavating test pits and drilling borings which were then converted to slope inclinometer casings. All explorations were logged and relatively undisturbed and disturbed sampled were collected for laboratory testing to evaluate the engineering properties of the soil and rock material underlying the water storage tank. Monthly monitoring of the slope inclinometers is being performed to document deformations within the subsurface strata and the earthen slope adjacent to the tank. Atlas will utilize the results of our evaluation to provide geotechnical conclusions regarding the observed movement of the water storage tank and will provide short- and long-term repair recommendations that the district may use to put the water tank back into service.

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Good Hope and Mead Valley Water Project and Sewer Slug Testing, Riverside County, CA

Lead geotechnical engineer for this Eastern Municipal Water District’s water and sewer project consisting of approximately 7,800 feet of new water line in the Good Hope area, 5,600 feet of new water line in the Mead Valley Cajalco Corridor area, and about 4,000 feet of new water line constructed along various streets located throughout the Mead Valley area. Two storm drain crossings are also proposed in the Good Hope area. The project also consist of the design and construction of approximately 4 miles of new sewer pipeline along Cajalco Road.

Atlas explored subsurface conditions by drilling fifteen borings and collecting samples for laboratory testing. Two of the borings were subsequently converted to groundwater monitoring wells with flush mount, traffic-rated well completion boxes. Slug testing was performed providing a preliminary assessment of groundwater hydraulic conductivity characteristics. A seismic refraction evaluation consisting of nine seismic traverses to develop subsurface velocity profiles in order to assess the depth to bedrock and apparent rippability of the subsurface materials was also performed.

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La Jolla Improvement, San Diego, CA

Lead geotechnical engineer for the geotechnical investigation supporting the design and trenchless construction of a new 16-inch water pipeline segment beneath La Jolla Parkway. The investigation included borings and laboratory testing to characterize subsurface conditions, consisting of engineered fill with cobbles and Ardath Shale. Key considerations included potential excavation difficulty, slope stability, and the presence of nearby inferred fault zones. Geotechnical recommendations addressed trenchless construction methods, pipe bedding and backfill, pipeline support, corrosion potential, and pavement section design.

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Otay Water Treatment Plant Raw Water Pump Station, Chula Vista, CA

Lead engineer for a desktop geotechnical reconnaissance study for the Otay WTP switchboard replacement. The study assessed geologic conditions using existing geotechnical reports and maps. Subsurface materials included fill, fanglomerate deposits, and metavolcanic rock. Preliminary conclusions addressed depth to bedrock, potential for variable excavation difficulty, and future site-specific investigation needs.

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Otay Water District, 870 Reservoir Inlet Pipe Realignment, Otay Mesa, CA

Lead geotechnical engineer for the evaluation of subsurface conditions and excavation feasibility related to the realignment of the reservoir inlet pipe at the 870 Reservoir site in Otay Mesa. The work involved characterizing the geologic conditions through soil borings and laboratory testing to support construction of a new 30-foot-deep trench within the existing reservoir berm. Subsurface materials consisted of engineered fill and sedimentary rocks of the Otay Formation.

Key geotechnical challenges included excavation through dense, cobble-rich soils, management of expansive soils and oversize materials, and ensuring the stability of the reconstructed berm slopes. Based on the site conditions, design recommendations included excavation support measures, trench backfill specifications, bedding material guidance, and pavement sections. Liquefaction and slope instability were evaluated and found to be negligible concerns.

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San Pasqual Valley Infiltration Testing, San Diego, CA

Lead engineer for field infiltration testing and subsurface characterization as part of the City of San Diego’s Groundwater Sustainability project. The study involved in-situ testing using modified constant-head, single-ring infiltrometer method at eight locations along Santa Ysabel Creek. Testing procedures were developed to address the high flow volume and permeability variability across the site. Collected soil samples were tested for particle-size distribution to classify subsurface materials, which consisted primarily of poorly graded sands and silty sands. Results provided key input for evaluating infiltration capacity of the streambed sediments and supported planning for future water recharge and sustainability efforts.

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Stormwater Capture Parks Program, North Hollywood, CA

The intent of the Stormwater Capture Parks Program was to capture up to 2,912 acre-feet of stormwater and urban runoff per year that drain from 5,868 acres within a portion of the San Fernando Valley in order to reduce the potential for flooding, improve stormwater quality, increase water supplies through stormwater capture, and provide recreational, social, and economic benefits. The stormwater runoff was planned to be diverted into proposed stormwater capture and infiltration BMPs within nine City of Los Angeles parks generally located along the SR-170 corridor for replenishment of the San Fernando Groundwater Basin. I managed and led the geotechnical engineering efforts pertaining to two parks in North Hollywood included in this program. The geotechnical recommendations in this project included percolation rates, excavation recommendations, foundation design, lateral earth pressure and shoring recommendations, and geotechnical parameters required for the design of underground utilities.

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Murphy Reservoirs Project, Whittier, CA

The purpose of the Murphy Reservoirs Project was to support the replacement of two cylindrical 0.5-million-gallon water reservoirs in the City of Whittier with a single 40-foot high reservoir with a total capacity of 2.31 million gallons. I managed and led the engineering efforts in this project to evaluate different foundation systems, the stability of earthen slopes adjacent to the proposed tank, retaining wall design, pavement design for the surrounding access road, and the design seismic ground motion.

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National City Marine Terminal, Berth 24-11 Repairs, National City, CA

I led the engineering efforts to evaluate the impacts of water level drawdown in 70-foot deep Conrock & Warner basins on the Orange County Feeder embedded in the adjoining berm. Finite element modeling and slope stability analyses coupled with seepage modeling were employed in this project to ensure the structural integrity of the feeder and acceptable deformations within the berm (MIDAS GTS NX/SLIDE/SlopeW).

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SPD 22 Offshore Oil Jacket Platform, Persian Gulf, IR

The SPD 22 offshore oil jacket platform in Persian Gulf is founded on a group of piles with a length of 300 feet below the seabed. I contributed to the geotechnical recommendations and design of this oil jacket platform including an evaluation of the bearing capacity of the pipe piles, proposing the Soil Resistance to Driving (SRD) curves, and a preliminary discussion on the drivability of the proposed piles.

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Several Breakwaters, South Coast, IR.

I contributed to the geotechnical recommendations and design of several breakwaters along the south coast of Iran. This included ensuring the stability of breakwaters via geotechnical controls for various bearing capacity failure modes, excessive differential settlement, and slope stability analysis.

A Commercial Wharf, South Coast, IR.

The Kish commercial wharf was planned to increase the capacity of the main port of this island in Iran. I contributed to the geotechnical design of the project by offering the geotechnical design of the foundation piles and performing other geotechnical controls of the project.