In 2019, IME performed design, permitting, and environmental services for the Teton Valley Ranch Camp (TVRC), a large non-profit guest camp near Dubois Wyoming. An existing large septic tank and dosed leach field were placed too close to an existing wetland. When the drainage character changed due to a local forest fire, the leach field system was effectively drowned under the newly formed wetland. The camp was forced to spend upwards of $75,000 per year for trucks to haul sewage from the property into Dubois to maintain the sewer zones. IME was able to engineer a compliant, reliable, and cost-saving solution for the TVRC.

Wetland Delineation Study Because of the changes to the environment from a recent forest fire and subsequent long intervals of saturation in the spring, wetland conditions were developing in the existing leach field. It was essential the wetland areas be clearly defined for the new septic system to work as designed. IME performed a wetland delineation study and investigated the site for the presence of hydric soils, hydrophytic vegetation, and wetland hydrology indicators per United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) requirements. IME obtained permits from USACE and the Wyoming Bureau of Land Management as part of this study.

Sewer System Design Working with the TVRC Board of Directors and Wyoming DEQ/ WQD, IME designed a system that collects raw sewage from the three zones and places them into one simplified system. IME designed new septic tanks with a combined sewage lift pump that served as a dosage pump and a leach system with eight rotating leach field zones. The zones are located on a south-facing sandy hill to the north of the resort, far from the wetland. The system has a capacity of 12,000 gallons per day and was permitted through the Wyoming DEQ Underground Injection Control (UIC) Department.

Environmental Monitoring IME also provides groundwater gauging and sampling for TVRC. Prior to receiving the new UIC permit, IME sampled one domestic water well (upgradient) well and two downgradient monitoring wells on a semi-annual basis. The new UIC permit allows the ranch to monitor only the two downgradient wells, resulting in reduced environmental monitoring costs for TVRC. Recently, IME has taken over the collection and reporting of nitrogen, nitrate, and nitrite samples from the camp’s drinking water well for EPA Public Drinking Water System requirements. IME also assists TVRC personnel with collecting routine coliform tests and transporting them to the approved laboratory. We are pleased to streamline these environmental requirements so the camp can focus on creating an enriching and educational experience for the attendees.