Memorandum
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

Subject: ACTION: Announcement of Midwestern Hydraulics Engineers Conference Madison, Wisconsin August 7-10, 2001

Date: January 23, 2001
From: James D. Cooper /s/ original signed by Director of Bridge Technology

To: Directors of Field Services
Division Administrators
Federal Lands Highway Division Engineers

In Reply Refer to: HIBT-20

The purpose of this memorandum is to announce and call for topics and papers for the Midwestern Hydraulics Engineers Conference. This conference is being jointly organized by the Office of Bridge Technology and the Midwestern Resource Center of the Federal Highway Administration, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT). The conference will be hosted by the Wisconsin DOT at Madison, Wisconsin. The preliminary dates for this 3 day conference are August 7 starting at 1:00 pm and adjourning at noon on August 10. Registration will start on August 7 at 11:30 am. A field trip is being planned for August 9.

The purpose of this conference is to promote the exchange of information and the transfer of technology between hydraulics engineers working in the State DOTs represented by the Midwestern Resource Center. The FHWA bridge and hydraulics engineers, State DOT's bridge and hydraulics engineers, roadway design engineers, county engineers, consultants and the academia are encouraged to attend, suggest topics and/or make technical presentations for this conference. While the conference program is still to be determined, it will be focused on the needs of the State DOT hydraulics engineers. We are soliciting ideas and suggestions for topics for this conference, including exchange of information, methods, procedures or technology advancements. Topic areas being considered for the conference are:

• Research and technology needs
• Panel discussion on policy issues
• New software tools
• Water quality issues
• Maintenance and management of highway drainage systems
• Special bridge scour issues such as cohesive soils and Midwestern terrain
• Stream stability issues
• Scour and stream stability countermeasures
• Plan of action for scour critical bridges
• Unknown foundation issues
• Case studies
• Opportunities for regional standardization of drainage products

We would appreciate it if you can inform the appropriate State DOT personnel about this conference and encourage them to participate. We also encourage the participation of your appropriate staff.

We would welcome any suggested topics or sessions and paper abstracts (no more than 200 words) to the Conference Program Committee by March 16, 2001, at the following address:

Federal Highway Administration
Office of Bridge Technology
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Room 3203/HIBT-20
Washington, D.C. 20590
Attn: Midwestern Hydraulics Engineers Conference

Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Jorge E. Pagán-Ortiz of my staff at (202) 366-4604, or Mr. William L. Oliva of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation at (608) 266-8483.

CC: William L. Oliva