Technical Tours APWA FALL ConferenceOctober 29, 2025$45 Additional Fee
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Mirror Pond Connections: Trail/Boardwalk and Tour Leaders: Mike Faha/GreenWorks and Michael Roberts/HDR Gracefully winding along the banks of Mirror Pond in Drake Park, this environmentally sensitive trail/boardwalk and bank improvements project provides improved access to one of Bend, Oregon’s most iconic views and completes a key portion of the eleven - mile Deschutes River Trail that once detoured through downtown. The fully ADA accessible, multi-use pathway revitalizes a natural riverfront park’s ecosystem and promotes healthier living by attracting trail users of all abilities to be closer to nature. The boardwalk effortlessly navigates along the winding banks of Mirror Pond while immersing visitors in the river’s ecosystem, safely avoiding interactions with vehicular traffic, and providing views of the iconic mirrored reflection of the Cascade mountains on the horizon. The project team developed the continuous pathway to naturally follow and respect the rugged riverfront terrain and ecosystem in a cost-effective, environmentally sensitive, and constructible configuration. This context-appropriate solution required multiple design revisions informed by technical expertise, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration. The team was challenged with navigating and preserving rocky geology and significant grade differences along the river’s edge, avoiding stormwater pipe outfalls, and meeting tree preservation requirements. The final design achieves full pathway mobility while improving riverbank conditions with riparian stabilization and maximizing preservation of native vegetation, including mature trees. Project Team: GreenWorks, HDR, R&W Engineering, InterFluve, Pacific Habitat Services, Ron Bush Surveying, Carlson Geotechnical
Photo credit: Michael Roberts For this tour, participants will need to drive or carpool to the starting point. Participant limit: 20 | Awbrey Waterline Project – Enhancing Bend’s Tour Leaders: Austin Somhegyi/City of Bend, Carrie Harris/City of Bend
Join us for an exclusive field tour of the recently completed Awbrey Waterline Project, a transformative $35 million alternative delivery progressive design-build project aimed at bolstering water transmission capacity and improving system resilience across Bend. The centerpiece of the project is the installation of 8,600 feet of new 30-inch water transmission main connecting Mt. Washington Drive to the Awbrey Reservoir near Hillside Park. This multifaceted effort also included: Replacement of 2,300 feet of 24-inch distribution main on NW Ninth Street Installation of 1,500 feet of new 15-inch sewer main along Shevlin Park Road Upsizing 3,500 feet of outdated water pipe with 18-inch ductile iron to improve transmission between Awbrey and Pilot Butte Reservoirs Replacement of 8,000 feet of aging 6-inch water main with 8-inch pipe to enhance fire flow and water quality Portland Avenue improvements associated with the Transportation General Obligation Bond: buffered bike lanes, upgraded lighting, and enhanced signage and pedestrian crossings Stormwater upgrades aligned with the South Awbrey Butte Drainage Project Construction of a new valve building with future-ready in-conduit hydropower accommodations and electrical upgrades at the Awbrey Pump Station Tour Structure: Two Key Stops Stop 1: Pioneer Park This stop will highlight the collaboration between two major capital projects, emphasizing how coordinated planning and execution helped minimize community impacts such as traffic detours and service disruptions. Stop 2: Awbrey Reservoir At this location, participants will explore the Awbrey Waterline Project in depth and engage in discussions on system-wide water infrastructure planning. Topics will include: Expansion of the water filtration facility to improve resilience against high turbidity events caused by wildfire Strategic upsizing and replacement of groundwater wells to support long-term water supply reliability Near-term implementation plans for in-conduit hydropower at the newly constructed valve building, showcasing Bend’s commitment to sustainable and energy-efficient water operations This tour offers a unique opportunity to see the project’s impact firsthand and learn about the innovative approaches shaping the future of Bend’s water system. For this tour, the City of Bend will provide a 15 passenger van and will pick up participants at the convention center at 8 am. Participant Limit: 15 |
