Water cascades over a stepped stone dam on a sunny day, with a blue sky above and trees in the distance.

FPA Recognizes National Dam Safety Awareness Day

National Dam Safety Awareness Day, observed each year on May 31, highlights the critical role dams play in supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, energy production, and public safety.

As dams across the Northeast U.S. continue to age, owners face growing challenges associated with changing hydrologic conditions, more intense storm events, deferred maintenance needs, and evolving regulatory requirements. Recent storms throughout the region underscore the importance of proactive inspection, evaluation, rehabilitation, and emergency planning.

At French & Parrello Associates (FPA), our Water Resources, led by Christopher W. Marx, PE team helps dam owners and communities improve resiliency through:

  • Dam inspections and compliance evaluations
  • Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses
  • Spillway and outlet structure design
  • Stability and seepage assessments
  • Emergency Action Plan (EAP) support
  • Dam rehabilitation and construction-phase services

Dam safety is not only an engineering responsibility, but also a public safety priority. FPA encourages dam owners, municipalities, HOAs, utilities, and agencies to use National Dam Safety Awareness Day as an opportunity to review the condition and preparedness of their facilities and continue investing in resilient infrastructure for future generations.

To learn more, visit https://damsafety.org/NDSAD.

French & Parrello Associates

Joseph Tierney, PE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, Bucknell University
Michael Schappert, PE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: DE, NJ, NY, PA

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, Clemson University
Michael Piga, LLA, RLA

Licenses & Certifications

  • Licensed Landscape Architect: NJ
  • Registered Landscape Architect: NY, PA

Education

  • BS, Landscape Architecture, Rutgers University
Ian Mueller, PE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ

Education

  • ME, Civil Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology
  • BS, Civil Engineering, Widener University
Amit Mavalankar, PE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: AZ, CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, VT, Washington D.C.

Education

  • MS, Civil Engineering (Major Structures), Virginia Tech
  • BE, Construction Engineering, University of Mumbai
Christopher Nourry, GISP

Licenses & Certifications

  • Certified Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP)

Education

  • BA, Environmental Studies, Ramapo College
Christopher Marx, PE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ, NY, PA

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, Rutgers University
Tyler Martz, LSRP

Licenses & Certifications

  • Licensed Site Remediation Professional: NJ

Education

  • BS, Environmental Science, Richard Stockton College
Sara Irick, PE, CME, PMP, TDM-CP

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ, PA
  • Certified Municipal Engineer
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Transportation Demand Management Certified Professional (TDM-CP)

Education

  • MS, Civil Engineering, Villanova University
  • BS, Civil Engineering, Lehigh University
Edward Herrman, PE, PP, CME, CFM

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ
  • Certified Municipal Engineer, NJ
  • Professional Planner: NJ
  • Certified Floodplain Manager: NJ

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, Rutgers University
Thomas Ertle, PLS

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  • Professional Land Surveyor: DE, NJ, PA, NC, PR, WV
  • FAA UAS Remote Pilot

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, NJ Institute of Technology
Michael Drobny, PE, CME

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  • Professional Engineer: NJ, NY, PA
  • Certified Municipal Engineer: NJ

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, Rutgers University
Brian Dougherty, PE, BCEE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ, NY, PA
  • Board Certified Environmental Engineer (W/WW)

Education

  • MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers University
  • BS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers University
Jeffrey Betz, PE, CME, MBA

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ, NY
  • Certified Municipal Engineer: NJ

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, Rutgers University
  • MBA, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Denis Keenan, PE, CME

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: MD, NJ, PA, NY
  • Certified Municipal Engineer: NJ
  • Certified Floodplain Manager: NJ

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Matthew Kearney, PE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ, PA

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, Drexel University
Peter Tardy, PE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ, NY, PA

Education

  • MS, Structural Engineering, Rutgers University
  • BS, Civil Engineering, Rutgers University
Jon Moren, PE

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  • Professional Engineer: NJ

Education

  • MS, Structural Engineering, NJ Institute of Technology
  • BS, Civil Engineering, NJ Institute of Technology
Amin Gomaa, PE, LEED® AP

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  • Professional Engineer: CT, DC, DE, IN, KY, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA
  • LEED Accredited Professional

Education

  • BS, Electrical Engineering, Alexandria University
Eric Betz, PE, BCEE, CME

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ
  • Certified Municipal Engineer: NJ
  • Board Certified Environmental Engineer (W/WW)

Education

  • MS, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Rutgers University
  • BS, Civil Engineering, Rutgers University
Julia Moroney, PP, PCM, TDM-CP

Licenses & Certifications

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)
  • Transportation Demand Management – Certified Professional (TDM-CP)

Education

  • MA, Monmouth University
  • BA, Stockton University
Brian Decina, PE, CME

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: DE, NJ, PA
  • Certified Municipal Engineer: NJ

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, Villanova University
Matthew Gizzi, PE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ

Education

  • MS, Geotechnical Engineering, Rutgers University
  • BS, Civil Engineering, Rutgers University
Andrew French, PE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ

Education

  • BS, Civil Engineering, NJ Institute of Technology
Steven Tardy, PE

Licenses & Certifications

  • Professional Engineer: NJ, PA

Education

  • MS, Geotechnical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
  • BS, Civil Engineering, Rutgers University