Colin McKernan, P.E., CFM

Nam Ngum 5 HEP, Laos. July 24, 2010. A 4m × 4.5m diversion tunnel. One monsoon flash flood. An incomplete RCC dam overtopping at EL 1044.7m. Workers sprint off the crest. Sirens blare. A crawler crane stands exactly where it shouldn't during this incident. What failed wasn't the dam. It was the assumption — that the diversion flood selected at design stage would behave as predicted. In Laos's mountain catchments, with 25 years of data or nothing at all, that's not hydrology. Scanty records, extreme monsoon variability — working out a credible diversion flood becomes educated guesswork at best. Then the compounding: debris chokes the inlet, effective tunnel capacity drops precisely when you need it most. Stilling basin incomplete — cascading water goes straight for the foundation toe. Abutments unprotected. Everything hitting at once. Nobody had written an EAP for this. Because technically, it's still a construction site. That distinction has cost lives elsewhere. The sirens worked at Nam Ngum 5. Everyone got out. Genuinely the only thing that went right that day. Construction stage is the highest-risk phase of a dam's life. We just don't regulate it like it is — not in Laos, not globally, and DSA 2021 India is no exception. Dam safety doesn't start at first filling. It starts even before that — at the drawing board, when someone decides what flood the diversion can afford to handle.

The rupture of our penstock pipe earlier this year has been one of the biggest challenges in Yuba Water's modern history. Beyond the physical damage, the incident has disrupted our water deliveries and hydroelectric power generation and affected the revenue that supports flood protection, environmental programs and other critical community investments. In our latest video, General Manager Willie Whittlesey reflects on the incident, the work underway and our commitment to rebuilding so we can continue serving the people of Yuba County and beyond.

Big progress on the Van Bibber Park trail connection! This new ~2-mile segment will link the Indiana Trailhead to the Fairmount Trail near North Table Mountain—connecting visitors to 24 miles of regional trails for walking, biking, running, and more. Here's how the site is shaping up. Stay tuned.

It was a fun surprise to see the Iowa Flood Center in a recent New York Times article. At the University of Iowa, I learned from their dedicated team of engineers, researchers, and problem-solvers focused on improving flood preparedness. Their work has made Iowa a leader in flood resilience, shaping my career in water resources. Proud to see their impact recognized nationally~

🌧️💧Storms are rolling in... and our flood mitigation is showing up BIG! The Uvalda Tributary Improvements project was built to address chronic drainage challenges and recurring neighborhood flooding. During a recent storm, a Uvalda-area resident caught this awesome clip, showing real-time proof that the system is doing exactly what it’s designed to do. 🙌 Mile High Flood District City and County of Denver #FloodMitigation #CommunityImpact #CreatingBetterPlacesTogether

Been waiting a long time for this to finally happen....full stretch of a brand new South Platte River Trail project has solar lights installed every 100 feet for continuous lighting! The final-ist touch has gone in for this trail expansion project. Can't wait to bike through at night and see how much better the experience is for trail users. This is the first major Denver Parks capital improvement project to include lighting in the design and several more are in the works. This project was federally funded so took extra time and effort to get BABA equipment included, but we did it with Fonroche Lighting America All users, all ages, all abilities, all times of the day! #parks #rec #recreation #trails #denver #solar #lighting

4️⃣ year ago today my life changed forever. A man turned directly in front of me as I was going downhill w a tailwind at 39mph (in a 45mph zone for those who care). The road had signage designating it as a bike route, it was broad daylight, Sunday morning, I was going straight and had the right of way. Yet he didn’t see me. Or did and didn’t care. He was out on a Sunday morning joyride with his 1 year old son in the back seat. Wasn’t impaired. Just misjudged and made a bad decision. The moment before impact I braced to slam face first into the front passenger corner of his truck. Either that or I was launching over it, I didn’t know which, but I knew it would be bad. I had no exit; I didn’t have time to get in front of the truck and i couldn’t bank left into oncoming traffic. There was no time. I remember thinking “not yet.” I wasn’t ready to be done. I wanted to keep living but I didn’t see how I’d open my eyes again after the impact. I went from 39 to 0 in the side of his truck. Somehow I’d gotten myself parallel to him and my right side took the hit. I opened my eyes on the asphalt stunned to be alive. And then the searing pain took hold. My leg felt like it had bones protruding from my skin. My shoulder was on fire. I wanted to disappear into the road. I clenched my eyes shut and didn’t open them again for a long time. That’s the physical experience. The spiritual one was far more significant: a portal opened in the road just before impact; old megan stayed back and new megan stepped through. I accepted the call i’d been ignoring/trying to outrun for years. I said yes-to my soul -and stepped fully into my hero’s journey. 🪞 💡 This crash began my road of trials. I went into the lower world and confronted it all. With brutal honesty I met myself. I was blessed to have a mentor come in just as this unfolded. I recall saying: Will you help me? I need something stronger than therapy. This feels insurmountable … thus began my initiation. 🪘 I have been growing my medicine ever since. What started out as the worst thing to ever happen to me has become my greatest gift. 🎁 🙏 …this bitchslap was my awakening. And six months later, in December 2022, co-counsel Rich Kaudy and I obtained a record setting verdict in Jeffco of 353million for the husband of Gwen Inglis, who was hit and killed on her bike ride in May 2021 by a driver. She left on a Sunday morning for a ride and didn’t get to come home. I left for a Sunday morning ride and came home, albeit forever impaired. The overlap of my own recovery and trial prep and trial was quite a climactic moment in my life to say the least. The alignment of my life’s work in such personal ways all at once was absolutely stunning and at times it dropped me to my knees in overwhelming grief, too. This is the human experience. 💡 **no AI was used to draft this post so plz forgive any typos **

Loveland, enjoy the ride! 🚗✨ North Taft Avenue heading southbound is open! This past year, the Public Works and Utilities Departments worked on another collaborative project to improve our water and stormwater infrastructure, as well as the roadway. The North Taft Avenue Water and Storm Improvements Project began in December 2025. In 2026, waterline infrastructure was completed in March and then followed up with majority of the stormwater work completed. Work on the east side of Taft Avenue along the west bank of Lake Loveland has been delayed due to higher-than-normal lake water levels this past winter. If water levels allow for safe construction in early 2027, the remaining stormwater improvements will move forward. The final phase of work will include replacing large shoreline rocks and installing erosion control measures to help stabilize the bank. Don't worry, Loveland, we won't be closing the road again. You may see a single lane or sidewalk closure during this work though. We appreciate everyone's patience as we completed another major capital improvement project for our water and stormwater divisions. To view previous work, visit https://lnkd.in/gT4Na7BU. 

I recently had the opportunity to compete in the Colfax Marathon Relay alongside an amazing group of women from HDR. 🏃‍♀️ After months of training and working toward a shared goal, we were thrilled to take home first place in the Corporate Women’s Relay division. I’m especially grateful to have strong female role models at HDR, including Esther Bowlin , Emma Sauerwein , Samantha DeLong , and Jordan Eller-Leiminger, PE , who inspire me to push myself both on the race course and in my career. I’m incredibly proud of what we were able to accomplish together and grateful to be part of this team.🏃‍♀️✨