Catherine Mellette’s engineering career began on the water. Growing up in Alexandria, Va., she rowed on the Potomac River and witnessed how pollution and flooding impacted the area. She felt drawn towards a career that would help her better understand why that was happening, while also empowering her to design infrastructure that would mitigate the effects and help build resiliency. 

Mellette went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Georgia Tech and now works at WSP. Outside of work, she is an avid runner currently training for the Chicago Marathon and is working her way through Virginia’s state parks as part of the TrailQuest program.

This summer, Mellette competed on the pilot episode of Roads & Bridges’ Lightning Round, where we put her infrastructure knowledge to the test. We caught up with her to learn more about her path into engineering and her fascination with stormwater systems.

R&B: You have an interest in stormwater systems. What drew you to that area of civil engineering, and why do you think it's becoming more important?

CM: My first introduction to stormwater engineering was actually during a roadway engineering internship. I was immediately drawn to the complexities of the discipline, which I learned extend far beyond simply grading an area to drain and ensuring your system meets capacity. The goal is always multifaceted, with elements of hydrology, hydraulic design and regulatory compliance in every project. As storms become more intense, the importance of having robust drainage infrastructure for our roads and bridges is becoming more and more important to ensure our infrastructure is able to keep up.

R&B: As storms become more intense and rainfall patterns change, how do you think engineers need to rethink drainage and stormwater infrastructure?

CM: I think it's important for engineers to design projects with resiliency in mind. As storms intensify and become less predictable, it's more important than ever to ensure drainage systems can meet the demand. Designing for larger storm events and factoring in sea level rise in coastal areas provides an extra layer of defense and helps protect our infrastructure and those who use it.

R&B: What's one bridge or infrastructure project you've always wanted to see in person, and what makes it special to you?

CM: I've always been really inspired by infrastructure projects that double as community spaces. Think bridges with pedestrian walkways and lookouts, flood resiliency projects that double as parks. There's something very special about providing a service through infrastructure and then inviting the public in to use the space. A couple of these projects that are currently on my bucket list include the Lafitte Greenway in Louisiana and the Golden Gate Bridge in California.

Click here to compete in Roads & Bridges’ Lightning Round.