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Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

Prairie Engineers, P.C.

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United States
Columbia, IL
Prairie Engineers, P.C.

Responsive, people-focused, can-do team of engineers & surveyors working nationwide.

Prairie Engineers provides comprehensive planning and design services focused on water and natural resources projects. Since 2010, our professional team of engineers, surveyors, and scientists has provided innovative and sustainable solutions to governmental agencies and select private clients throughout the Midwest. We have extensive capabilities and experience in civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, transportation, water resources, ecology and environmental science (NEPA), surveying and geospatial, land acquisition, and construction engineering.

10/28/2026

Understanding the land starts with understanding the water.

Prairie was asked to conduct a Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) delineation to identify and document water resources within a project area. Trevor Cunningham conducted fieldwork to assess the site for wetlands and identify and delineate streams.

This work helps establish the location and extent of potential aquatic resources, providing important information to support project planning, environmental reviews, and regulatory compliance.

And of course, Trevor had a little extra help in the field! We can't confirm the cows' qualifications in wetland delineation, but they certainly made for some friendly company.

10/27/2026

Connecting rail infrastructure and environmental stewardship!

Prairie Engineers will be attending the 28th Railroad Environmental Conference (RREC) on October 28-29. Kyle Wagner will be there representing Prairie, alongside Sarah Stai, who will present "Biodiversity on the Rails: From Track Beds to Bridges and Beyond."

RREC brings together railroad professionals, consulting engineers, researchers, and environmental regulators to exchange ideas and explore advances in environmental management, sustainability, and resilience across the rail industry.

Stop by Booth #23 to connect with our team!

We look forward to seeing you there!

10/26/2026

What can plants tell us about the health of an ecosystem?

Once we know what’s growing at a site, we can start looking deeper. A Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) uses plant species and their tolerance for disturbance to provide insight into the ecological condition of a plant community.

By looking at factors such as species composition, diversity, and Coefficients of Conservatism, our environmental scientists can better understand how intact or altered a site may be and where conservation or restoration efforts could have the greatest impact.

The plants are telling a story. An FQA helps us understand what they’re saying.

10/20/2026

Restoration starts with understanding what’s already there.

A vegetation survey can reveal more than what’s growing, it can tell the story of a site.

By identifying native plant communities, remnant species, invasive vegetation, and changes over time, our environmental scientists can better understand a site’s ecological condition and identify opportunities for restoration.

At Prairie, we use these insights to help prioritize restoration efforts and develop approaches that support healthier, more productive ecosystems.

Because knowing where a site has been helps us understand where it can go next.

10/19/2026

Engineering Oddities: Not every boundary line is where modern technology says it should be.

Many historic property corners remain legally valid even if they no longer match today’s coordinate systems. Surveyors must balance modern positioning technology with established records and legal boundaries.

10/14/2026

The latest edition of Prairie Field Notes is here!

Edition 7 takes a closer look at our SLED Market, featuring insights from SLED Market Lead Tim Schroeder, a look at one of our projects where the team encountered some unexpected slithery residents, and an Expert’s Lounge spotlight with Marina Osier, Natural Resources Discipline Lead.

From the communities we serve to the people and expertise behind the work, this edition offers a look at what’s happening across Prairie.

Check out the latest edition of Prairie Field Notes today!

10/13/2026

What can plants tell us about a site?

More than you might think.

Our environmental scientists use vegetation surveys to understand the ecological conditions of a site, identify important habitat characteristics, and help guide decisions related to restoration, wetlands, protected species, and more.

From identifying plant species and animal habitats to understanding their role within an ecosystem, our team uses the information gathered in the field to help make informed decisions for the future of a site.

This is just the beginning. Stay tuned as we take a closer look at vegetation and the role it plays in our work.

10/12/2026

Prairie Engineers is at GIS-Pro 2026!

We're excited to have Avantika Ramekar representing Prairie Engineers at GIS-Pro 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 12-15.

Avantika will be presenting "Geospatial Innovation for Aging Canals: A Path to Water Security," sharing how high-resolution topo-bathymetric LiDAR and photogrammetry can support canal rehabilitation planning and help turn complex geospatial data into actionable information.

We're proud to see Avantika share her expertise with the geospatial community and contribute to conversations around innovative applications of GIS and geospatial technology. If you're attending GIS-Pro 2026, be sure to connect with Avantika and say hello!

10/07/2026

You may have seen his face before on Prairie Views!

We wanted to give you a little more detail about Rick Vera and his role with Prairie Engineers. Rick joins our team as our Federal Geospatial Program Manager, bringing extensive geospatial experience from his career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including roles with USACE Headquarters and the Army Geospatial Center.

In his new role, Rick will manage our newly awarded Surveying IDIQ with the USACE Fort Worth District and support Prairie’s growing federal geospatial efforts. He’ll be working from his home near Houston, Texas.

We’re excited to have Rick on the Prairie team and look forward to all he’ll bring to our geospatial program!

Please help us give Rick a warm Prairie welcome!

10/06/2026

Prairie Engineers is at SIUE!

We're here at the SIUE Career Fair and ready to meet students looking to take the next step in their survey careers!

Whether you're searching for an internship, your first full-time opportunity, or simply exploring what's next, stop by our booth and talk with us. Come learn more about Prairie, our projects, our people, and opportunities to grow with our team.

Stop by and say hello!

Address

404 N Main Street
Columbia, IL
62236

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

http://www.prairieengineers.com/

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