Bull Run Filtration Project Delivery Advisory Team

Project Delivery Advisory Team (PDAT) role

The City of Portland convened the PDAT to ensure the Bull Run Filtration Project finishes strong. The PDAT includes nationally recognized infrastructure specialists and Portland Utility Board (PUB) members. The PDAT's mission is to strengthen construction delivery, enhance accountability, and serve the community. 

Their support will help project leadership navigate the complexities of large-scale construction to secure our water future. 

The PDAT is focused on: 

• Assessing people, processes, and tools 
• Refining risk management
• Supporting construction delivery
• Aligning leadership decisions with project needs

PDAT work sessions and findings  

The PDAT has planned sessions throughout 2026. Each session is designed to identify targeted action items and recommendations to strengthen performance and support successful delivery. The PDAT's findings are being shared with City leadership, the PUB, the Portland City Council, and the public. 

PDAT sessions include: 

• Session 1: Project Assessment 
• Session 2: Construction Risk Management 
• Session 3: Communications (summer)
• Session 4: Operational Readiness (fall)

Session 1: Project Assessment

The PDAT's first session focused on a comprehensive project assessment and began with a tour of the construction site to provide a firsthand view of the project's scale, complexity, and progress. 

During the session, PDAT members expressed confidence in the project team's proactive, self-critical approach and emphasized the importance of continuing focus on risk management, change management, and contractor accountability.

These PDAT findings were shared and discussed in the February 19, 2026 presentation by PDAT to the PUB.

Session highlights included: 

View full size image of A group of people sit in a conference room looking towards a speaker who is gesturing at a power point presentation on a project screen.

• Sharing expert insights on the unique challenges of megaprojects--transformative, once-in-a-generation investments that can span decades.
• Reviewing the comprehensive project assessment compiled by the expert advisors following weeklong observations onsite. 
• Resulting recommendations around people, processes, and tools included:
  • Strengthen onsite leadership and focus on construction delivery 
  • Recruit an experienced megaproject construction manager and dedicated commercial/contracts manager
  • Update the construction management plan
• Additional recommendations included:
  • Hold the contractor accountable
  • The heart of this project has moved onsite – the focus needs to be out there
  • Maintain the project team's dedication and focus on this project only
  • Shift leadership focus from the day-to-day to proactive long-term strategy

Session 2: Construction Risk Management

The PDAT's second session focused on proactive construction risk management and included progress updates on PDAT recommendations. 

These PDAT findings were shared and discussed in the April 7 presentation by PDAT to the PUB.

Session highlights included:

• Strengthening contractor accountability for safety, quality, budget, and schedule through proactive monitoring, communication, and documentation
• Promptly resolving outstanding change orders, especially those with schedule implications, to reset milestones and compensation
• Establishing effective governance to enhance cooperation and commitment between the parties
• Proactively managing requests for information and submittals to support material procurement and construction execution
• Preparing now for filtration facility startup and commissioning

Progress updates on PDAT recommendations:

• Recruited an experienced onsite Deputy Program Manager for Delivery and a dedicated Commercial Contracts Manager
• Implementing stronger project controls
• Finalizing a new baseline schedule
• Auditing the supply chain to secure pricing
• Strengthening contractor accountability
• Launching updated dashboards—including a public-facing tool—to improve execution, drive accountability, and provide transparency

PDAT members 

PDAT members were selected for their experience and expertise to provide insight, lessons learned, feedback, and recommendations to project leadership. Panel members are listed below. 

PUB members

The PUB is a community oversight body advising City Council and bureau leadership on budgetary and policy matters related to the City's utilities. It has regularly engaged with the City on the Bull Run Treatment Projects since City Council's 2017 decision to proceed with filtration. PUB members on the PDAT are:

Lauren Rosenkranz, PUB Co-chair 

• Environmental scientist with a master's degree in natural resources management and a multidisciplinary background in water resources, environmental compliance, and data-driven analysis
• More than eight years of experience working on renewable energy, water, and environmental projects 

Bruk Berhanu, Ph.D., P.E., PUB member

• Senior research specialist with the Pacific Institute, a global water resources think tank, leading water efficiency and reuse research projects 
• Water resources engineer previously from Austin, Texas, with five years at Austin's water and wastewater utility supporting development and implementation of the city's 100-year integrated water resources plan

National construction management experts 

Craig Martell, Vice President, Brown and Caldwell 

• Forty-five years of experience in program and risk management on large, complex water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the United States and in the Middle East
• Program management director for DC Water's $5 billion inspection and rehabilitation initiative and Philadelphia's $4.5 billion Water Revitalization Plan project 

Gavin Gilchrist, Vice President of Program Development, Stantec 

• Large-scale program management experience across the United States and internationally, helping clients successfully move high-budget projects (valued at $500 million to $5 billion) from planning to implementation  
• Project management experience includes the Willamette Water Supply Program; the Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Projects in Vancouver, BC; the $3 billion Pure Water San Diego Program; and major projects in San Jose, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Kansas City, New Orleans, Canada, and the United Kingdom

Roger van der Marel, Portland Water Bureau Deputy Construction Project Manager

• Decades of engineering and construction leadership experience with a focus on proactive risk management for major water, wastewater, transportation, and power projects in the United States, Canada, and Europe 
• Managed complex $1 billion programs with more than 60 procurement and contract packages and 15 contractors; recently completed assignment as program director for Sound Transit's 7-mile-long light rail extension in Seattle