Richard A. Jones, P.E.
Agricultural Engineer
Project Manager, Barra do Cuanza, Angola, Africa
For the Palmiera Real Resident & Resort Water Supply project, Mr. Jones acted as Project Manager and led the design/build phase of this water supply project serving a 750 acre beachfront resort, a 150 acre nursery, and five rural villages. The primary goals of the project was to supply raw water from the river 17 miles away utilizing a single pump station at the river. The design elements included: raw water supply pump station, 17.3 miles of HDPE mainline pipeline, water storage tanks, water treatment systems, filtrations systems and 2.4 miles of HDPE distribution pipe. The mainline pipe was designed to handle pressures in excess of 230 psi due to the changes in topography. Since the location of the pump station was so remote diesel powered pumps and generators were utilized. Specific services provided by Mr. Jones included conducting site visits, preliminary design, cost estimating, preparing proposal documents, and construction management services.
Project Manager, Cabo-Ledo, Angola, Africa
Mr. Jones acted as Project Manager and led the design/build services for this potable water supply project serving 100,000 people. The primary goals of the project were to (1) supply raw water from the Kwanza River to a pond approximately 33 miles away utilizing a single pump station at the river, (2) treat 50% of the raw water for potable consumption with option to expand to 100%, and (3) distribute treated water to Angolan military base and surrounding communities. The design elements included: raw water supply pump station, 33 miles of HDPE mainline pipe, 10 acre storage pond, water treatment pump station, chlorine injection station, media filter station, a 305,000-gallon elevated water storage tank, and 7 miles of HDPE distribution pipe. The mainline pipe was designed to handle pressures in excess of 270 psi due to the changes in topography. Due to the remote location of the pump station, diesel powered pumps and generators were utilized. Specific services provided by Mr. Jones included conducting site visits, preliminary design, final design, cost estimating, preparing proposal documents, and construction management services.
Project Manager, Juticalpa, Honduras
For Hacienda La Empalizada, Mr. Jones designed the irrigation system for 491 acres of a farm in Juticalpa, Honduras. Mr. Jones also provided advice to the owner, Mr. Porfilio Lobo, on how to build the most economically feasible solution to numerous environmental limitations. These limitations, including a very low soil pH (4.5-5), arid climate, and a highly seasonally dependent rainfall pattern, had previously limited the owner to growing only one crop. With the design and construction of three irrigation pivots and one hose drag linear, the farmer’s yields have more than doubled and he is now able to grow up to three crops per year. Two deep well electric pumps and one deep well pump with a diesel engine were installed for water sources. The pump stations were connected to each other and to the irrigation machines by a 10” PVC main line pipe to provide backup and increase efficiency.
Project Manager, Castaway Cay, Bahamas
In 1997, Mr. Jones designed a gray water disposal system that irrigated the landscaped areas in Castaway Cay, an island in the Bahamas owned by Disney Cruise Lines. The gray water was from their cruise ships that docked at the island. The soil at Castaway Cay was either very well drained beach sand or rocky dredge fill. In order to design the irrigation system, Mr. Jones had to first prepare a soil map. To prevent clients from coming in contact with the gray water, no spray type heads were to be used in the design. Another design limitation was the prevailing winds tended to dry out the plants. The low volume irrigation system Mr. Jones designed took all these variables into account. Individual drip emitters were specified for each plant or bush and several for each tree.
Project Manager, Kingston, Jamaica
In 1980, Mr. Jones designed under tree sprinkler systems for the Coconut Industry Board in Kingston, Jamaica. The Coconut Industry Board is the government entity in Jamaica that is responsible for all coconut production and sales. To ensure a desired seed variety, the coconuts are produced at a special farm. On this farm each tree is numbered and detailed notes are kept for the care of each tree. The seed farm produces coconut seeds for Jamaica, the West Indies and most of the U.S. market. This farm is roughly 130 acres and up to a 400-ft change in ground surface elevation. Jamaican subcontractors, under Mr. Jones’s supervision, provided labor for this project.
Project Manager, Kingston, Jamaica
Mr. Stuart McConnell, a prominent member of the agricultural community in Jamaica, was appointed manager of an agricultural development by the Jamaican government. The Caymanas Development Corp. was located just outside the capital in a region known as Caymanas. The project was to provide food, beautification, jobs, and improve the land. Over several years, Mr. Jones provided engineering consulting and design services for the project. Also, through his contacts in the U.S., Mr. Jones supplied most of the necessary materials and parts for the construction of the project. Construction included site work, a water supply system, automatic filter, greenhouses, and automatic irrigation systems. The development provided plants for landscaping, producing plants for sale to the general public, and it supported government programs to ensure the Jamaican people would have a good and adequate food supply.
Project Manager, Kingston, Jamaica
Another project for which Mr. Jones provided services to Mr. McConnell was for a 400-acre commercial mango farm located on the south coast of Jamaica. For this project, Mr. Jones designed the tree layout, access roads, drainage system, water supply, and irrigation system. A Motorola irrigation controller was incorporated in the design to flush the filters, inject liquid fertilizer, and control the pump and zone valves.
Project Manager, Central Jamaica
In central Jamaica, the cool mountain air provides an ideal environment for growing many types of flowers, such chrysanthemums and roses. Mr. Jones provided design services and project management for several of these flower growers while they established or expanded their farms. One such client was Blue River Farms for whom Mr. Jones designed a 30-acre farm with greenhouses to produce cut roses for the U.S. market.
Project Manager, Gray’s Inn, Jamaica
In the 1980’s, drip irrigation systems were just becoming commercially available for agricultural crops. This type of irrigation made it possible for crops to be grown in soil types and topography that would previously not be possible. An example is the 500-acre banana farm project Mr. Jones completed for Johnny Sharp in Gray’s Inn, Jamaica. The farm was oddly shaped and had 500 feet of elevation difference, making the design a challenge. The design included a drip irrigation system and the end result met all the owner’s needs and expectations.
Project Engineer, Manzanillo, Dominican Republic
In 1973, Mr. Dorado Fernandez, the owner of DAF Corporation in Miami, Florida contacted Mr. Jones to provide engineering support on large project in Dominican Republic. The Department of Agrarian Reform, part of the Dominican government, intended to plant bananas on 3,000 acres of undeveloped property in the northern portion of the country. Mr. Jones completed the design and construction oversight of the project that required a 6-mile long concrete lined canal, six 350 HP diesel pumps, miles of underground PVC pipe, and over steel 3,000 towers to support gun sprinklers. The project took over 3 years to complete using local labor and U.S. suppliers.
Project Engineer, Cap-Haitien, Haiti
Mr. Dunn, a Texas rancher, purchased a 40,000-acre abandoned sisal and banana farm, named Dolphin Plantation, from the Haitian government for production of beef cattle for the European market. The north coast of Haiti is similar in climate to parts of Texas and was well suited for the purpose. However, there were was an insufficient water supply to support the proposed herd. Mr. Jones engineered a solution that involved drilling several deep wells and installing pumps and water troughs throughout the pastures. The improvements designed by Mr. Jones included miles of water supply piping, installed below ground, by hand laborers.
