Tara Dougherty, PE, LEED AP

Tara’s focus at Meliora is stormwater planning, civil design, permitting, and project management. She joined the firm in May 2021 with 16 years of experience to her credit as a civil and environmental engineer with global consulting firms, where she designed water and wastewater treatment systems and constructed wetlands. She has a passion for environmentally focused design and has worked on a range of project types and scales at Meliora, from watershed planning, community greening plans, and arboretum master plans, to school yards and residential stream restoration.

Originally from Lebanon Township, New Jersey, Tara received a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Penn State and a Master of Science in architecture – sustainable design from the University of Minnesota. In January 2023 she began an appointment to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Sustainable Sites Technical Advisory Group, which helps to develop and modify the Sustainable Sites Rating System.

Tara practices what she preaches, and is in the process of converting the family yard into a native plant and food garden. Although she enjoys all things crafty and home improvement oriented, she’s also a fan of hiking, music events, and spending time with friends and family.