This paper describes the design process used for 15' tall retaining walls constructed above steeply sloping embankments adjacent to a major creek in Dallas, Texas. The embankment slope below the wall was approximately 1 (H): 1 (V). The vertical height of the steep embankment below the walls was about 20'. Soil nails were used for retaining wall construction and to stabilize the steep slope below the walls. Global stability studies were used to determine the limits of the active wedge behind the walls, the driving force acting on the sloped embankment below the wall and the resisting force provided by the embankment soils. The additional resisting force required to increase the FOS from less than 1.0 to 1.5 was determined. This force was equated to an active equivalent fluid pressure and provided to the structural engineer who designed the soil nail lengths and spacing configuration to stabilize the wall and the steep embankment.