Wetland Studies

Establishing the absence or presence of wetlands and their related boundaries, buffers, and setbacks is one of the most critical factors in the development of any site. 

Development near wetlands and streams can negatively impact water quality, hydrologic, and habitat functions. Our Water & Ecology team offers well-planned mitigation designs that can help offset unavoidable impacts of a proposed project on these sensitive natural resources. Our mitigation designs help to protect water quality, improve wildlife forage and cover, restore fish habitat, control invasive vegetation, and encourage the establishment of native grasses, shrubs, and trees to support a greater range of plant diversity and habitat structure. Our innovative mitigation approach is proven to satisfy strict regulatory requirements while facilitating the project-specific goals of our clients.

Our team offers detailed levels of critical areas assessments tailored to your project needs:

• Site reconnaissance to provide prospective buyers an overview of critical areas and the development potential of a land parcel with approximate location and size of critical areas.
• Wetland or ordinary high water (OHW) delineation and habitat assessment to identify the boundaries, buffers, and setbacks of wetlands, shorelines and streams and potentially-regulated fish and wildlife habitat features.
• Wetland and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Assessment Report - a detailed assessment of the existing site features and the effects that proposed development may have on them. An assessment report is usually required when building on parcels that contain wetlands, streams, shorelines or other potentially regulated critical areas.
• Review of prior delineations done by other consultants can also be done or provide re-delineation services if prior wetland work is outdated or expired.