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Wetland Services
Applied Environmental has been conducting
wetland-related work for over a decade. Effectively, Applied Environmental
has served hundreds of clients. Unwavering is our philosophy to help
clients think proactively through an open and honest approach supported by our
clear understanding of their project goals, and the rules and regulations that
affect their projects.
Nearly every project begins with a
wetland delineation. If wetland impacts (filling, dredging, etc.) is
proposed, you will need to acquire a permit, or permits, from one or more
government agencies. In many instances, a condition of a permit may be to
create mitigation wetlands to compensate for the loss of wetland
functions. Learn more about the process by reading the information
provided below. Then, contact Applied Environmental to schedule a free
on-site, no obligation consultation.
Wetland
Delineation
We conduct all wetland delineations in accordance to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (1987 edition). All
wetland delineations are then verified by the appropriate government
agency.
What are wetlands anyway?
Wetlands, generally referred to as swamps, marshes, bogs and fens, are
areas that are “inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a
frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of vegetation
typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions”. This
definition, authored by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, includes a
variety of areas that many people may not consider as
wetlands.
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Wetland
scientist records the position of a wetland boundary flag using GPS
technology. |
Permitting
If your project requires alterations to wetland areas, you will need
to obtain the necessary permits to make the alterations, or impacts.
Depending on the nature of your project, you may need a Section 401 and/or
a Section 404 permit. Applied Environmental has completed many such
applications.
It is important to apply early! Once
our work is complete, it may take less than a month to several months for
a permit to be approved, depending on the type of application and degree
of proposed wetland impacts.
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Wetland Mitigation
& Design
Oftentimes, regulatory agencies
require compensation for, or the replacement of, wetlands impacted. Such an
endeavor is a very complex process that demands the knowledge of biology,
ecology, and soils. Applied Environmental designs, constructs, manages, and
monitors mitigation wetlands. To the right are photographs of a wetland
mitigation area created for a client whose apartment complex project resulted in
wetland impacts. These wetlands are compensation for those wetland
impacts.
Pictures at the
right.
Top: Earthwork and other
site preparation.
Middle: After first
rainfall.
Bottom: One year
later. Ducks peruse the wetland area with arrowhead growing in the
background.
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Wetland Monitoring
&
Assessment
Applied Environmental
monitors the health and functionality of wetlands, and can identify ways
to improve and enhance wetlands by studying the watershed draining to a
wetland. Many environmental conditions can degrade wetlands and
lakes, such as urban and agricultural runoff. We will identify ways
to alleviate these conditions and improve the health and vigor of your
wetland or lake.
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Wetland Species of the Month
Sparganium eurycarpum |
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bloom |
Mature
fruit |
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Common Name:
Giant Bur-reed
Family: Sparganiaceae
Plant Description:
- Leaves: erect; strongly keeled; 0.5-1.5 m in height
- Flowers: white; small; grouped into dense,
unisexual heads on zigzagging branches; pistillate heads 2-2.5 cm in
diameter; blooms June and July
- Fruit: achene; 5-8 mm long and square-topped with
a sharp beak
Distribution:
found throughout the United States except for the southeast (North
Carolina south and west to Texas)
Habitat: shallow water and wet substrates in marshes, bogs and
margins of lakes and streams
Wetland Indicator Status: OBL
Sources:
Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and
Wisconsin
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1998/mnplant/speu.htm
NRCS Plants Database
http://plants.usda.gov/
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