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Wetland, Stream & Stormwater

Eocene Environmental Group Has a Dedicated Team of Highly Trained Biologists Qualified to Perform Wetland Delineations & Assessments.

An Eocene employee kneels as he works on the banks of a body of water with mountains in the background.

Wetlands, streams and stormwater assessments are regulated by various local, state and federal laws. These assessments can help identify risks associated with a project or site.

Our biologists routinely work in and around jurisdictional waters, wetlands and riparian habitats, and we are well acquainted with state and federal permitting requirements regarding these resources.

Stream Alteration Permitting & Clean Water Act

We have assisted clients in the preparation, coordination, submittal and successful procurement of over 60 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements. We have also worked on dozens of Section 404 permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Section 401 Water Quality Certifications from the State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards.

When preparing these packages, our staff conducts all the fieldwork (e.g., jurisdictional delineations, biological studies, cultural studies, etc.) and provides the supporting documents to compile the final permit package. We have a strong track record of submitting packages that are accepted without requests for additional information.

Mitigation Banking

A wetland or stream mitigation bank is a protected and restored wetland/stream area that is used to compensate for the loss of other wetlands due to development or construction projects. Mitigation banks can improve ecological outcomes, provide regulatory compliance, streamline permitting, and enhance water quality and wildlife habitats.

A successful mitigation bank creates “credits” with the coordination of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Interagency Review Team (IRT). The credits are then sold to permittees to meet permit requirements. This process helps to ensure there is no net loss of wetlands. Our wetland scientist, fluvial geomorphologist and cultural resource team will work with you to evaluate banking prospects, site suitability, budget/pro forma and needs assessments.

When the assessment is completed, we can provide:

  • Design and engineering.
  • Construction inspection and administration.
  • Credit management.
  • Bank monitoring.
  • Bank closure.

Restoration

We place emphasis on restoring ecological function using plant-based bio stabilization techniques to stabilize streambanks while focusing on riparian revegetation using native plants. Our design team develops solutions for floodplain reconnection and restoration that provide communities with opportunities for environmental education and recreational use of streams, rivers and riparian areas.

Urban Watershed Services

Watersheds are complex systems due to the interaction between human land uses and natural elements such as climate, surface water, soil, underlying geology, groundwater, vegetation and wildlife. Urban watershed assessments help communities understand the relationship between surface water, soils and the water table.

To help protect and remedy impacts to urban water quality and ecosystem health, we design watershed plans that provide overarching objectives and site-specific improvement recommendations. Our comprehensive planning paired with wetland and stormwater best management practices (BMPs) can improve water quality and reduce flash flooding.

Wetland Delineation

To complete a project on property considered a wetland, a wetland delineation must be performed to acquire the necessary permits. If a project is performed without permits, this violates Section 404 requirements.

To perform a wetland delineation, our biologists identify and map the boundaries of wetlands and their associated waters. Our team of experts will:

  • Conduct a field investigation to collect data by checking for soil and vegetation types.
  • Analyze the field data after it is collected.
  • Generate a wetland delineation report for regulatory compliance.
  • Prepare necessary permit deliverables.

Our team has performed a variety of wetland delineations, including numerous projects for Dominion Energy. The methods used to identify potentially jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. and any other potential aquatic features (including wetlands) within the project area were based upon:

  • The USACE Jurisdictional Determination Form Instructional Guidebook.
  • A Field Guide to the Identification of the Ordinary High Water Mark in the Arid West Region of the Western United States.
  • The USACE Wetland Delineation Manual.
  • The Regional Supplement to the USACE Wetland Delineation Manual: Arid West Region.

  • Recent historic and aerial photography.
  • The USFWS National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) mapper.
  • U.S. Geology Survey (USGS) National Hydrography Datasets.
  • National Resources Conservation (NRCS) soil maps.
  • Flood control public works maps.

Stormwater Management

A vital component to any construction plan is planning for the protection of the water quality through stormwater pollution prevention planning. When improperly handled, stormwater runoff can contaminate rivers, lakes and coastal waters.

Our team can prepare the plans, perform inspections for the plans, and identify best management practices to prevent contaminated water from getting into a stream, wetland or storm drain. At prescribed intervals or anytime there is a storm, our team goes out to the project site to perform an inspection and make sure everything is installed properly to prevent water quality issues.

Cities, developers and landowners are increasingly adopting Green Infrastructure (GI) practices. GI is an approach to managing water resources that mimics natural processes to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and enhance ecological health. It integrates natural and engineered systems, promoting sustainability and resilience in urban and rural environments. Examples include permeable pavements, green roofs, bioswales, constructed wetlands, and urban forests.

Designing with natural systems can also accompany GI. These engineering and planning principles emphasizes adaptive, ecosystem-based strategies to manage water sustainably. It supports climate resilience, biodiversity, and the restoration of natural waterways while minimizing human impact.

Our stormwater and water quality consulting services generate significant benefits to our clients, their communities, and the surrounding environment. We can develop a master plan that provides a roadmap to effective stormwater management, as well as forecasting capital investment over time.

Eocene can also assist with industrial stormwater management to make sure water is legally discharging from specified facilities. This includes monitoring discharges routinely in accordance to EPA guidance.

Have Questions? Contact Eocene Environmental Group

Hiring Eocene for wetland, stream and stormwater assessments ensures compliance with regulations, manages risks, promotes good environmental practices and improves stakeholder communication.

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