Blue Earth Ecological Consultants, Inc. |
1345 Pacheco Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico |
Wetland Delineation and Clean Water Act Permitting |
Blue Earth conducts jurisdictional wetlands determinations and delineations using
the 1987 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation manual and subsequent
guidance memoranda. Our approach to wetland determination and delineation begins with field delineation of plant community types. We then establish sample points and assess each plant community to identify dominant plants and determine the percentage of hydrophytic species present. Field analysis of wetland hydrology and hydric soil indicators, pursuant to the wetland delineation manual is conducted. We survey the wetlands perimeters, benchmarks, survey points, and other features with a Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS data allow for accurate calculation of wetlands areas and also accurate juxtaposition of wetland boundaries with project design plans for accurate calculation of temporary and permanent wetland impacts. Blue Earth prepares wetland reports that provide necessary documentation for Clean Water Act section 404 permit application process and serves as the basis for coordination with regulatory agencies. Blue Earth also provides wetland impact assessment and functional assessment services. We have applied provisional hydrogeomorphic (HGM) models and Habitat Suitability Index models in functional assessments of wetlands impacts. Functional assessment can provide an ecologically-based alternative to the standard area-based mitigation. |
