Stream & Wetland Mitigation Monitoring

Stream & Wetland Mitigation Monitoring

Section 404 Clean Water Act Mitigation compliance documentation can be very difficult due to the complexity and detail of many permit conditions. In recent years we have implemented the deployment of our EcoDrones. This technology allows us to provide high resolution aerial imagery and gives our clients the data they need to make decisions and identify potential adaptive management areas or allows to display their stream & wetland mitigation monitoring and construction efforts for marketing purposes.

Biological Systems Consultants specializes in regulatory compliance assistance and has been monitoring sites in multiple states for many years. Achievement of mitigation goals and objectives for stream restoration, stream enhancement, stream creation, and stream preservation projects has been our goal for years, with the final goal always being release of liability from the monitoring program. Biological Systems Consultants has been able to achieve these goals for their clients. Biological Systems Consultants’ stream mitigation compliance team is equipped to take on all of your mitigation compliance needs (baseline studies, during, post). Our staff is fully permitted and qualified to conduct stream and wetland mitigation surveys and has extensive experience with various habitat assessment protocols. See more about stream restoration services here or if you have any questions about your Section 404, 401 or other mitigation compliance Contact us or request a quote today. To see a list of all of our services go here.

April 16, 2017May 11, 2017

Wetland Delineation

Wetland Delineation

This week we performed a wetland delineation in Whitley County, Kentucky to fulfill requirements under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

The wetland delineation in Whitley County, Kentucky was conducted by BSC personnel in support of the requirements of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). Field surveys for the following determination were conducted in accordance with the 1987 United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wetlands Delineation Manual (USACE, 1987) and the Final Regional Supplement for the Piedmont and Eastern Mountains Region (USACE, 2012).

According to USACE “This Regional Supplement is part of a nationwide effort to address regional wetland characteristics and improve the accuracy and efficiency of wetland delineation procedures. Regional differences in climate, geology, soils,hydrology, plant and animal communities, and other factors are important to the identification and functioning of wetlands. The regional supplement was finalized in 2012 and covers all or portions of the District of Columbia and 20 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia” (USACE 2012).

The determination within our report is subject to review and approval by the Nashville District of the USACE. As requested by the Nashville District USACE only the area within the vicinity of the proposed work was evaluated for the wetland delineation. As indicated in our report there was a small area that appeared to meet the soils, hydrology, and vegetation characteristics for wetlands as defined by USACE. See more of our services here.

References:

United States Army Corps of Engineers. 1987. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. Technical Report Y-87-1, Department of the Army, Waterways Experiment Station.

United States Army Corps of Engineers. 2012. Final Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Region, ed. J.S. Wakeley, R.W. Lichvar, and C.V. Noble. ERDC/EL TR 10-XX. Vicksburg, MS: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.

Wetland Delineation Kentucky — Wetland Delineation Area (in Background)

September 29, 2016May 12, 2017

Selenium Fish Tissue Sampling

Selenium Fish Tissue Sampling frequencies are conducted by Biological Systems Consultants to help our clients comply with NPDES/KPDES permits issued by the Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) or the EPA. Following the standard operating procedures (SOP) for selenium fish tissue sampling set forth by KDOW/EPA we maintain scientific collectors permits and provide field personnel with extensive experience identifying the target species as required by the protocol. These are very time sensitive events so keep this in mind as soon as you find out you need a sampling event conducted.

Many NPDES Permits now contain a Selenium Fish Tissue sampling trigger for collection of fish and application of EPA Method 200.8. This method identifies the amount of Selenium accumulated in the tissue of certain fish species. This methodology is outlined in the Methods for the Collection of Selenium Residue in Fish Tissue Used to Determine KPDES Permit Compliance SOP manual published by the Commonwealth of Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Department for Environmental Protection, Division of Water (KDOW, 2014).

Biological Systems Consultants’ selenium fish tissue survey and NPDES compliance team is equipped to take on all of your NPDES compliance needs. Our staff is fully permitted and qualified to conduct surveys in multiple states. If you have any questions about your Section 402 NPDES Selenium Fish compliance or have been requested to address selenium fish tissue sampling on your project for any reason Contact us or request a quote today. Our fish tissue collection team strives to be cost effective and project oriented to ensure our clients receive the attention they need for each project. This often entails following on-site safety protocols beyond that required by the State or Federal Regulations. NPDES permit projects are complicated in nature and have many different project requirements. Our NPDES staff can help with any project. See additional services here.

August 3, 2016May 12, 2017

Stream Restoration Kentucky

Stream Restoration Kentucky

This stream restoration in Harlan County, Kentucky was completely restored post-mining and has now been restored to its natural profile, pattern, and dimension using natural stream design techniques. Biological Systems Consultants has been monitoring this site for four years and is planning to request mitigation release of liability after this year because the permittee has met the conditions of the permit. Contact us or request a quote today. See additional services here.

Kentucky Stream Restoration and Mitigation — Stream Restoration Site

July 19, 2016May 12, 2017

Kentucky Bat Survey

Kentucky Bat Survey

During this bat survey for a planned resource extraction site (surface and underground highwall/auger coal mining) mist net and acoustic sampling was employed. Prior to sampling a summer and winter habitat assessment was performed to identify the amount of and potential for habitat presence. The Kentucky Bat Survey (Whitley County) was performed on an approximately 120 acre tract of land was surveyed and clearance was recommended due to no captures of Threatened or Endangered species. Biological Systems Consultants’ bat survey team is equipped to take on all of your bat survey needs. Our staff is fully permitted and qualified to conduct surveys for the endangered Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis), threatened Northern Long Eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and endangered Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens) throughout much of their range, and has extensive experience with habitat assessments, summer and fall mist-net surveys and mine portal surveys, and acoustic monitoring and analysis. If you have any questions about your Section 7 ESA compliance or the new 4(d) rule issued for the Northern Long Eared bat, or have been requested to address bats on your project for any reason, please give us a call and we will be happy to walk you through the process and take care of all your bat survey needs. Contact us or request a quote today. See additional services here or read more about this topic here.

Kentucky Bat Survey — Bat Survey Station

Northern Long-eared Bat Facts: According to the USFWS website the following paragraphs describe potential summer and winter habitat for this species:

Winter Habitat: Northern long-eared bats spend winter hibernating in caves and mines, called hibernacula. They use areas in various sized caves or mines with constant temperatures, high humidity, and no air currents. Within hibernacula, surveyors find them hibernating most often in small crevices or cracks, often with only the nose and ears visible.

Summer Habitat: During the summer, northern long-eared bats roost singly or in colonies underneath bark, in cavities or in crevices of both live trees and snags (dead trees). Males and non-reproductive females may also roost in cooler places, like caves and mines. Northern long-eared bats seem to be flexible in selecting roosts, choosing roost trees based on suitability to retain bark or provide cavities or crevices. This bat has also been found rarely roosting in structures, like barns and sheds.

July 10, 2016July 19, 2016

KY Stream Restoration

Stream mitigation including stream restoration design and construction monitoring services. Whether it is a baseline study or full stream restoration design plan our team regularly performs these tasks to help our clients meet their project goals. Using Rosgen and standard survey trained stream restoration specialists, Biological Systems Consultants provides their clients with longitudinal profiles, profile and dimension information (plan-views, cross-sections), pebble counts, and complete Rosgen stream assessments. Using existing stream conditions or reference streams, Biological Systems Consultants provides detailed stream channel information for these types of projects.

Using our EcoDrones (UAV, sUAS, Drones) Biological Systems Consultants can also assist in stream or wetland mitigation or bond releases or pre, post, and during construction monitoring, baseline assessments by providing video, still images, or 3D modeling of sites. Capturing low-elevation data we can create or provide highly accurate DEM (digital elevation models or elevation point clouds) data to our clients to work with. This technology allows us to capture millions of points, exponentially greater than traditional survey methods. This method is also safer than putting a traditional airplane into the sky. Using the latest available technology we aim to save our clients time and money in the field and in the office and can deploy EcoDrones very quickly to complete projects.

EcoDrone Ecological Assessments

EcoDrone Stream and Wetland Mitigation Monitoring and Documentation Videos

General Services Video

July 6, 2016July 19, 2016

KY Mitigation Compliance

KY Mitigation Compliance

Section 404 Clean Water Act Mitigation compliance documentation can be very difficult due to the complexity and detail of many permit conditions. Biological Systems Consultants specializes in regulatory compliance assistance and has been monitoring sites in multiple states for many years. Achievement of mitigation goals and objectives for stream restoration, stream enhancement, stream creation, and stream preservation projects has been our goal for years, with the final goal always being release of liability from the monitoring program. Biological Systems Consultants has been able to achieve these goals for their clients. Biological Systems Consultants’ stream mitigation compliance team is equipped to take on all of your mitigation compliance needs (baseline studies, during, post). Our staff is fully permitted and qualified to conduct stream and wetland mitigation surveys and has extensive experience with various habitat assessment protocols. If you have any questions about your Section 404, 401 or other mitigation compliance Contact us or request a quote today.

May 19, 2016May 8, 2017

Bioassessments & Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Waterfall / Step Pool / Stream Assessments

Bioassessments & Benthic Macroinvertebrates collections were conducted this week and we had to share some photos from the field during the macroinvertebrate surveys in Harlan County, Kentucky. The above average rainfall in May 2016 revealed breathtaking waterfalls in this watershed.

Biological Systems Consultants typically assesses sampling sites for Kentucky macroinvertebrates February through May in headwater streams and May through September in wadeable streams.

Confluence / Stream Pool / Bedrock Substrate — Confluence of two tributaries / Pool Feature

May 17, 2016July 19, 2016

Kentucky Selenium Fish Tissue Sampling

Kentucky Selenium Fish Tissue Sampling

Kentucky Selenium Fish Tissue Sampling frequencies are conducted by Biological Systems Consultants to help our clients comply with KPDES permits issued by the Kentucky Division of Water (KDOW) or the EPA. Following the standard operating procedures (SOP) for selenium fish tissue sampling set forth by KDOW we maintain scientific collectors permits and provide field personnel with extensive experience identifying the target species as required by the protocol. These are very time sensitive events so keep this in mind as soon as you find out you need a sampling event conducted.

Biological Systems Consultants’ selenium fish tissue survey team is equipped to take on all of your NPDES compliance needs for this type of project. Our staff is fully permitted and qualified to conduct surveys in multiple states. If you have any questions about your Section 402 NPDES Selenium Fish compliance or have been requested to address selenium fish tissue sampling on your project for any reason Contact us or request a quote today.

October 14, 2013May 1, 2016