Watershed
assessments are necessary in order to determine what degraded or
impaired areas (e.g., polluted streams, destroyed habitats) may exist
in a watershed and why. Several characteristics
of watersheds are taken into consideration during the assessment
process including land use, land cover, and hydrology. Land
use and cover is considered in a historical as well as current
perspective to determine the types of activities that have occurred in
the watershed and their potential as sources of pollution. It is important to consider the natural and cultural resources of the watershed as well as the human activities. An
accurate watershed assessment is necessary to establish a baseline, or
current condition, which will be used to judge the success of
subsequent watershed management efforts.
The
realization that wetlands provide a wide array of societal benefits has
sparked an unprecedented interest in wetland mitigation in recent years. Federal
and/or state regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, typically require mitigation of wetland functions lost to
development. Compensatory
mitigation is a process whereby wetlands that are impacted through
permitted activities are replaced through wetland restoration or
enhancement at a site near or distant from the impact site. Progress provides stream/wetland identification,
impact assessment, and environmental restoration and enhancement
services for both the public and private sector.Wetland delineations identify, characterize and map the extent of jurisdictional wetlands in a given project area. A wetland delineation is often required prior to the issuance of a federal and/or state permit to disturb wetlands. Progress
conducts project-specific impact assessments to determine the permits
required and serves as liaison to the regulatory agencies to prepare
applications and obtain the appropriate permits for projects. Progress
has considerable experience conducting delineation and permitting
services for a variety of clients including developers, major
corporations, and governmental entities.Stream
identification and mapping is being used by state and local governments
to facilitate the protection of aquatic resources. For example, a
methodology has been developed for the identification of streams
requiring protection in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. This
methodology was developed by the North Carolina Division of Water
Quality (NCDWQ) to determine the beginning of intermittent stream
channels subject to riparian buffer rules within the Neuse and
Tar-Pamlico River basins. The methodology focuses on the
geomorphologic, hydrologic, and biologic characteristics of streams to
determine where an intermittent stream originates. A similar
methodology is being used to determine the origin of perennial stream
channels as well. Many local governments have become interested in
creating maps that accurately characterize and locate streams within
their jurisdictions to identify potentially sensitive aquatic areas and
establish buffer zones. |
|
