Environmental Permitting (Local, State, and Federal)

WEG offers full-service regulatory support for all regulated activities associated with non-tidal and tidal wetlands, stream channel, submerged lands, and Outstanding Florida Waters areas, as well as preparation and negotiation of Section 404 and Section 10 Wetland/Waterway and Environmental Resource Permit Application, UMAM analysis, Regulatory Compliance assistance and Consent Order resolution.  Our regulatory specialists have worked within the agencies, understand the personalities involved, and are well versed in permit specific issue resolution, including threatened and endangered species coordination, compensatory wetland mitigation, conservation easement determination, stormwater planning and flood zone compensation.

Threatened and Endangered Species / Listed Species Surveys

WEG's capabilities allow us to provide services related to the identification and survey of the 118 listed wildlife and 542 listed plant species in Florida.  Additional related services include habitat assessment, environmental buffer characterization, forest stand delineation and community inventory, environmental impact assessment, environmental constraints analysis, and alternative site design evaluation.  Our ecology staff maintains an excellent rapport with local, state, and federal agencies, and actively participates in several professional associations and environmental education programs.
The WEG team has been highly trained in wildlife survey methodologies approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Knowledge of the broad range of applicable procedures allows WEG to complete detailed surveys suitable for approval by the regulatory authorities.

Environmental Habitat Evaluations / Land Management

WEG's ecologists are trained in a host of specialized habitat assessment procedures applicable across a wide range of project needs.  We have utilized several of these protocols to evaluate project impact, or simply to monitor current conditions at a site.  Our staff has been highly trained in functional assessment methods such as the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM) utilized by both the United States Army Corps of Engineers and all State of Florida regulatory agencies, including Water Management Districts and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  Having a broad range of applicable procedures allows WEG to follow any habitat evaluation standards that might be imposed by a regulatory agency.

Mitigation Feasibility / Ecosystem Mitigation

WEG brings years of experience and a talented field staff into the procedure of selecting sites suitable for wetland creation, restoration, and/or enhancement.  Important factors include soil quality, available hydrology, slope analysis, excavation requirements, existing wetlands, and potential constraints such as utilities, current and adjacent land use, access, and public opinion.  Our ecologists and environmental planners are trained in rapid assessment techniques, utilizing off-site resources (i.e., GIS, aerial surveys, color infrareds, soil surveys, etc.) to quickly evaluate potential mitigation sites worthy of additional on-site investigation.  WEG's field team documents all aspects of the feasibility review process, including detailed soil borings with texture and fertility analyses, topographical surveys, detailed groundwater monitoring studies, detailed wetland delineations, and wetland assessment utilizing the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM).

Stormwater Management Permitting Inspection

WEG staff has extensive experience in obtaining NPDES permits required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  The development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is just one of the steps in this permitting process.  WEG has the capability to develop this plan based on the approved erosion and sediment control plan for the project.  The NPDES permit requires inspection and reporting every fourteen days, and within 48 hours following a runoff producing rain event.  WEG staff includes State of Florida Certified Erosion and Sedimentation Control inspectors capable of providing cost-effective inspection services.  WEG also conducts audits that cover all NPDES registration materials and inspection reports to ensure compliance.

Wetland Services:

• Delineation

• Mapping
• Jurisdictional Wetland Line Verification
• Assessment and Classification
• Impact Assessment
• Monitoring
• Threatened / Endangered Species

Mitigation Services:

• Stream and Wetland Mitigation
• Conservation Banking
• Performance Evaluation
• Feasibility Analysis
• Monitoring
• Soil Characterization & Mapping
• Planting Specifications
• Entitlement
• Design
• Construction Oversight

Other Services:

• Forest Stand Delineation

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Environmental Constraints Analysis
• Vegetation Inventory & Community Mapping
• Environmental Buffer Mapping / Characterization
• Unique and Sensitive Habitat Evaluation
• Aquatic Resources Inventory

Other Services (continued):

• Habitat Evaluation

• Habitat Characterization
• Habitat Mapping
• Wildlife and Plant Surveying
• Wildlife Permitting
• Wildlife Relocation
• Wildlife Monitoring
• Habitat Management Planning
• Alternative Site Design Evaluation
• Local, State & Federal Permit Support

Listed Species 1:

• Gopher Tortoise

• Bald Eagle
• Florida Scrub Jay
• Audubon's Crested Caracara
• Florida Panther
• Florida Black Bear
• Sand Skink
• Bluetail Mole Skink
• Burrowing Owl
• Florida Sandhill Crane
• Wood Stork
  

1. This is not a complete list. Most common listed species encountered in Florida.

State Route 33 Self-Storage
Polk County, Florida

Blackwater Creek Mitigation Bank
Lake County, Florida

Listed Species Conservation
State of Florida