Stream Restoration & Mitigation
The restoration of streams is not a novel concept. Impacts to stream can be wide ranging, and many of them relate to human land use. Changes to the upland landscape (usually in the form of development), removal of riparian zones, and over-grazing of livestock are all activities which can drastically alter the amount of flow a stream receives and the fashion in which flow is received. These changes can also severely change how floodwaters impact the stream. Year-to-year changes in climate (precipitation, temperature, and wind) can drastically change a streams habitat and structure. No matter the cause, we can successfully restore stream sections which have incurred damage such as erosion, deposition, scouring, and braiding through careful measurement, proper planning, and sound construction. Whether the purpose is to reduce streambank loss, or reduce erosion, or to satisfy mitigation needs, we have designed restoration plans for hundreds of miles of affected streams. We have also provided the on-site construction oversight on many of these stream restoration projects.
Wetland Restoration & Mitigation
Wetlands range in form from small cat-tail ringed ponds to complex forested mosaics of plant communities. The wide array of wetlands provide an enormous variety of functions including:
- Stabilize local groundwater levels by retaining water in their soils and reducing the rate of evaporation with their vegetation.
- Buff geographically lower areas against flooding by holding water and mechanically slowing the flow of floodwaters.
- Retain sediments and remove nutrients and toxicants
- Stabilize shorelines of streams and rivers
- Provide habitat for insects, birds, amphibians, fish, and shellfish.
Wetlands are incredibly valuable ecological assets and their loss is never a desirable outcome during development, and typically mitigation is required for any destruction or disturbance. We have nearly 30 years of experience in wetland restoration and mitigation and can design mitigation plans that replace those functions lost at a greater or equal value. Additionally, we can provide expertise on existing wetlands when improvements or changes to the existing attributes are requested.
