Vol. 22, No. 1 March 11, 2014


    In This Issue:
    Stormwater - The Latest Guidance
    Huntley Meadows Wetland Restoration Awards
    Kids' Trout Fishing Day 2014
    2014 Dam Safety Grants - Coming Soon
    Swamp Pink Surveys Help Avoid Costly Project Delays
    Freshwater Mussel Survey Window

 

New Stormwater Regulations Guidance and FAQ's

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is working diligently to address the numerous questions and clarifications needed to implement the new Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) Regulations (9VAC25-870) and the General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities (9VAC25-880) set to take effect on July 1 of this year (see Field Notes, Vol. 21, No. 10). Small changes are also expected as House Bill 1173 (which could be modified by the Governor) is implemented.

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Huntley Meadows Wetland Restoration Awards

WSSI was recently awarded the 2014 Engineering Excellence Award (Water Resources Category) from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Metropolitan Washington (ACEC/MW), the 2013 Fairfax County Tree Preservation Award, and the 2013 Fairfax County Land Conservation Award: Best Protected Environmentally Site for the design of the Huntley Meadows Wetland Restoration.

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Kids' Trout Fishing Day 2014

On Saturday, March 22, 2014, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI), Reston Association (RA), Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), and Northern Virginia Trout Unlimited (NVATU) will sponsor the fourth annual Reston Kids’ Trout Fishing Day.

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2014 Dam Safety Grants - Coming Soon

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will soon be announcing the availability of annual grant funds in the 2014 Virginia Dam Safety, Flood Prevention, and Protection Assistance Fund. For existing state regulated dams that are owned by local governments or private entities, 50% matching grants will be available to help offset engineering costs associated with dam safety improvements.

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Swamp Pink Surveys Help Avoid Costly Project Delays

With spring almost here, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) is diving into another season of swamp pink (Helonias bullata) surveys. The swamp pink is found in forested wetlands in Virginia from Caroline County South. The field survey "window" for swamp pink is open from April 15 to September 30. So schedule now and avoid critical delays in obtaining your wetlands permit.

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Freshwater Mussel Survey Window is Approaching Fast

If you are planning to undertake a construction project that will impact or cross a perennial stream, you may need to survey for freshwater mussels as a condition of your wetland or waterway permit. Impacts could include altering the bottom or banks of streams where mussels are found, or potentially discharging sediment (due to land disturbance) into areas upstream of where mussels are found. Additionally, time of year restrictions on construction could be imposed if state or federally-protected mussels are present. Because new populations of protected mussels are being discovered regularly, conducting mussel surveys early in the development process can help avoid costly delays for upcoming projects.

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About Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI):

WSSI is the leading provider of natural and cultural resource consulting services in Northern Virginia. The firm has worked on a total of over 5,000 projects, comprising 200,000 acres, and has created hundreds of acres of wetlands and restored miles of streams. Our team of 80+ engineers, scientists, archeologists, ecosystem technicians, GIS/survey/compliance and technology/training specialists, and administrative staff yield a unique combination of disciplines focused on wetlands and water resources and provide creative solutions for integrating the constraints of economics and land plan requirements with local, state, and federal environmental regulations. For more information about WSSI, visit our Web site at www.wetlandstudies.com.