Wetland Projects
Compensatory Wetland Mitigation Project, Teton County, Wyoming
Biota was hired to facilitate Section 404 permitting and local regulatory compliance for a proposed road in a subdivision north of Jackson, Wyoming. Biota delineated wetlands; obtained a Nationwide 14 permit for proposed wetland impacts; and developed and implemented a compensatory wetland mitigation plan for the project. The approved compensatory mitigation plan called for 5 years of monitoring to determine if performance standards have been met; however, the US Army Corps of Engineers complemented Biota on our excellent work and signed off on the project after only 3 years of monitoring due to the rapid wetland establishment and successful achievement of all performance standards.
Wetland Mitigation and Army Corps of Engineers Compliance, Sublette County, Wyoming
Due to our experience, professional qualifications, and local expertise, Biota was recommended by the US Army Corps of Engineers to assist with a wetland delineation and Section 404 permitting for a well pad and associated access road adjacent to the New Fork River floodplain west of Boulder, WY. Biota subsequently performed a groundwater study and developed and implemented a compensatory wetland mitigation plan for unavoidable wetland impacts. High quality floodplain wetlands were created. All wetland mitigation performance standards were met within 2 years after construction, and the Army Corps of Engineers signed off on the project in fall 2014.
BLM Wetland Delineation and Aquatic Resources Inventory, Teton County, Wyoming
Biota was hired to perform aquatic resources inventories and wetland delineations on 11 distinct BLM-administered parcels totaling over 500 acres in Teton County, Wyoming.
Rendezvous Park, or 'R Park', Wetland Creation Project, Teton County, Wyoming
Biota was hired to facilitate Section 404 permitting and create wetlands within existing ponds on a parcel that is being rehabilitated and converted from a gravel mining/processing facility to a public park along the Snake River west of Jackson, Wyoming. Biota has designed, permitted, and is currently in the process of constructing over 1.5 acres of wetlands on the R Park property.
Off-site Compensatory Wetland Mitigation and Restoration, Wilson, Wyoming
Biota collaborated with the Jackson Hole Land Trust and a private landowner to mitigate wetland impacts by restoring and creating wetlands on an agricultural property in Wilson, Wyoming. Biota provided analysis, design, permitting, and wetland construction services, and the land trust worked with NRCS to acquire cost-share dollars for the implementation of exclosure fencing and off-site livestock watering facilities. Containerized native willows, clump transplants, sod transplants, broadcast seeding, and dormant willow cuttings were utilized in the revegetation effort.
Compensatory Wetland Mitigation using Functional Lift, Teton County, Wyoming
This project employed the concept of creating functional lift within existing wetlands to mitigate for wetland impacts associated with road construction. The functional lift was accomplished primarily through the establishment of a shrub-layer (willow) plant community in a wetland degraded by years of over grazing and historic willow clearing. More than 2,500 dormant willow cuttings were installed throughout the mitigation area with a custom waterjet stinger. Barbed wire fence was constructed around the mitigation area to provide long-term exclusion of livestock.