Wetland Consulting

Nativescape is a State of Michigan Listed Wetland Consultant, a Michigan Certified Natural Shoreline Professional along with Bioengineering Training. Nativescape specializes in a scientific approach to wetland consulting with enhancing and improving existing wetlands as our specialty. Our professionals will guide you through the Michigan wetland permitting process from determination and delineation to permitting, mitigation and monitoring. Please use contact us for any of your wetland consulting or permitting needs.

Nativescape is listed by the State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy as a Wetland Consultant. Wetland consultants provide a variety of services regarding wetlands. Many people hire wetland consultants to help identify and delineate wetlands, provide advice about designing projects that will not need permits, or, if permits are needed, provide assistance in completing the wetland application form and the entire wetland permitting process.

Nativescape is a Certified Natural Shoreline Professional Consultant. The intent of the Certified Natural Shoreline Professional (CNSP) training and certification program is to promote the use of green landscaping technologies and bio-engineered erosion control for the protection of Michigan inland lakes. This program is designed to equip professionals with the tools to better design, implement and maintain natural shoreline landscapes and bio-engineered erosion control on inland lakes. Certification is provided by the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership (MNSP). Certified Natural Shoreline Professionals have demonstrated competency in shoreline and near shore soils, plant communities, aquatic habitats, water law and permitting, wave energy assessment and the methods and techniques involved in designing natural shoreline landscaping and bio-engineered erosion control on inland lakes.

Nativescape can help identify and delineate wetlands, provide advice about designing projects that will not need permits, or, if permits are needed, provide assistance in completing the wetland application form and the entire wetland permitting process. Nativescape specializes in a natural scientific approach to permitting, monitoring, wetland mapping, wetland determination/delineation, conservation easement, and mitigation banking. Wetland Mitigation, Creation or Restoration plans are developed for wetland activity to be permitted.

Nativescape follows the recommended methodology to complete our Wetland Determination and Delineation Investigations. These assessments are based upon Part 303, Wetland Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended (NREPA), and rule 4, Wetland Assessments (R281.924) by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. These wetland investigations review all available resources: using mapping sources: topographical maps, Soils Survey by the (U. S. Geological Survey) , aerial photography, National Wetland Inventory (NWI) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service); floodplain map from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Authority), Michigan Natural Features Inventory and on-site characteristics (site hydrology, vegetation, soils).

Plant species are surveyed, and hydrological indicators are investigated during the onsite inspections. An inventory is done of all observed plants within the designated wetland areas and adjacent uplands; lists for each wetland area and their corresponding upland area are developed to determine the respective natural communities present and determine the wetland upland boundary. Pictures are taken during each site visit. All wildlife species or their observed sign are listed. A Natural Features Inventory is figured if needed. Test holes are dug in all wetland areas, if possible, to determine ground water level.

Wetland Determination Data Sheets are filled out for each wetland, which is required for the State of Michigan WIP (Wetland Identification Program). Plant community wetland indicator status (wetness coefficient) are figured, along with Percent of Dominant Species that are OBL, FACW or FAC, Prevalence Index and Hydrophytic Vegetation Indicators from the Wetland Determination Data Sheet Midwest Region Version 2.0 by the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers is used to determine if the area is wetland or not.

Nativescape specializes in a natural scientific approach to permitting, monitoring, wetland mapping, wetland determination/delineation, conservation easement and mitigation banking. Wetland Mitigation Restoration plans are developed for wetland activity to be permitted. Under Part 303, Wetlands Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, EGLE may impose conditions on a permit for a use or development if the conditions are designed to remove an impairment to the wetland benefits, to mitigate the impact of a discharge of fill material, or to otherwise improve the water quality. The purpose of compensatory wetland mitigation, commonly referred to as wetland mitigation, is the replacement of unavoidably lost wetland resources with created or restored wetlands, with the goal of replacing as fully as possible the functions and public benefits of the lost wetland.

In accordance with the administrative rules for Part 303, EGLE can consider wetland mitigation only after all of the following conditions are met: The wetland impacts could otherwise be permitted under sections 30302 and 30311 of the act. No feasible and prudent alternative to avoid wetland impacts exists.

An applicant has used all practical means to minimize impacts to wetlands. This may include the permanent protection of wetlands on the site not directly impacted by the proposed activity. Nativescape can also assist and guide you through the Michigan Wetland Banking permitting process.

Wetland mitigation banking is the establishment of new wetland areas, or “banks“, in advance of anticipated losses. Wetlands established in a mitigation bank provide “credits” which can be sold to permit applicants or used by the bank sponsor to meet permit conditions.

In an effort to further promote wetland banking in Michigan, the legislature has enacted a new innovative approach to increase the establishment of wetland banks by developing a Wetland Mitigation Bank Funding (WMBF) Program totaling $10,000,000. The WMBF Program provides grants and low interest loans to eligible municipalities interested in developing a wetland mitigation bank. The primary purpose of the program is to promote the development of bank sites in areas that do not currently have existing markets and available credits. Grant and Loan applications under the WMBF Program will start being accepted on July 1, 2014.

Part 52, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended. The WMBF Program is at Section 5204f.

Wetland mitigation banking is the establishment of new wetland areas, or “banks,” in advance of anticipated losses. Wetlands established in a mitigation bank provide “credits” which can be sold to permit applicants, or used by the bank sponsor to meet permit conditions. Wetland banks offer several benefits over traditional mitigation practices. Unlike traditional mitigation which occurs just prior to or concurrent with projects, wetland banks are on the ground and functioning before any credit can be released. Mitigation banking benefits the state’s wetland resources by providing new wetlands in advance of losses; by consolidating small mitigation projects into larger, better designed and managed units; and by encouraging integration of wetland mitigation projects with watershed based resource planning. Applicants also receive the benefit of reduced permit processing times and increased certainty regarding the availability of adequate mitigation sites. EGLE’s wetland mitigation banking website includes information on the process and legal requirements for sponsoring and developing a wetland mitigation bank.

Grants

WMBF Grants can be used to develop an approvable wetland mitigation banking proposal, notify local units of government and adjacent property owners of the proposed wetland mitigation bank and work to resolve objections to the project, plan and design the wetland mitigation bank, and complete the wetland mitigation bank funding program loan application or a loan application from other funding sources. Grants cannot cover more than 90 percent of the cost to complete a loan application and require a 10 percent local match. It is anticipated that grant applications will be in the $30,000 and $100,000 range.

Loans

WMBF Loans can be used to complete and execute the wetland mitigation banking agreement, complete engineering and design for the wetland mitigation bank, purchase land for the wetland mitigation bank, construct the wetland mitigation bank, and conduct monitoring and maintenance necessary to ensure that performance standards are or will be met.

Nativescape is a State of Michigan Certified Natural Shoreline Professional having demonstrated competency in shoreline and near shore soils, plant communities, aquatic habitats, water law and permitting, wave energy assessment and the methods and techniques involved in designing natural shoreline landscaping and bio-engineered erosion control on inland lakes. Nativescape specializes in the use of native green landscaping technologies and bio-engineered erosion control for the protection of Michigan inland lakes. We have the tools to better design, implement and maintain natural shoreline landscapes and bio-engineered erosion control on inland lakes.

Nativescape can provide a natural scientific approach to Remediation Plans using native species specifications that will meet permit requirements. Nativescapes are very low maintenance and aesthetically pleasing. Native grasses provide superb erosion control with deep root systems that fill the upper soil horizon. Once established native plants will maintain even the steepest slopes.