Ecological and Environmental Services

• Delineated five forested wetlands and one other wetland, including functional evaluation (ORAM).
• Conducted aquatic field surveys in the Grand River and Swine Creek. The aquatic survey included a search for the state-endangered northern brook lamprey. Numerous individuals were located within the project area.
• Conducted a terrestrial field survey along C.R. 302, including an endangered species habitat survey.

Northern brook lamprey ammocoetes from Swine Creek.

• Conducted aquatic and terrestrial surveys on a 3,000-ft corridor along the proposed alignment, including QHEI aquatic habitat evaluation.
• Completed surveys for State and Federal endangered species.
• Completed wetland delineations on two forested wetlands.
• Coordinated with U.S. Army Corps and Ohio EPA. During coordination, ASC recommended design changes that reduced wetland impacts from 1.7 ac to 0.2 ac while still meeting development design requirements.
• Prepared a wetland mitigation plan to address impacts, including minimization of impacts, preservation, wetland design, and stream enhancement activities.

Forested wetland in the study corridor.

• Completed aquatic and terrestrial biotic surveys and habitat mapping of a 6-mile by 1.5-mile area.
• Completed aquatic surveys of fish, amphibians, and macroinvertebrates, and completed QHEI and HHEI aquatic habitat evaluations. More than 100 streams were investigated.
• Completed a wetland survey and wetland determinations for more than 150 wetlands, including functional analysis (ORAM).
• Prepared an Ecological Resource Inventory Report according to the revised ODOT Ecological Manual. The ODOT reviewer stated that the report was "complete and well organized".

Cave and waterfall in the MUS-SR93 study area, Muskingum County, Ohio.

• Conducted an Environmental Site Assessment Screening in the area of potential improvements to Eastown Road in Lima, Ohio.
• Reviewed historic and current land use information and regulatory databases to identify areas requiring additional environmental assessment.
• The ESA screening process identified 13 parcels containing RCRA generators and/or underground storage tanks within 0.25 miles of the project area. Three of these parcels were within the project area and could potentially be impacted by road improvement activities.
• Confirmed the locations of the 13 parcels through a visual inspection of the project area. No additional features indicative of hazardous material/waste handling, storage, or disposal were identified during the visual inspection.
• Additional Phase I ESAs were recommended for three parcels within the project area.
• Phase I ESAs were completed on three parcels. One parcel was recommended for Phase II ESA, and a construction plan note was developed.

Forested wetland in the Eastown Road corridor.

• Conducted ESA Screening, Phase I, and Phase II analyses on the proposed Ottawa River Bike Path Extension in Lima, Ohio.
• The ESA Screening identified areas of known environmental concern within the project area. Historic and current land use information was reviewed to identify facilities that generated, stored, or handled hazardous materials/wastes. A visual site inspection of the project area was completed to confirm and identify locations of concern. Six parcels were recommended for Phase I ESAs.
• Phase I ESAs were conducted on six parcels within the project area. Two parcels were recommended for Phase II ESAs.
• Phase II ESAs were conducted on two parcels. A geophysical survey was conducted using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Based on those results, soils were sampled to a depth of 10 feet at three locations at each parcel. A sample was collected from the interval of each boring with the highest Photo Ionization Detector reading and submitted for laboratory analysis.
• The Phase II ESA recommended additional assessment at one of the parcels and a construction plan note was developed.

Central Avenue bridge over the Ottawa River.

• Conducted an ESA Screening and Phase I on the proposed improvements to Interstate 75 in Dayton, Ohio.
• Historic and current land use information was reviewed to identify facilities that generated, stored, or handled hazardous materials/wastes for the ESA Screening. A visual site inspection of the project area was completed to confirm and identify locations of concern. Eleven parcels were recommended for Phase I ESAs.
• Phase I ESAs were conducted on 11 parcels within the project area.

I-75 Bridge over the Great Miami River in Dayton, Ohio.

• Completed filed survey for populations and/or individual plants of the federally-listed endangered running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum).
• Survey included a walking survey of the 254-acre project area.
• The locations and/or suitable habitats of plants were documented by photograph, characteristics of the populations, and the location was recorded using a Trimble GPS unit.

Running Buffalo Clover.

• Completed an Individual Section 404 Permit and Section 401 Water Quality Certification for a 7-acre residential housing development project.
• Completed Wetland Delineation and Functional Analysis required for water quality certification.
• Developed Wetland Mitigation Plan proposing on-site mitigation and wetland banking options for impacts to 1.6 acres of wetlands.
• Gave presentation used during Ohio EPA Public Hearing for the project.

On-site wetland.

• Completed Noise Analysis for new interchange construction.
• Gathered field noise measurement required based on preliminary modeling results.
• Completed final noise model.
• Conformity Assessment for Air Quality indicated that field data collection was not necessary.
• Completed applicable sections for inclusion in the Environmental Assessment for the project.

Dosimeter for recording noise levels.