Aequinox offers a range of wetland services and engages in all aspects of wetland restoration and mitigation. We conduct wetland delineations, design wetland mitigation plans, and help clients through the permitting process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL). Once permitted, we construct and plant wetland restoration, creation, and enhancement projects, and monitor projects to ensure success and that permit requirements are met.
Wetlands are protected under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act that establishes a program to regulate the discharge of dredged and fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands. Oregon’s Removal-Fill Law (ORS 196.795-990) requires a ‘Removal-Fill Permit’ from DSL for any activity that will fill or remove 50 cubic yards or more of material in a wetland or waterway. For activities in state-designated Essential Salmonid Habitat, State Scenic Waterways and compensatory mitigation sites, a permit is required for any amount of fill or removal.
If the National Wetland Inventory shows wetlands on a property, before a county will issue a building permit, they typically request that a professional wetland scientist delineate the wetlands and DSL concur with the wetland boundaries. To delineate wetland boundaries, wetland scientists follow the routine method described in the Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual and the appropriate Regional Supplement. We also follow Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 141-090-0005 through 141-090-0055, for wetland delineation report requirements and jurisdictional determinations. Our wetland services include wetland delineations, working with the agencies, and support to avoid wetland impacts. If wetland impacts can not be avoided, our wetland services include helping clients through the wetland mitigation process, including but not limited to conducting a functions and values assessment, and working closely with agency staff to restore, enhance, and/or create wetlands to compensate for wetland impacts (as per OAR 141-085-0680 through 141-085-0785).
For a sampling of our projects, see our Wetland Projects page.