Wetlands
Wetlands and Ecology
Under the Clean Water Act, wetlands are defined as "those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.”
Wetlands provide many valuable services, including providing habitat for a huge diversity of wildlife species, protecting us from flooding and storm damage, improving water quality in nearby rivers and streams by filtering pollutants, and acting as powerful carbon sinks by sequestering large amounts of carbon dioxide to help mitigate the effects of climate change. It is these biological, chemical, and physical characteristics that make wetlands unique and critically important to protect. Wetlands improve water quality in nearby rivers and streams and have considerable value as filters for future drinking water.
“Your team was amazing through the whole process and we would never have reached this point without you. It was a tremendous amount of work and I just wanted to let you know how thankful I am that we have had you on board.” --Julia Godtfredsen, Newburyport Conservation Administrator
Areas of Expertise
We are well vested in wetlands replication and design, wetland construction, and monitoring. We provide services to identify and delineate wetland, riverine, estuarine, and related wetland resources for their long-term protection, and to restore and enhance these systems when needed. Our professionals are equally well-versed in regulations governing the protection of wetland resources and can expertly assist our clients in navigating the sometimes complicated regulatory framework.
Resource Area Delineation and Permitting
We offer a full range of wetlands and wildlife habitat services in a variety of freshwater and coastal ecosystems. Our staff includes wetland scientists, ecologists, and wildlife biologists who identify and delineate wetland, riverine, estuarine, and related wetland resources for their long-term protection.
Habitat Surveys and Rare Species Permitting
Our experienced field biologists regularly perform habitat assessments for general and rare species, following guidelines and protocols provided by local, regional, state, and federal agencies. In Massachusetts, we frequently coordinate with the MA Natural Heritage of Endangered Species Program to ensure the protection of some of our most vulnerable plants and rare wildlife species.
Ecosystem Restoration
HW wetland scientists work alongside our hydrogeologists and restoration engineers and are skilled in wetland ecosystem restoration design. We provide long-term monitoring to ensure that the targeted ecosystem functions and values will persist over time.
Peer Reviews
HW wetlands and ecology staff also regularly perform peer reviews on behalf of our municipal clients, lending our expertise in resource area protection and addressing performance standards for projects in wetlands and buffer zones.
Practice lead
Sr. Associate and Ecologist
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