A Vanishing Texas Treasure: Our Wetlands
SSCI provides the following Wetlands and Ecological Services:
- Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) and Wetland delineation
- Threatened and Endangered Species assessment
- Water quality sampling
- Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) compliance
- USACE permitting
- Mitigation planning
- Restoration plans
- Oversight and monitoring, wildlife census surveys, wildlife management, vegetative assessments, permit preparation, and environmental compliance inspections and managment.
Why Are Wetlands Important?
Reduce Pollution: Wetlands trap oil, sewage and other pollutants in our water supplies.
Control Erosion: Sediments settling in rivers and streams kill fish and aquatic animals, and damage habitats. Wetland vegetation helps maintain a natural and healthy shoreline.
Improve Water Quality: Wetlands absorb and filter contaminants before they damage rivers, lakes and streams.
Provide Habitat: Wetlands provide both temporary and permanent homes for many different species of fish, birds, reptiles, mammals, etc.
Support The Food Web: Wetlands trap and hold nutrients for the food supply all the way up the food chain.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service states that 43% of North America's threatened or endangered species depend on wetlands for survival.
Texas is one of the country's most important waterfowl wintering areas. Every year as many as five million migrating birds depend on Texas' wetlands for food, water, shelter and nesting areas. Coastal Wetlands provide many benefits to people as well, making our lives easier and safer; 90% of Texas' salt and freshwater fish species depend on wetlands for food, spawning and nursery grounds.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) use the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual and Regional Supplements to define wetlands for the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit program. Section 404 requires a permit from the USACE or authorized State for the discharge of dredged or fill material into the Waters of the United States, including wetlands.
In general, the USACE has jurisdiction over all construction activities in tidal and/or navigable waters, including adjacent wetlands, shoreward to the mean ordinary high-water mark. In other areas such as non-tidal waterways, adjacent wetlands, isolated wetlands, forested wetlands, and lakes, the USACE has regulatory authority over the discharge of dredged and fill material.
SSCI's ecological services department is well versed in the following regulations: Clean Water Act (CWA), Rivers and Harbors Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Act and National Historic Preservation Act.