Wetland Resources

Columbia River North Jetty Wetland Mitigation Bank Use Plan

US Army Corps of Engineers, with Harbor Consulting Engineers
The Corps conducted a major rehabilitation project to repair portions of the North Jetty that maintains the federal navigation channel at the mouth of the Columbia River. A mitigation plan was needed to compensate for fill in a 5.5-acre saltwater lagoon that had developed behind the jetty and several intertidal and non-tidal wetlands located along the access road. On-site mitigation options were limited due to construction sequencing and the location of the jetty within a state park, so Meridian worked with the Corps to develop a Wetland Mitigation Bank Use Plan. The plan combines credits from two different banks in order to provide equivalent or higher-level wetland functions and values.

Sunset Wetland and Riparian Habitat Study

Snohomish County PUD
The PUD is proposing to construct a 30-MW run-of-river hydropower project on the South Fork of the Skykomish River. Meridian conducted wetland delineations, stream typing, and mapping of the ordinary high water mark; classified wetlands and streams to determine buffer requirements; and then developed a plan to avoid, minimize, and mitigate project impacts on these resources. This plan will be included with the federal licensing documents.

John Street Substation Expansion Wetland Delineation and Mitigation Plan

Cowlitz PUD
Meridian delineated wetlands within the area of a proposed expansion of the John Street Substation in the City of Longview. We determined the ordinary high water mark of an adjacent stream, then evaluated the wetland and stream buffer condition and prepared a mitigation plan to compensate for the proposed buffer reduction. Mitigation involved long-term buffer protection, as well as vegetation enhancement with native trees and shrubs.

North Arm Campground Wetland Evaluation

Portland General Electric
Meridian evaluated wetlands in the vicinity of proposed improvements to the North Arm Campground, located on National Forest System lands adjacent to Timothy Lake, Oregon. The results of the evaluation were used to refine the design of the campground, access road, and boat launch to avoid or minimize impacts on wetlands. Meridian followed up with a formal wetland delineation to quantify project effects that could not be avoided and identified measures to minimize and mitigate for impacts that were included in PGE's permitting package.

Wetland Evaluation of Proposed Lower Elwha Valley Road

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe
Meridian delineated all wetlands and streams along a road proposed to provide access to the Elwha Reservation, drafted a wetland delineation report, and developed strategies to mitigate unavoidable wetland impacts. Mitigation primarily involved removing a berm to reconnect about 80 acres to the Elwha River floodplain. The mitigation strategy were favorably received by the Department of Ecology, Corps of Engineers, WDFW, and the Tribe. Meridian prepared all applications for environmental permitting and the road was developed.