G&O's ecologists, biologists, wetland scientists, and NEPA compliance specialists work closely with clients to develop innovative ways to mitigate impacts and create new methods to enhance the environment while achieving project goals. We perform environmental studies and prepare documentation for a variety of federal, state, and private clients involving projects ranging from small wetland mitigation projects to controversial multi-disciplined, multi-million dollar Environmental Impact Statements.
- Take a look at some of G&O's Water & Environment Projects.
Environmental Sciences Services in Virginia
Wetland and Feasibility Services | Stream Services | Ecological ServicesVirginia Permitting Services | Mitigation Services | Related Links
Click thumbnails below for larger images or browse the image gallery here.
Wetland and Feasibility Services
Reconnaissance-level wetland investigations
Wetland mitigation monitoring
- G&O is experienced in conducting these field investigations, which include the analysis of existing site topography, soils, vegetation, potential wetlands, and other environmental constraints.
- To expedite the completion of field work for large sites, G&O can evaluate aerial photography to locate potential wetland areas.
- G&O has extensive experience in conducting ECA analyses which may be required for some Virginia development projects. This analysis may include a quantification of the acreage and percentage of the environmental features; an inventory of threatened and endangered species; a description of how streams and wetlands will be protected during construction; a cultural resource and assessment check; and more.
- G&O has successfully conducted hundreds of wetland delineations employing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1987 Wetlands Delineation Manual.
- To improve efficiency in conducting wetland delineations, G&O wetland scientists conduct GPS surveys of the wetland and stream boundaries using a differential GPS unit capable of sub-meter accuracy.
- Using GPS data collected from the field, G&O can produce wetland delineations maps that can be produced in any format compatible with AutoCAD, MicroStation, or GIS.
- G&O has the expertise to participate in Jurisdictional Determinations (JD) field meetings with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to validate the delineated wetland and stream boundaries.
Wetland mitigation monitoring
Stream Services
Stream assessments
Perennial flow determinations
Stream assessments
Perennial flow determinations
- G&O is qualified to perform analyses to determine if a stream is perennial, which includes evaluating a stream's characteristics such as: hydrology, geomorphology, soils, biological organisms, and vegetation.
- Knowing that all proposed land disturbances occurring in Tidewater Virginia must comply with the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA) Designation and Management Regulations, G&O is skillful in assessing RPA's.
- G&O has the expertise to prepare a Water Quality Impact Assessment (WQIA) if mandated by the state and local Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA) requirements.
Ecological Services
Endangered and threatened species and habitat surveys
Small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) surveys
Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP)
Resource management plans
Biological assessments
Endangered and threatened species and habitat surveys
Small whorled pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) surveys
- G&O is qualified, as determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to conduct small whorled pogonia species and habitat surveys.
- Virginia Bald Eagle Protection Guidelines (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 2000): Bald Eagle Protection Guidelines for Virginia
Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP)
Resource management plans
Biological assessments
Virginia Permitting Services
G&O works diligently to obtain the necessary permits to guarantee construction can begin as scheduled. To facilitate the permitting process, G&O offers the following general services:
Wetland and stream impact analysis
G&O works diligently to obtain the necessary permits to guarantee construction can begin as scheduled. To facilitate the permitting process, G&O offers the following general services:
Wetland and stream impact analysis
- Once impacts to jurisdictional areas are calculated, G&O can determine the permitting requirements for a project.
- G&O identifies and evaluates mitigation alternatives to ensure the most effective results, and can assist clients with the purchase of wetland mitigation credits from an approved mitigation bank.
- G&O understands the importance of meeting and coordinating with all necessary review agencies during the entire permitting process. Pre-application meetings are held with involved agencies in order to discuss a project's goals, proposed design, and any potential impacts to jurisdictional or environmentally sensitive areas.
- All feasible efforts to minimize unavoidable impacts to jurisdictional areas are taken into consideration. For more information on avoidance and minimization, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality provides this guidance document: Avoidance & Minimization of Impacts to Surface Waters.
- Section 404 Permitting - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Nationwide Permits
- State Program General Permits (SPGP)
- Individual Permits
- Section 401 Permitting - Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
- Virginia Water Protection General Permits
- Virginia Water Protection Individual Permits
- Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) Permits - Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
- G&O has extensive experience in preparing and submitting applications to the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities for projects. The VSMP permit is required for any construction project disturbing more than one acre of land.
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP)
- As a condition of the Virginia Stormwater Management Program (VSMP) General Permit, a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) must be developed for each construction project disturbing more than one acre of land.
Open
Close
Email this page | 
RSS Feeds
Add to del.icio.us
Add to Furl
Add to BlinkList