MCAS Beaufort Mitigation Bank
Beaufort, South Carolina
Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort contracted Tidewater to develop a wetland mitigation bank so that appropriate mitigation is available for unavoidable wetland impacts within the Installation’s properties. A 155-acre parcel owned by MCAS Beaufort was identified as a suitable mitigation bank due to the potential to restore extensive hydrologic and vegetative alterations that occurred over 100 years of agricultural land use. To date, the MBI has been accepted by the IRT and the USACE Section 404 permit application is pending review. Site preparation activities, including invasive species management, have commenced in upland and prior converted areas.
US 17 Road Widening
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Tidewater was responsible for natural resource consulting services necessary to widen a five mile stretch of US Highway 17 from four lanes to six lanes in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Services included preparation of a Section 4(f) evaluation, Section 106 coordination for sensitive cultural resources, wetland delineation of the right-of-way, conducting threatened and endangered species surveys, management of subconsultants and related studies, coordinating public outreach and meetings, and document preparation of a NEPA Environmental Assessment. The project was awarded the FHWA Exemplary Human Environment Initiative project, US Highway 17 Sweetgrass Corridor for its coordination and involvement with the Sweetgrass Basket makers.
SC 802 / US 21 Road Widening and Bridge Addition
Beaufort, South Carolina
Tidewater was responsible for all natural resource consulting services necessary to construct a new two lane bridge over the Beaufort River and widen two sections of existing roadway from two lanes to four lanes in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Services include comprehensive management and documentation of a NEPA Environmental Assessment; coordination with multiple federal and state regulatory agencies; coordination and participation in public involvement; wetland and critical area delineation of the right-of-way; conducting protected species surveys; drafting a biological assessment; management of subconsultants and related studies; and permitting for wetlands and navigable waters for the proposed project.
Tide Gate Mitigation Bank, Savannah District, USACE, Hunter Army Airfield
Savannah, Georgia
Tidewater personnel were contracted to establish a mitigation bank through tidal wetland restoration at Hunter Army Airfield outside of Savannah, Georgia. Tidewater is responsible for ongoing coordination with the Interagency Review Team (IRT), including the development of a Prospectus, a Baseline Data Collection and Monitoring Plan, and an MBI. The restoration project was assessed using aerial photography and historic mapping, vegetative quadrat and transects, hydrologic monitoring, macroinvertebrate studies, and tidal creek surveys. Tidewater is currently finalizing the MBI. Once established, this unique mitigation bank will generate income for the Installation’s ACUB program to acquire easements on adjacent properties that will enhance Fort Stewart’s ability to train within their existing borders.
Jackson Creek Restoration Project, Richland County, SC
Columbia, South Carolina
Tidewater is working with Richland County, private landowners, Richland County citizens, and the Gills Creek Watershed Association (GCWA) in order to establish a framework for the enhancement of the existing streams, wetlands, and buffers along and adjacent to Jackson Creek, within the identified project area, and improvement of adjacent areas via planning, Best Management Practice (BMP) retrofits, and education.
Restoration objectives include the following:
- Long term preservation of natural resources and buffers in an urbanized environment;
- Improving water quality through stream, wetland, and buffer enhancement,
- Promoting BMP construction and retrofits within and adjacent to the proposed
- Bank to target non point source pollution and addressing established Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) on Gills Creek;
- Providing educational opportunities for the public and to students at Dent Middle School, located adjacent to the proposed Bank.
- Providing green space in an urbanized environment;
- Guiding sustainable community improvements and growth and generate economic activity; and
- Promoting Richland County’s objectives associated with the sound management and planning within the Gills Creek Watershed
US 378 Road Widening
Florence, South Carolina
Tidewater was contracted through its SCDOT On Call Contract to complete National Environmental Policy Act documentation and Clean Water Act permitting for widening approximately 18 miles of US 378 between Lake City and Kingsburg in Florence County, South Carolina. Services included drafting the NEPA Environmental Assessment, conducting threatened and endangered species surveys and wetlands delineation, noise studies and coordination (ACE & DFR Meetings) for the United States Army Corps permit for impacts to wetlands.
