Anne Arundel County Tightens Environmental Review Process
Sedges in a forested wetland, Anne Arundel County, Maryland
In May, Anne Arundel County issued several policy memorandums that will significantly change the environmental review process for site development in the county. Since these memoranda seek to enforce environmental laws that are already in place, they do not require legislation or code changes but will result in the Office of Planning and Zoning interpreting the County Code more strictly in order to protect environmental resources.
Don't Harp About Project Delays! Schedule Harperella Surveys Now
WSSI staff found this harperella specimen
As we approach the mid-summer months, our environmental scientists are preparing for another season of harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum) surveys. This small, endangered member of the carrot family lives along larger rocky creeks in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. If you have projects in these states, you can minimize impacts to your project schedule by having Wetland Studies and Solutions perform a harperella habitat evaluation or survey early in the development process – preferably within the July 1 to September 30 field survey window.
Saving Heritage Trees in Washington, DC
All three trees are thriving after transplant; heritage-sized willow oak pictured here with its protective perimeter fencing in June 2019.
Three enormous trees rolled along Wisconsin Avenue this winter to their new home, and Wetland Studies and Solutions is happy to report that they are doing well! Our Tree Preservation Specialists began planning more than a year before the tree relocations, working with the design, construction, transplant and maintenance teams in conjunction with DC staff to ensure the trees thrive. A Heritage-sized willow oak, a Heritage-sized pin oak, and a Special-sized northern red oak were displaced by multi-use redevelopment of the former Fannie Mae site at 3900 Wisconsin Avenue in NW DC. City Ridge’s developer was faced with DC’s 2016 updates to urban forestry preservation regulations requiring all non-government projects to save Heritage Trees (100” or more trunk circumference) and Special Trees (44-99.9” circumference) in place or relocate them to a “safe” spot. The trees must also be successfully maintained for 3 years or face a hefty fine. This is the first developer under the new law to have plans and permits approved and move the trees.
Read full article and check out the time-lapse photography! >>
Now Online: MAC-IECA Roadshow at WSSI’s Gainesville Office
Environmental Regulatory Updates and LIDWSSI hosted the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of IECA on May 23 to discuss 2019 environmental regulatory updates as well as techniques for Low Impact Development (LID). Topics included:
2019 VPDES permit updates and local implementation
Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule update
Virginia stormwater regulations and best practices
