REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS


Black Maple Development, Littleton, MA (a 6-lot subdivision within estimated rare species habitat area) — vernal pool evaluations, rare species habitat evaluation, mitigation measure development, preparation of a conservation permit.

WPI was retained to assist in the development of a Conservation and Management Permit Application for a residential development on a 103-acre parcel of land in Littleton, Massachusetts. The property included rare species habitat of the marbled salamander, blue-spotted salamander and spotted turtle. Evaluations were conducted of these species. The layout for the subdivision was modified appreciably, and evaluations were completed onsite to determine the extent of habitat of the three species, and the potential for impact on the species from the development of the parcel. A Conservation and Management Permit Application was filed with the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP). The proposed project includes transfer of 87 acres of land for town conservation purposes (conservation easements and restrictions), minimization of tree clearing and cutting, the use of common driveways, and maximizing the use of non-forested areas for construction activities. The project is under review at the NHESP.


Carriagetown Marketplace, Amesbury, MA — permit support services, 401 Water Quality Certification, Federal 404 Dredge and Fill Permit, erosion control monitoring, wetland replication construction monitoring and wildlife habitat monitoring.

WPI was retained by the property owner to provide local, state and federal permitting services, wetland delineation, erosion control monitoring programs, a wetland impact mitigation plan and wildlife habitat evaluation. In addition, WPI completed a wetland impact area function-value evaluation to evaluate the wildlife habitat impacted as a result of the project construction. WPI developed grading and planting plans for the replication and restoration of Bank, Bordering Vegetated Wetland and Bordering Land Subject to Flooding on the site. The total mitigation for each area included 1,018 feet of Bank, 37,167 square feet of vegetated wetlands, and 4,861 square feet of Bordering Land Subject to Flooding. WPI was responsible for the wetland delineation, development of the Wetland Mitigation Programs, Erosion Control Program and the wetland creation plans and filing of local, state and federal wetland permits. WPI continues to monitor the wetland replacement areas and provide reports to the Army Corps of Engineers and the Amesbury Conservation Commission.


Emerald Pines, Methuen, MA — habitat assessment, rare species habitat evaluation, impact mitigation plan, permit support, wetland permitting, 401 Water Quality Certification, Federal 404 Dredge and Fill Permit.

Emerald Pines is a proposed 18-hole golf course with a clubhouse and residential community located on approximately 213 acres in Methuen, Massachusetts. The site includes wetland areas, intermittent and perennial stream banks, and estimated habitat of rare species. The boundaries of the wetland areas on the site have been determined by an existing Order of Resource Area Delineation issued by the City of Methuen.

Wetland impacts are proposed, as well as some vegetation pruning along the fairways. Mitigation offered to compensate for these losses includes wetland creation, buffer plantings to shield wetlands from the play areas, implementation of an Integrated Golf Course Management Program, use of strict vegetation cutting programs, maintenance programs for drainage systems, and construction monitoring. WPI is responsible for developing Wetland Mitigation Programs, the Erosion Control Program and Vegetation Management Plan, filing and supporting the Notice of Intent submitted to the Methuen Conservation Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), filing of the Section 404 Dredge and Fill Permit with the Army Corps of Engineers, and filing of the 401 Water Quality Certification. WPI is also responsible for filing the Conservation and Management Permit for the project, which includes habitat of blue spotted salamanders and wood and spotted turtles. WPI is involved in the MEPA permitting review of the proposed project and interfacing with the various environmental and regulatory groups reviewing the project.


Turner Hill Golf Course, Ipswich, MA — permit support services, erosion control monitoring, wetland replication plans, wildlife habitat monitoring, and vernal pool certification and monitoring.

Turner Hill is a residential development, 18-hole golf course, spa and racquet center located on approximately 311 acres on Topsfield Road in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The site is located in both the Parker River Basin and Ipswich River Basin watersheds and includes 70 acres of jurisdictional wetland area as defined under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Regulations and the Ipswich Wetlands Bylaw. The site also includes seven certified vernal pools.

WPI is responsible for ensuring permit compliance through monitoring of golf course construction — including expansion of an existing pond jurisdictional under the Ipswich Wetlands Bylaw, wetland creation, buffer plantings and wetland enhancement programs associated with overstory clearing areas necessary for fairway construction. The extensive monitoring of onsite resources includes vegetation monitoring, soils, wildlife habitat, and water quality monitoring associated with the vernal pools, pond and overstory clearing areas, and certification of offsite vernal pools. WPI also coordinated the preparation and implementation of an Integrated Golf Course Management Plan, which includes the use of strict vegetation cutting programs, water conservation, and maintenance programs for course turf.

WPI is providing long-term monitoring of the success of the wetland creation, wetland enhancement and implementation of the Integrated Pest Management Plan.


Fairway Oaks, Haverhill, MA — wetland delineation, permit support services, comprehensive permit, 401 Water Quality Certification, Federal 404 Dredge and Fill Permit, erosion control monitoring, wildlife habitat evaluation, vernal pool evaluation, and wetland replication construction.

The project includes the construction of a 77-unit condominium complex for people 55 years of age and older located on a 28-acre parcel off Newton Road in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The project received approval as a comprehensive permit in a settlement agreement with the City of Haverhill and the Haverhill Golf and Country Club.

In order to access the site, the project required five roadway crossings and a water line crossing. Impacts at the site included BVW, Land Under Water, and Bank and Bordering Land Subject to Flooding. WPI conducted wetland delineation services, prepared and filed a Notice of Intent, conducted wildlife habitat evaluations for impacted resource areas, and prepared a mitigation plan for the project impacts to resource areas. WPI conducts weekly NPDES and HCC-required monitoring of the site and provides reports to the Haverhill Conservation Commission.


Greystone Estates, Westford, MA — wetland delineation, habitat evaluation, wildlife habitat evaluations, rare species population evaluation and preservation plan, vernal pool evaluation, design consulting, wetland replication plans, wetland permitting support.

This subdivision is located on approximately 500 acres of land, about half of which is proposed for development of single family house lots. WPI was retained after initial project design review indicated difficulties with the extent of wetland impact and potential impacts to rare species habitat areas on the site. The site included a population of spotted turtles, a Species of Special Concern in Massachusetts. In response to questions with regard to the impact on the turtle population, WPI redelineated wetland resource areas on the site, consulted on the design of the stormwater management system and road crossing designs, conducted evaluations of the wetland habitat areas on the site (including several vernal pools), and evaluated the impact of the proposed redesign project on the wetland resource areas, as well as turtle habitat. WPI concluded the redesigned project could be undertaken with no impact to turtle habitat and with acceptable levels of impact to the wetland resource areas on the site. Approval for the project was granted by the Westford Conservation Commission and Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP).


Haverhill School Expansion, Haverhill, MA — wetland delineation, site selection study, wildlife habitat evaluation, wetland restoration and replication program, erosion control planning, preparation of local and state wetland permits, 401 Water Quality Certification Permit, construction monitoring.

The City of Haverhill required the development of two new high schools on a fast track permitting schedule to service increasing enrollment. WPI was retained to participate in the evaluation of alternative site locations within the city, and was involved in wetland delineation on four potential sites, two of which were selected for construction. WPI consulted on site layout and designs (particularly relative to the stormwater management plan and wetland crossing designs), and developed the Notice of Intent filings for each site — including preparation of wetland replication, wetland restoration, and erosion control programs. The stormwater management systems were designed to be compatible with the receiving water bodies, one of which represented a part of the Haverhill drinking water supply. Subsequent to receiving permitting approval, WPI was retained to monitor site construction activities related to implementation of the erosion control program and the construction and planting of the wetland replication and restoration areas.


JPI Development Partners, Inc. - Jefferson on the Park, Lawrence, MA — permit support services, erosion control monitoring, wetland replication construction monitoring and planting.

The project included eight multiple-unit apartment buildings and a clubhouse located on approximately 15 acres in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Of the nine buildings, seven of the apartments are located within the 100-foot buffer zone to wetland resource areas protected under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Regulations. WPI was retained by the property owner to provide permit support services, wetland delineation, erosion control monitoring programs, a wetland impact mitigation plan, and wildlife habitat evaluations. WPI developed grading and planting plans for the replication and restoration of Bank and Bordering Vegetated Wetland and was responsible for weekly monitoring during construction of the project, providing reports to both local and state agencies.


JPI Development Partners, Inc. - Jefferson on the Park, Marlborough, MA — wetland delineation, permit support services, erosion control monitoring, wildlife habitat evaluation, wetland replication construction monitoring and planting.

The project included 11 multiple-unit apartment buildings and a clubhouse located in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Two of the apartments, the access roadway and the stormwater management area are located within the 100-foot buffer zone to wetland resource areas protected under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Regulations. WPI was retained by the property owner to provide permit support services, wetland delineation, erosion control monitoring programs, a wetland impact mitigation plan, and wildlife habitat evaluations. WPI developed grading and planting plans for the replication of Bank impacts, including provisions for a wildlife corridor along an onsite stream and culvert system. WPI was also responsible for weekly monitoring during construction of the project, providing reports to both local and state agencies.


Keating Quarry, Dracut, MA/Pelham, NH — WPI worked in a joint role as a consultant for both Keating Quarry and the Dracut Conservation Commission to develop a plan to replicate 2.6 acres of wetlands and associated upland habitat areas historically impacted by quarrying operations. WPI monitored the grading of the area and final planting. The various areas within the 2.6 acres were assessed with respect to soils, hydrology and topography; and appropriate vegetation communities were established to ensure compliance with the Performance Standards set forth in the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Regulations. WPI conducted periodic reviews of the wetland areas and associated construction activities, and provided status reports to the client and the Dracut Conservation Commission on the progress of each area toward compliance with the Performance Standards.


Meadow Creek Golf Course, Dracut, MA — permit support services, erosion control monitoring, wetland replication construction monitoring, wildlife habitat monitoring, vernal pool monitoring, pond sampling, surface and ground water sampling, and water quality monitoring.

Meadow Creek is a 187-unit single family residential development and 18-hole golf course and country club located on approximately 383 acres located in north-central Dracut, Massachusetts. As a result of construction activities, wetland resource areas jurisdictional under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Regulations and the Town of Dracut Bylaw will be impacted. Extensive monitoring of the onsite and offsite wetland resource areas is being conducted to assess the potential impacts, if any, on water quality and quantity as a result of golf course operation. The monitoring program includes the collection and measurement of water from 14 vernal pools, two ponds and a network of groundwater monitoring wells. Surface water sampling and faunal monitoring is conducted in the two ponds, which receive discharge from stream flow flowing through the site.

WPI is responsible for ensuring permit compliance through monitoring of golf course construction, wetland creation, buffer plantings and wetland enhancement programs associated with fairway construction. The extensive monitoring of onsite resources includes vegetation monitoring, soils, wildlife habitat and water quality monitoring associated with the vernal pools, ponds and overstory clearing areas.


Nichols Village, Groveland, MA (an 84-Unit Senior Independent Living Facility) — preliminary site reviews, wetland delineation, local and state wetland permit application preparation and support, site-specific soil survey, soil test pit examination and description, development of a detailed erosion and siltation control program, compensatory impact mitigation design, a stormwater pollution prevention plan, NPDES application preparation and support, and construction monitoring.

The Nichols Village project involves construction of 4,500 linear feet of roadway, wetland crossings and associated drainage infrastructure (including a detention basin) to provide access for construction of a large congregate building providing 84 independent living apartments and other amenities — including a pool, wood working shop and covered parking. Additionally, the project involves construction of duplex and quadriplex cottages providing additional living units.

WPI's initial activity involved a preliminary evaluation of the site topography, soils and wetlands to determine feasibility for and compatibility with the intended use. This activity also translated into development of design and planning considerations for the project team, such as identification of areas having high erosion potential, problem upland soils and other sensitive areas.

After successful filing and coordination of local and state wetland permitting efforts for the facility, WPI coordinated the preparation and support of wetland permit applications to install cross-country sewer, as well as sewer and water utility installation, within the nearby state highway. WPI continues to inspect the site, including off-site improvements, and to provide status reports and attend construction team meetings on a weekly basis for the life of the construction project. WPI is currently responsible for monitoring compliance with the Order of Conditions and NPDES permit conditions and evaluation of the performance of storm water management and erosion control BMPs, the compensatory mitigation area, and identification of any routine or emergency maintenance or repair issues.


North Andover Estates and North Andover Heights, North Andover, MA — wetland delineation, an erosion control plan, resource area evaluations, preparation of wetland replication and restoration plans, construction monitoring.

Following two years of construction activities and a number of enforcement order and compliance issues, WPI was retained by the new property owner to provide permit support services, erosion control programs, wetland replication plans, wetland delineation, and other services associated with completion of construction of this hilltop residential subdivision.

The site included a variety of wetland resource areas, including several hundred feet of the Mosquito Brook drainage, and a variety of drainageways which were badly eroded, and contributing to the deposition of significant sediment loads within wetland resource areas at the bottom of the hill. WPI developed an erosion control program for the site which included regrading and erosion control matting of large areas of the site, installation of Soil Guard hydroseeding over approximately four acres of land, the implementation of stormwater management programs and associated monitoring and maintenance activities. Several wetland replication and restoration areas were reconstructed and revegetated during the effort and were monitored to assure compliance with the Orders of Conditions. Approximately 18,000 sq. ft. of wetland replication and restoration areas was involved. A vernal pool area previously impacted by construction activities was cleaned of accumulated silt and restored to functional condition.


Olin Environmental Management, Inc., Wilmington Facility, Wilmington, MA — wetland delineation, functional assessment, Site Habitat Characterization Report (Comprehensive Site Assessment), interim remediation plan impact assessment, permitting support.

Olin Environmental Management, Inc. owns a former chemical production facility on a 30-acre parcel in Wilmington, Massachusetts, which has been determined to have been the source of groundwater contaminants in the vicinity of the Wilmington and Woburn, Massachusetts drinking water aquifers. The site is currently under evaluation to assess the nature and extent of groundwater contamination.

WPI has been responsible for the delineation of onsite and offsite wetland areas, and has developed the Site Habitat Characterization Report as part of the Comprehensive Site Assessment. WPI worked with the monitoring well installers to evaluate and select appropriate drilling locations for offsite monitoring. WPI provided monitoring of the drilling operation and restoration of the sites following completion of drilling. As part of a proposed Interim Remedial Action Plan for controlling the release of contaminated groundwater, WPI evaluated the impact of the proposed action, developed a mitigation program for restoring the impact area, and provided permit support for its approval.

WPI filed permit applications for the Notice of Intent, the 404 Permit, and the 401 Permit. These project approvals were expedited in order to assure construction of the slurry wall and removal of contaminated soils from the site could be accomplished during low flow conditions. All permits were received, and the restoration effort has been completed onsite, with WPI providing monitoring and status report responsibilities and oversight of the wetland soil removal and wetland restoration efforts.


Renaissance Golf Club, Haverhill, MA — wetland delineation and classification, wetland functional analyses, filing of the Abbreviated Notice of Resource Area Delineation, preparation of Wetland Impact Mitigation Programs and Erosion Control Programs, coordination and assistance provided in project design relative to stormwater management and drainage, filing of Notice of Intent under local and state regulations, along with the Section 401 Water Quality Certification and ACOE Section 404 Dredge and Fill Permit. Post-approval services included NPDES and state and federal permit compliance monitoring, provision of wetland plants and planting services, design modification permitting and integration of rare species habitat mitigation program.

Renaissance Golf Club is a 210-acre golf course and associated residential housing complex located in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The site includes two operational gravel pits, agricultural fields, wooded uplands and wetlands, and onsite ponds. WPI was retained to provide overall control of the wetland permitting process, including the development and filing of the Notices of Intent for local and state wetlands protection regulations, the Section 401 Water Quality Certification, and a Section 404 Dredge and Fill Permit, and following project approval, the NPDES Phase II Permit.

The site included habitat for the wood turtle, a species of Special Concern; and the site was concerned and strained by the presence of two perennial streams located on the east and west boundary of the proposed site. WPI worked closely with local, state and federal agency representatives to characterize and define the limits of jurisdiction for each regulatory agency so that appropriate performance standards could be established for each wetland area on the site. In all, approximately 3,130 linear ft. of intermittent Bank, 172 sq. ft. of Bordering Vegetated Wetland, and 183,031 sq. ft. of isolated of vegetated wetlands were impacted by the proposed project, along with 3.6 acres of overstory clearing area required in order to maintain viewscapes between tees, fairways and greens.

Associated with the wetland impacts was the creation of approximately 215,000 sq. ft. of vegetated wetlands, including 3,370 linear feet of Bank habitat, much of which was provided within the historic gravel pit areas, resulting in significant increases in functional capability of these previously degraded wetland areas. WPI developed the mitigation programs for the wetland restoration and replication efforts, and utilized functional evaluations and wildlife habitat evaluations to provide a basis for assuring dramatic increases in wetland function following construction of the golf course. The course design also included construction of greater than two acres of wood turtle nesting and forage habitat integrated within the third hole tee box complex.

During the construction phase of the project, WPI has been responsible for the NPDES and local, state and federal compliance monitoring of the construction site, and provides weekly reports to the agencies as part of its compliance requirements. WPI also provides coordination with the agencies for all minor design modifications determined as required during construction.


Rivers Edge Golf Course, Durham, NH — wetland delineation and classification, functional analysis, an impact mitigation program, erosion control program, Site Specific Permit, Wetlands Fill Permit, 401 Water Quality Certification, Federal 404 Dredge and Fill Permit.

Rivers Edge was a proposed 18-hole golf course with a clubhouse, function hall and practice range located on a 211-acre site along the Lamprey River in Durham, New Hampshire. The site includes 43 acres of wetland area, and due to the river's classification under the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the presence of rare plant species, is a sensitive environmental site.

WPI delineated 7.5 miles of wetland boundary on the site using the 1987 Army Corps of Engineers delineation procedures, and has been working closely with the course designer to reduce and mitigate wetland impacts due to course development. Proposed wetland impacts included 1.83 acres of wetland dredge and fill and an additional 4.2 acres of wetland within which only vegetation pruning is proposed. Mitigation offered to compensate for these losses includes enhancement of onsite degraded wetlands, landscape pond development, wetland creation, buffer plantings to shield wetlands from the play areas, implementation of an Integrated Golf Course Management Program, use of strict vegetation cutting programs, maintenance programs for drainage systems, and construction monitoring.

WPI was responsible for developing the wetlands delineation, Wetland Mitigation Programs, Erosion Control Program and Vegetation Management Plan, filing and supporting the Wetland Fill Permit with the New Hampshire Wetlands Board, the Site Specific Permit with the New Hampshire DES Water Supply and Pollution Control Division, and the Federal 404 Dredge and Fill Permit with the New England Division — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. WPI was involved in the Durham Planning Board and Conservation Commission approvals and interfaced with various environmental and regulatory groups reviewing the project, including the Lamprey River Advisory Committee, National Park Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Strafford County Conservation District.


Roseland Property Company, Randolph and Canton, MA — preparation of rare species sampling protocol and implementation of a rare species sampling protocol for five rare species, including three amphibians and three rare plants. Work included preparation of a final report and Conservation and Management Permit filed with the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, as well as input to the standard ENF. WPI will also be conducting wetland delineation services on the subject parcels.

The Roseland Property project consists of 450 apartment units, 150 condominium units, and 27 single family houses constructed on an 80-acre parcel located both in Randolph and Canton, Massachusetts. The site was determined to have one rare species on it, the four-toed salamander, as well as two plant species, basil mountain-mint and lesser snakeroot. WPI developed the sampling protocol for evaluating the presence and extent of habitat for the species in conjunction with determining those portions of the site which could be utilized for the proposed residential housing complex. Following concurrence with NHESP, the sampling program was undertaken and only four-toed salamander were found to be inhabiting the site. WPI procured a Conservation and Management Permit for the habitat impacts to the four-toed salamander and that permit application is currently under review by NHESP. WPI has also participated in providing input to the expanded ENF and will be conducting wetland delineation and permitting services in spring of 2005.


TEC, Wilbraham, MA — Mile Oak Residential Facility, Wilbraham, MA — preparation of rare species sampling protocol and conduct of rare species field studies; MEPA support and preparation of Conservation and Management Permit.

This 250-unit condominium facility located off Stony Hill Road in Wilbraham, Massachusetts requires work in close proximity to or in rare species habitat area for the four-toed salamander, the blue-spotted salamander and the climbing fern. WPI has prepared protocols for sampling the three species at the site and has initiated field studies of the populations to determine their presence and the extent of their habitat as it may affect the layout of the residential community, as well as a proposed town sewer project. Results of WPI's field studies will be submitted to NHESP, the Wilbraham Conservation Commission, DEP and MEPA as part of the permitting process, and will be utilized on a basis of the subsequent Conservation and Management Permit application.


Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, Longmeadow and East Longmeadow, MA — wetland evaluation, rare species habitat restoration, wetland restoration planting plans.

As part of the installation of a 5.4-mile stretch of 30-inch diameter pipeline in Longmeadow and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, 26 wetland resource areas, including 20 water bodies, had to be crossed. The total area of wetland impacted was 10.2 acres. WPI was retained by the project engineer to develop site specific wetland restoration plans for the various wetlands altered during construction in each town.

Since much of the impacted wetland area was within the Fannie Stebbins Memorial Wildlife Refuge and the habitat of five rare species habitat zones, specific attention was paid to restoration of habitat with a comparable or greater wildlife habitat value. WPI designed an innovative revegetation plan centered around vegetation structural elements (including thickets, patches, hedgerows, rings and transition zones) to provide a diversity of food, cover and nesting cover types within the restored right of way. Inherent in the planting plan was accommodation of right of way construction and long-term maintenance requirements which limited the vegetation strata and size replanted in the disturbed area. Additionally, historic maintenance had led to several invasive plant species dominating portions of the wetland area, and restoration plant species were selected to be competitive with remnant root stock and seeds of the less desirable species. The restoration planting plan was favorably received by the local Conservation Commissions and approved by state and federal reviewers.


The Villages at Great Hill, Topsfield, MA — wetland delineation, habitat assessment, wildlife habitat evaluation, replacement plan, permitting, erosion control program, construction monitoring.

This hilltop site consists of approximately 150 acres and has been permitted as an elderly housing community which includes 75 units of upscale multiplex housing. The project includes a 4,000-foot access roadway, extensive drainage control structures and a community septic field.

WPI was initially responsible for delineation and characterization of wetland resource areas under the local wetland bylaw, Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Regulations and federal wetland regulations. Subsequently, WPI consulted on various aspects of site design relative to minimizing wetland impacts and promoting drainage and erosion control on this steep site. WPI developed the Erosion Control Plan for the site and associated site construction monitoring provisions. Since the site development impacts approximately 4,800 sq. ft. of wetland area and several hundred feet of stream Bank, an extensive wildlife habitat evaluation and compensatory wetland mitigation plan were prepared to support the wetland permitting effort. The project has been successfully permitted and is completed and occupied.


White Mountain National Forest, Administrative Office Site Evaluation, North Woodstock, NH — wetland delineation, resource area evaluations, evaluation of alternative site development concepts, assessments of environmental impacts resulting from site development, and preparation of comparative site evaluations).

WPI was a member of a project team including Marin Environmental, Inc. and Cuoco and Cormier Engineering Associates, Inc., conducting an evaluation of three sites in northern New Hampshire for the relocation of the White Mountain National Forest Administrative Headquarters. Sites involved were a combination of forested and existing developed areas typically involving significant wetland resource area impacts due to site development requirements. WPI delineated wetland resource areas at the sites and prepared evaluations of each site with regard to potential wetland-related impacts. Comparative evaluations of the sites were conducted to determine the alternative with least environmental impact. Evaluations were also conducted of stormwater management systems, construction control programs, and post-construction direct and indirect impacts on wetland areas.