Natural Resources

Unlike most environmental firms, ARM’s biologists and natural resources professionals have 15+ years of experience so when they go into the field, they are gathering a wealth of information about all facets of a project, including constructability considerations, which helps our clients avoid surprises and reduces the need for multiple site reconnaissance mobilizations.  Not only does this approach reduce overall project costs, but it provides our clients with actionable project intelligence at the outset of the project, which leads to better decisions and better project outcomes.   ARM’s primary focus is to meet our client’s goals and make them look good while being fiscally responsible, responsive, safe, and dependable, as well as providing quality services that benefit our natural resources.   


  Natural System Design involves the restoration, enhancement or creation of hydrologic resources and ecosystems, such as streams and wetlands, using a combination of applied hydrology, ecology, biology and engineering. Using decades of experience in this field, ARM’s scientists and engineers collaborate with our clients to understand their objectives and then to develop cost-effective designs that are both constructible and durable, while seeking to enhance overall environmental quality.


Natural Resources Solutions

  • Aquatic Resource Investigation

    • Wetland Delineation / Functional Assessments
    • Benthic Macroinvertebrate Identification, Analysis & Surveys
    • Surface Water Quality Assessments
    • Aquatic & Riparian Habitat Assessments
    • Biosecurity Plans
    • Watershed Assessment & Plan Development

  • Stream & Wetland Permitting

    • Stream Determinations
    • Jurisdictional Determinations
    • Federal (Section 404, 401 and 10) & State Permits
    • Pre-application Meetings & Agency Coordination
    • Municipal, County, State & Federal Agency Coordination
    • Impact Determinations & Complex Permitting
    • Alternatives Analyses
    • NEPA Documentation
    • Permit Compliance Tracking & Monitoring
    • Expert Witness Services

  • Threatened & Endangered Species

    • Bog Turtle Surveys (Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3)
    • Rare, Threatened & Endangered Plant Species Surveys
    • Allegheny Woodrat Investigations & Surveys
    • Timber Rattlesnake Habitat Assessment & Monitoring/Snake Relocations
    • Habitat Creation
    • Bird Assessment & Surveys
    • Small-Footed Myotis Habitat Assessment
    • Mine Portal Assessment
    • Impact Avoidance & Minimization Strategies
    • State & Federal Agency Coordination
    • Biological Assessments

  • Mitigating & Restoration

    • Stream and Wetland Mitigation Design
    • Riparian Buffer Design & Planting Plans
    • Monitoring
    • Construction Oversight & Quality Assurance

  • Ecological

    • Botanical Inventory, Surveys, Voucher Specimens, Scientific Documentation
    • Invasive Species Evaluation Monitoring & Control
    • Wildlife Habitat Plans
    • Forest Stand Delineation
    • Vegetation Assessment & Land Cover Type Mapping

  • Natural System Design

    See ARM's Natural System Design Services

Natural System Design Solutions

  • Mitigating Wetland Habitat Loss

    • Desktop Analysis & Field Review Potential Wetlands
    • Wetland Delineation, Boundary Surveys, Functional Assessments
    • Invasive Species Assessments
    • Water Quality Assessment
    • State & Federal Regulatory Coordination
    • Avoidance & Minimization Alternatives and Impact Analysis
    • Mitigation Need Assessment, Site Selection & Design
    • Banking Options
    • Wildlife Species & Habitat Value Benefits
    • Permitting
    • Post-construction Wetland & Stream Performance Monitoring
    • Construction Management & Value Engineering
    • Conservation Area Protective Easements

  • Mitigating Stormwater Impacts

    • Soil Analysis & Infiltration Testing
    • Hydrogeologic Investigations
    • Watershed Assessments & Planning
    • Flow Modeling, Monitoring & Automation
    • Cost Benefit Analysis
    • Infrastructure Evaluation
    • Erosion and Sediment Control Design & Permitting
    • Stormwater Planning, Design & Repair/Retrofit
    • Subsurface Storage & Injection Well Design
    • MS4 Plans & Compliance
    • Best Management Practices
    • Low Impact Development Planning and Design (Bioretention Water Gardens, Bioswales, Soil Augmentation)
    • Remediation Engineering (Sinkhole Stabilization, Floodplain Reattachment, Channel Stabilization)

  • Stabilizing / Restoring Stream Systems

    • GIS Land Use Assessment & Modeling
    • Urban Stormwater Runoff Modeling
    • Streambank Erosion Loss Estimates
    • Stable Stream Channel Capacities
    • Aquatic Habitat Loss Estimates
    • Water Quality Impairment Surveys
    • Macroinvertebrate Surveys
    • Design Solutions (Floodplain reattachment, Natural Channel Design, Bio-stabilization, Riparian Planting Plans)
    • Watershed Restoration Plans
    • Construction Support & Value Engineering
    • Grant & Other Funding Support

  • Designing Wetlands for Water Treatment

    • Feasibility of Constructed Wetland Treatment Systems
    • Monitoring Programs for Waste Stream Characterization
    • Data Analysis & Conceptual Treatability Evaluations
    • Laboratory Bench-Scale Treatability Studies
    • On-site Pilot-Scale Testing Programs
    • Conceptual Treatment system Designs& Cost Estimates
    • Site Selection Studies
    • Technical Treatment Process Design
    • Construction Plans & Technical Specifications
    • Construction Cost Estimates & Schedules
    • Technical Assistance & Bid Solicitation
    • Regulatory Coordination & Permitting
    • Operational, Maintenance & Monitoring Guidance Documents & Support
    • Initial System Set-up & Flow Balancing
    • Performance Data Review & System Optimization
    • System Inspections & Performance Evaluations

  • Monitoring Ecological Changes / Trends

    • Acid Rain Impact Analysis
    • Bank Erosion Losses
    • Benthic Habitat Changes
    • Fish Population & Reproduction Changes
    • Comprehensive Impact Analysis
    • Water Quality Investigations (Industrial Discharges, Toxic Element Analysis, Treatability Options, and Treatment System Performance)
    • Hydrologic Monitoring & Modeling (Stream Flow, Point Source Discharge, & Stormwater Monitoring, Continuous Stage Recording & Remote Telemetry Flow Monitoring)

  • Environmental Construction Management

    • Pre-contractor Selection Support (Cost Estimates, Bid Package Preparation, Specification of Contractor Qualifications, Assessment Permit Conditions, Evaluation of Design Build Options)
    • Contractor Selection (Site Meetings, Documentation of Contract Clarifications, Evaluation of Bid Submittals, Review of Contractor Qualifications)
    • Construction Quality Assurance Documentation
    • Resource Agency Coordination
    • Permit Compliance Tracking & Post-Construction Monitoring
    • Inspections & Testing
    • Construction Administration 
    • Preparation of As-Built Documentation

Natural Resources Featured Projects

Natural Resources Certifications 

 

  • Venomous Snake Handling Certification 
  • Timber Rattlesnake Monitor (PFBC)
  • State and Federal Qualified Botanist (PA, OH, WV, VA, MD), including qualifications for Northeastern Bulrush, Running Buffalo Clover, Virginia Spiraea, Harperella, Small Whorled Pogonia, Swamp Pink
  • Bog Turtle Surveyor (US FWS, PFBC, Maryland DNR)
  • Qualified Professional Forest Conservation (Maryland DNR)
  • State of Ohio Level 2 QHE Qualified Data Collector
  • Professional Wetland Scientist/Certified Wetland Delineator
  • Certified Wildlife Biologist
  • Maryland Biological Stream Survey Macroinvertebrate Sampling Certification
  • Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assessment Field Sampling Protocols – PADEP Approved

 

Natural Resources Awards

 

  • Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey Atlas Project (PARS) Outstanding Service Award (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
  • Member, Pennsylvania Wild Resource Conservation Program Advisory Committee (2013-2019)

 


Natural System Design Featured Projects

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