 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Fluvial Geomorphology Hydraulic Analysis and Design Instream Flow Analysis Plant Ecology/ Wetland Science Regulatory Compliance/ National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Stream Restoration Planning & Design Urban/Suburban Surface Water Management Water Resource Computer Modeling Watershed Analysis Water Quality/ Quantity Assessment |
FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCESFisheries and aquatic sciences encompass a broad spectrum of skills and potential issues. WPN members have experience completing fish population assessments; habitat assessment and mapping; and habitat mitigation and enhancement. In addition, members develop instream flow requirements, and complete sediment source, transport, and effects analyses. Our work focuses on freshwater streams and rivers in the western states, but members also have worked in marine environments and on projects throughout the lower 48 states and Alaska. WPN members draw on a diversity of water resource expertise (biology, hydrology, geomorphology), which enables us to address biological assessments for endangered species, habitat evaluations, and water quality studies with an interdisciplinary approach. We assist agencies, tribes, and other clients in formulating plans to avoid, minimize, or compensate for impacts to aquatic resources and develop restoration plans. WPN members are experienced in assessment protocols such as electrofishing, snorkel count procedures, and habitat assessment methods. Our specific expertise includes the following:
Representative Projects
FLUVIAL GEOMORPHOLOGYHistorically, humans have altered natural watersheds and stream systems with little concern or understanding of the natural equilibrium of the system as a whole. More often than not, such alterations upset a system's natural balance and result in detrimental impacts to the watershed and its dependent ecosystem. The WPN Team studies the various aspects of a watershed both individually and as a component of the whole system. This approach addresses the various interrelationships between the land uses and stream channels, thereby allowing for a more balanced and self-maintaining natural system. In addition to the various elements of a complete watershed analysis noted above, the WPN Team studies the following geomorphic features of a watershed:
Representative Projects
HYDRAULIC ANALYSIS AND DESIGNWPN members apply the sciences of water resources engineering and hydraulics within client constraints to create practical engineering solutions. While the engineered applications may vary greatly in content, they are all founded on sound engineering principles and pragmatism. WPN's engineers have been focused on water resource projects for the past 10-years, but also have a diverse background in other engineering disciplines, including the design of roads, utilities, pump stations, sewage systems, highways, subdivisions, community septic systems and urban site plans. When dealing with natural systems such as watersheds and streams, our engineers believe in using the least obtrusive solution that meets the goals of the project.. WPN has registered engineers licensed in the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Maine. Our specific hydraulic engineering expertise includes the following:
Representative Projects
INSTREAM FLOW ANALYSISEvaluating impacts to stream systems requires an understanding of instream flow requirements for fisheries, other aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, and vegetation. IFIM study results can be "customized" for the specific analysis objectives, using information about local hydrologic conditions, dam and water diversion operating rules and capacities, riparian requirements, and stream channel maintenance needs. Flexible analysis tools can be built to allow planners to carefully weigh tradeoffs that are part of land use and watershed planning. WPN hydrologists and fisheries biologists work together to understand site-specific conditions through the collection, analysis, and evaluation of streamflow, channel, and fisheries data. Specific capabilities of WPN members include:
Representative Projects
Plant Ecology/ WETLAND SCIENCEA good understanding of wetland and plant ecology is key to planning vegetation restoration, developing habitat monitoring programs, conducting vegetation inventories and habitat health assessments, locating rare plant populations, and addressing vegetation management issues. WPN members have experience in wetland delineation, impact assessment, and mitigation design. Members are trained in both the 1987 and 1989 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland delineation methodologies. WPN can provide assistance in project design to minimize wetland and riparian impacts. Additional expertise includes wetland typing and functional assessment, as well as design of successful mitigation projects. WPN members design and implement vegetation restoration plans for upland, wetland, and riparian habitats. Members provide technical services including plant community mapping, field data collection, data analysis and interpretation. WPN members can design and implement vegetation monitoring programs to meet the requirements of 404 wetland mitigation permits, establish baseline conditions, or quantify changes in habitats over time. Specific WPN expertise includes the following:
Representative Projects:
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE/ NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA)WPN members and associates have experience conducting and managing biological and ecological studies within the Federal regulatory framework, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Clean Water Act (CWA), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and other environmental regulations. Our specific regulatory expertise includes:
WPN members have worked with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and U.S. Air Force on integration of biological information into NEPA environmental analysis programs and resource management plans. Members have managed Environmental Impact Studies and managed consultant teams in: completing resource assessments; presenting project approaches to public groups; and soliciting, documenting and responding to public comments. Specific experience includes supporting on-call contracts with FERC, completing Environmental Analyses and Environmental Impact Statements for Natural Gas pipeline and facility projects, and hydroelectric dam relicensing projects. Representative Projects
STREAM RESTORATION PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTIONWPN provides stream restoration services at three levels of analysis based on the geographic scale and level of detail of the project. Stream hydrology, geomorphology, channel hydraulics, sediment, fish and wildlife habitat requirements, costs/benefits and stakeholder objectives are evaluated at each level, but at a different degree of effort. 
Level 1: Watershed Scale
Level 2: Stream Segment Scale
Level 3: Reach Scale Level 3 projects logically follow Level 1 and 2 planning analyses, but may also be developed from agency planning or landowner objectives. WPN's Level 3 designs have ranged in size from several hundred feet to six (6) miles in length. Representative Stream Restoration Designs
URBAN/SUBURBAN SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENTEffective management of surface water resources has become increasingly important in urban and suburban areas where streams, lakes, and wetlands can be significantly affected by a variety of land uses. Of particular concern is uncontrolled stormwater runoff that can dramatically alter the physical, chemical, and biological attributes of these water bodies. Two important new regulations, endangered species listings for Northwest salmon, and the impending NPDES Phase II regulations, will require many communities throughout the Northwest to develop storm and surface water management programs to protect their water resources. WPN members offer a unique combination of interdisciplinary skills to assist local governments in these efforts. Specific expertise includes the following:
Representative Projects
WATER RESOURCE COMPUTER MODELINGWPN members have expertise in the selection, development, calibration, and application of a variety of computer and analytical water resource models. We can provide interpretation of modeling results with a thorough understanding of the assumptions and limitations of the model used. We are experienced at integrating modeling results with appropriate climate and hydrologic data to best provide predictive tools for resource managers in a particular area. Our members' specific expertise includes:
Representative Projects
WATERSHED ANALYSISWatershed analysis is a systematic procedure for characterizing watershed and ecological processes. Watershed analysis consists of technically rigorous and defensible procedures that are designed to: 1) identify processes active within a watershed; 2) locate where the processes are active; 3) describe the current upland, riparian, and stream channel conditions; and 4) assess how these factors influence fish habitat, stream health, and other watershed uses. Watershed analysis is typically organized as a set of modules that examine the physical and biological processes in a watershed. WPN members have the interdisciplinary skills and experience to identify key watershed issues and select the appropriate modules to complete a defensible analysis. The modules which may be included in an analysis include: Mass Wasting, Surface Erosion, Hydrology, Stream Channel Geomorphology, Riparian Condition, Water Quality, Fish and Wildlife Habitat, and Monitoring. WPN members have conducted investigations and written numerous watershed impact analyses evaluating the effects of development and land management activities on sediment transport, water quality, soils, hillslope stability, and erosion. WPN members provide leadership in the development and application of watershed analysis approaches. Members have been active in reviewing and modifying portions of the Washington Department of Natural Resource Watershed Analysis Methodology. WPN members wrote the Oregon Watershed Analysis Methodology through a contract with the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB). Finally, WPN members have also completed watershed analyses for major industrial firms, small landowners, and local, state, and federal agencies including the U.S. Forest Service. GIS AND WATERSHED ANALYSISGeographic Information Systems (GIS) are an integral part of the watershed assessment process. GIS provides the framework and process by which natural resource managers and scientists observe and measure the watersheds' natural resource parameters. They can also map the watershed characteristics of interest, monitor changes over space and time, and model alternatives.. In addition to the spatial benefits, GIS can also serve as the database manager for information collected during a watershed assessment. This database (as well as the spatial entities) can then be integrated into a spatial format such as ESRI's Arcview. Representative Projects - Completed Watershed AnalysesIdahoWestern Washington
Central & Eastern Washington
Oregon
WATER QUALITY/ QUANTITY ASSESSMENTWater quality evaluations and modeling are necessary for development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), evaluating Best Management Practice (BMP) effectiveness, evaluating point and nonpoint source pollution controls, and assessing mitigation success. A TMDL involves a quantitative assessment of water quality problems and contributing pollution sources. A TMDL can be completed at various geographic scales and levels of analytical intensity depending on the timeframe and budget available. WPN members have the experience necessary to scale the level of effort needed to develop an effective and reasonable TMDL. WPN members have a diversity of experience in performing surface water quality investigations including storm event monitoring, automated continuous monitoring, and instrumentation design. WPN can design and conduct studies for water quality variables such as water temperature, pH, turbidity, fecal coliform bacteria, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, suspended sediments, heavy metals, and pesticides. WPN members provide technical services to clients including field data collection, laboratory analysis, data interpretation, water quality model development, mitigation, corrective action plan development, and BMP designs. Specific WPN expertise includes the following:
Representative Projects
|
 |
 |