Rappahannock Environmental Group

Wetland & Waters of the U.S. Delineations

REG’s wetland professionals conduct field investigations, flagging, and mapping of wetlands and other jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. (WOUS) features in order to accurately depict the limits of state and federally protected environmental features on your land. Staff will then confirm those limits with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) allowing you to move forward with your project.

Preliminary Wetland Investigations

Due to the importance of protecting environmentally sensitive areas during development, obtaining a conceptual understanding of the locations of these resources is critical during the planning phase. For this reason, it is important to have a wetland professional identify potential constraints on the site by completing a preliminary wetland investigation. REG staff routinely perform these investigations to determine if wetlands are potentially present and may be applied to your site.

Section 401/404 Wetland and Waters of the U.S. Permitting

When wetlands and other jurisdictional Waters of the U.S. (WOUS) are present on a site and impacts to those features are unavoidable, permitting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is required. REG’s wetland professionals can assist you with evaluating your proposed impacts and provide insight into potential cost and time saving alternative. Once the final impacts are determined, REG staff can assist in obtaining both state and federal agency approval.

Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (CBPA) Compliance

The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (CBPA) was enacted by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 in an effort to protect and improve water quality within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. As a result of this action, localities were required to adopt and enforce strict regulations concerning the protection of critical environmental resources within their jurisdiction. REG’s environmental professionals have years of experience assisting landowners with adhering to these regulations while still being able to meet their development goals for their property.

Perennial Flow Determinations

One of the critical elements of the CBPA requires the identification of perennial streams on a property in order to determine the presence or absence of Resource Protection Area (RPA) buffers. REG’s certified stream evaluators will investigate the stream channels on your property to determine if they are considered perennial, intermittent, or ephemeral. We will then coordinate with local government staff to obtain approvals allowing our project to move forward.

Resource Protection Area (RPA) Delineations

Certain localities in the State of Virginia are required to adopt a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance to protect high quality state waters, prevent increases in pollution, reduce existing pollution, and promote water resource conservation. One of the primary methods is through the identification and establishment of Resource Protection Area (RPA) buffers. These buffers consist of lands adjacent to water bodies with perennial flow. REG can assist with identifying and mapping these buffers on your property.

RPA Encroachment and Mitigation Plans

The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act allows for certain activities with Resource Protection Area (RPA) buffers. REG staff can assist you with applying for and obtaining permission for certain activities that are permitted within the RPA. Our Encroachment and Mitigation Plans will identify the limits of the activity, the mitigation strategy, and address all aspects of your locality’s Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance.

Water Quality Impact Assessments (WQIA)

The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act requires the completion of a Water Quality Impact Assessment (WQIA) when applying for encroachments into RPA buffers. Depending on the location and amount of the encroachment, REG’s environmental professionals will complete either a Minor or Major WQIA as part of the application package. The WQIA will address all aspects of the documentation required in your locality’s CBPO.

Wetland Permit Compliance, Monitoring and Reporting

Many permits with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) require monthly and semi-annual reporting to document the progress of the construction within wetland and stream impact areas. REG’s environmental professionals can provide the required oversight and reporting documentation to meet your permit obligations.