BioSurvey Group provides comprehensive substrate analysis services for aquatic environments, delivering the detailed sediment data essential for dredging permits and other water-based projects. Our specialized equipment and experienced team ensure accurate sampling and thorough documentation to support your regulatory requirements.

Ponar Sampling Our team utilizes professional-grade ponar samplers to collect representative sediment samples from: lake bottoms and reservoirs, river beds and channels, harbor areas and navigation channels, and wetland substrates and transitional zones.

Vibracore Sampling For projects requiring deeper sediment profiles, we employ vibracore technology to:

• Extract intact sediment cores showing vertical stratification
• Collect samples from consolidated or compacted substrates
• Document historical deposition layers
• Reach sampling depths unattainable with surface samplers

Comprehensive Bathymetric Surveys

BioSurvey Group conducts detailed underwater topographic mapping to support: project planning, impact monitoring, assessment of changes during in-water activities, progress tracking, and volume calculations for dredging quantity estimates.

Applications for Your Project

• Dredging permit applications and compliance
• Environmental impact assessments
• Habitat restoration design
• Contamination assessment coordination
• Pre- and post-project comparisons

We provide detailed habitat and vegetation analysis to ensure your project maintains ecological integrity while meeting all regulatory requirements. Our comprehensive approach identifies potential environmental concerns early in your project timeline, preventing costly delays and ensuring compliance.

Habitat Assessment

Overall habitat assessment of a project property is done to comply with the Endangered Species Act and to facilitate agency coordination and overall project permitting.

• Wetland delineation
• Wildlife habitat evaluation
• Endangered species potential
• Corridor and connectivity analysis

Vegetative Survey

Vegetation and land use surveys can be used for various projects including identification of invasive species to potential for threatened and endangered plants.

• Plant community mapping
• Invasive species identification
• Rare/endangered plant surveys
• Vegetation health assessment

Environmental Compliance

Our team ensures your project meets all federal, state, and local environmental regulations while minimizing impact on sensitive habitats.

• Regulatory coordination
• Permitting assistance
• Mitigation planning
• Compliance monitoring

As compensation for wetland and stream impacts, mitigation is often required. Mitigation can be purchased through a bank or completed as a permittee responsible project.

Mitigation banking sites must meet conditions as established by the USACE and USEPA. BioSurvey Group can help review sites for use as a mitigation bank and can help prepare documentation for site approval.

We can also develop project specific wetland creation and enhancement plans as part of mitigation planning and conduct monitoring for success criteria including wetland delineation, qualitative assessment, vegetative cover and class, and invasive species coverage.

Our mitigation services include:

• Site selection and feasibility assessment
• Development of mitigation work plans
• Implementation oversight
• Long-term monitoring and reporting
• Adaptive management strategies
• Agency coordination and compliance reporting

The Mitigation Process

• Assessment of Impacts: Determining the extent and type of wetland or stream impacts
• Mitigation Planning: Developing appropriate compensation strategies
• Agency Coordination: Working with USACE, EPA, and state agencies for approvals
• Implementation: Executing mitigation plans through banking or site-specific projects
• Monitoring & Reporting: Documenting success metrics and ensuring compliance
• Long-term Management: Ensuring sustained ecological function and regulatory compliance