Wildlands Engineering / News (Page 4)
May 12, 2022 In Our Projects

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Hendersonville Multi-Area Streambank Restoration Project

Wildlands recently completed the Hendersonville Multi-Area Streambank Restoration Project, which involved 11,000 linear feet across 13 sites on Mud Creek, a state listed 303(d) stream.  Funded by NCDEQ as a City Green Infrastructure Project, Wildlands partnered with Kee Mapping and Baker Grading to take this large, multi-phased project from initial feasibility through construction and monitoring.  Project highlights included:

  • The largest of the 13 sites was designed as a model/pilot project for urban stream and floodplain restoration. Receiving runoff from a  Walmart, apartments, and I-26, the stream was overly wide and eroding.  The design and construction resestablished floodplain connection using native materials for fish habitat structures as well as grade control.
  • Wildlands used ArcGIS online (AGOL) as: a communication tool between staff, the landowners, and the City; to document construction progress and survey; and for monitoring required by NCDEQ and Corps of Engineers.  Wildlands’ Senior Environmental Scientist Scott Gregory, GISP notes that, “Using AGOL allowed us to efficiently track all data through successive project stages.  All data, from initial landowner requirements to construction changes, was organized geospatially throughout the project and available with just a click.”  Check out screenshots from the AGOL application, below.

 

  • Real-time easement acquisition tracking by the City and stakeholders prior to project implementation
March 30, 2022 In Firm News

Welcome Tim Morris to the Wildlands Team

We are pleased to announce that Tim Morris has joined the Wildlands team. Tim has been a long-time leader in restoration and mitigation in the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, managing over 40 full-delivery mitigation projects and developing mitigation banks in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Maryland. His 30+ years of experience with a broad range of environmental restoration projects has given Tim a well-rounded approach to problem solving and a unique ability to manage complex, large-scale restoration projects. Tim’s philosophy on developing successful environmental restoration projects is to promote ownership of projects from the ground up. This involves informing and training the project team, contractors, landowners, regulatory staff, project owners and other project stakeholders through diligent communication and involvement, resulting in proud ownership of all parties involved.

 

Tim lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife and two kids. When Tim isn’t working, he is usually coaching or transporting his kids to their various sports activities. He also loves to ski, mountain bike, hike, and playing slow pitch softball. Tim is excited to join the Wildlands team and contribute to achieving our goals for 2022 and beyond.

December 16, 2021 In Our Projects

American Bittern sighting at Chantilly Ecological Sanctuary at Briar Creek

The American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a medium-sized, wading bird in the heron family. They are often found in the marshy areas along side of lakes and ponds. This particular American Bittern spent the past winter in one of the small retention ponds at our Chantilly Ecological Sanctuary in Charlotte, NC. The bird was first seen November 11, 2020 and wintered through April 25, 2021. During this time frame, it was spotted over 70 times! These birds typically prefer the coast, but this special bird decided to winter in the city. This is a success story for Chantilly and a point of pride for Wildlands!

 

Check out the photos below taken by Patty Masten, along with the eBird map showing all historical records for American Bittern in the county. Note, the red circle on the map marks the Chantilly location.

 

December 15, 2021 In Our Projects

Together, Wildlands Engineering and Wildlands Construction restore the Critcher Brothers Mitigation Site

We are thrilled to share this video that captures the synergy between Wildlands Engineering and our recently created construction company, Wildlands Construction. The Critcher Brothers Mitigation Site is a Wildlands-owned mitigation bank in the Yadkin River Basin of North Carolina. Approximately 21,000 cool stream credits will be delivered through stream restoration, enhancement, and preservation in a rural area historically used for cattle and agriculture. Construction was completed in 2021.