SJ-14 Spill Damage Assessment, Wetland Mitigation, & Restoration
Taylor Engineering provided and oversaw professional engineering, environmental, and surveying services related to the SJ-14 site’s remediation after a dredging contractor inadvertently released a large volume of marine sediment slurry from the DMMA containment basin into adjacent forested natural areas, primarily wetlands. Company staff conducted a field investigation to quantify ground and surface water contaminants; developed and implemented a soil remediation plan; and developed a ground and surface water remediation plan and a post-remediation wetland restoration plan.
Taylor Engineering also coordinated with regulatory agencies and stakeholders, including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Johns County Parks Department, and St. Johns River Water Management District. Taylor Engineering also conducted a three-year monitoring program to evaluate the success of a 17-acre wetland hardwood mitigation area. Monitoring included both hydrologic and wetland vegetation components. Company staff monitored groundwater levels at 12 on-site monitoring wells for a two-year period. The monitoring results indicated appropriate water levels in the wetland area. Vegetation monitoring consisted of observations in 1-m2 quadrats along longitudinal transects, tree counts along the same transects, visual observation of invasive exotic vegetation, and photographic records at fixed photographic stations. Quadrat observations included percent cover of recruited vegetation by species, percent cover of bare ground and open water, and percent cover of canopy vegetation.