Environmental Restoration & Permitting
Ever-increasing eco sensitivity has forced engineers to consider the environmental effects of the projects they propose. Indeed, most projects, regardless of complexity, require some level of environmental compliance. Over the years, our staff has developed a keen sensitivity to the potential environmental consequences of water-related projects including beach nourishment; marina construction and renovation; coastal and inland waterfront construction; dredging; dredged material management plans; and dredged material management facility construction. We can mitigate most of these effects through engineering and planning.
The success of environmental restoration projects often hinge on associated hydrologic and hydraulic issues. In fact, the success of one of the world’s largest ecosystem restoration projects — the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program — depends primarily on “getting the water right.” We have the expertise and experience to get it right. Please visit our project gallery to view a variety of our environmental restoration and permitting projects. A few project examples include
Herndon Swamp Restoration Project
The St. Johns River Water Management District sought to improve water quality in the Sebastian River and the Indian River Lagoon through the creation of a stormwater park on the 295-acre District-owned parcel. The site provided an ideal opportunity for stormwater treatment and wetland restoration. The stormwater park captures runoff, allows for significant settling of suspended solids to improve water quality, and forms wetland creation areas.
Leading-edge Solutions
- Designed storage ponds, impoundment areas, pumping stations, and weir and culvert structures to help create wetland areas
- Created a linear wetland feature along a large drainage ditch to provide further natural wetland habitat
- Designed an elevated walkway and path for park visitors to enjoy the waterfall effects created by weirs
Volusia County Artificial Reefs
This project involved developing a reef and marine life system management plan and permitting new reef sites in the Atlantic Ocean offshore Volusia County. The new sites will increase fisheries habitat, expand the county’s reef system to reduce fishing pressure on the existing system, replace a permitted but poorly functioning site, and replace a site within the recently enacted Snapper-Grouper Complex Fishing Ban zone.
Leading-edge Solutions
- Developed “conceptual” permit that allows county to obtain permits based on desktop assessments and descriptions of future site-specific fieldwork
- Designed a reef plan to allow county to construct reefs piecemeal as funding for fieldwork necessary to define reef site becomes available
Progress Energy Wetland Mitigation
Taylor Engineering, as a subcontractor, provided hydrologic and hydraulic engineering expertise in the development of six environmental mitigation areas for Progress Energy Florida. Environmental impacts, sustained during the creation of a new nuclear generating facility, necessitated the mitigation sites, located in and around Crystal River and Tampa. The sites will compensate for wetland losses within the watershed. Due to the development of the power plant and associated transmission lines, wetland impacts occur within five different drainage basins.
Leading-edge Solutions
- Developed six unique hydrologic restoration plans
- Used knowledge of watersheds to develop mitigation alternatives efficiently
- Worked closely with environmental scientists and Progress Energy Florida to ensure least-cost, most effective environmental restoration solution