On September 12, 2018, the Oak Knoll development project broke ground after nearly decades of planning. WRA’s Amanda McCarthy, Kari Dupler, and Susie Bennett attended the event as guests alongside our client SunCal, government officials including Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Oakland City Council President Larry Reid, and local community leaders. The site, formerly … Continue Reading »
Permitting Services
WRA Participates in NAHB ESA Practitioner Panel
Through WRA’s involvement in the California Building Industry Association, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) invited Amanda McCarthy, PhD PWS, to join a panel of practitioners and to speak about WRA’s experiences working with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for consultation on impacts to listed species under the Federal Endangered Species … Continue Reading »
Silicon Valley Clean Water Project Wins AEP 2018 Outstanding Environmental Analysis Award
The Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) held their annual conference in Palm Springs March 25-28, 2018 in Rancho Mirage, California. The Silicon Valley Clean Water Wastewater Conveyance System and Treatment Plant Reliability Improvement Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was recognized with AEP’s top honor – the Outstanding Environmental Analysis Award. WRA wishes to congratulate our … Continue Reading »
Endangered Species Habitat Expanded in Marin
The Creekside Marsh near Hal Brown Park is home to the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, and many other tidal marsh species. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers filled this marsh and many other tidal wetlands in the watershed with dredge spoils in the late 1960’s when the earthen channel for the … Continue Reading »
State Water Board Renews Effort to Adopt Uniform Statewide Wetland Policy
On June 17, 2016, the State Water Resources Control Board reissued its proposed state wetland policy in a new format, titled “Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Materials to Waters of the State”. The purpose of this document is to unify the approach used by the Regional Water Boards for approving projects that occur … Continue Reading »
Top 6 Maintenance Tips to Tame El Niño
The weather models continue to call for a potentially extreme El Niño event this winter in central and southern California. Being prepared for what Mother Nature has to offer is your first line of defense in protecting your assets. Names like “Godzilla El Niño” and “Bruce Lee El Niño” are commonplace and hint at the … Continue Reading »
Final Rule Impacts to Mining Industry Featured in Fall Issue of Conveyor Magazine
The Conveyor, official publication of the California Construction and Industrial Materials Association (CalCIMA), features an article about the effects of the Clean Water Act Final Rule on the Mining Industry. Click here to read the full article here or click the image to the right to download the full Fall issue. WRA also sponsored the 2015 CalCIMA Education Conference held in November in … Continue Reading »
Maintenance Plan Key to Avoid Stormwater to Wetland Conversion
by Megan Stromberg Stormwater treatment facilities are not jurisdictional wetlands; however, stormwater to wetland conversion can occur if they are not maintained according to an approved management plan. As long as they are maintained according to the plan, and drainage functions as designed, they remain non-jurisdictional. Impacts of Latest Stormwater Regulations Increasingly, developers, land owners, and facility … Continue Reading »
Corps Wetland Delineation Training 2015
WRA’s Associate Principal Dr. Amanda McCarthy co-instructed a 40‐hour U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) wetland delineation training at the Romberg Tiburon Center (RTC), the San Francisco State University’s marine and estuarine research facility. The class is based on the Corps’ certification program that is specific to wetland delineation and is intended to reduce the level of effort required by the agency in … Continue Reading »
WRA Open for Environmental Consulting in San Diego
WRA is excited to announce the opening of our new San Diego office. San Diego is a natural fit for us. We have worked on a broad range of important projects in the region for over 30 years, are very familiar with local regulations, and have excellent relationships with all of the local regulators. For … Continue Reading »
