By Myla Ablog, WRA, Inc., Aquatic Resources Permitting Specialist On April 21, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) published the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (2019 Rule) that defines “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) and clarifies the limits of federal jurisdiction over wetlands, streams, and ditches under the Clean Water … Continue Reading »
[VIDEO] WRA Celebrates American Wetlands Month, 2020
A special video from WRA CEO, Geoff Smick, in honor of American Wetlands Month. WRA Celebrates American Wetlands Month, 2020 from WRA, Inc. on Vimeo. As part of our American Wetlands Month celebration, we put together a short video on the importance of wetlands, WRA’s history and vision for these critical ecosystems, and a few … Continue Reading »
Greenways and Climate Change Resilience: A Call to Action at the ASLA Ecology & Restoration PPN Meeting
With a record number of industry events postponed or canceled this year, it’s comforting to have a good record of past conferences to reflect on for inspiration. The 2019 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Conference was particularly memorable. WRA Landscape Architect, Ingrid Morken, captured the highlights of the Ecology & Restoration Professional Practice Network … Continue Reading »
Why You Should Check For This Underwater Plant Before Planning In-Water Construction
Perhaps you are considering the addition of a private boat pier to your property, or need to increase the depth of a channel through dredging. For whatever in-water construction you are planning, it’s important to know if an underwater plant called eelgrass lives in or near your project site to make sure your work can start without a hitch.
Programmatic Biological Opinions for Ecological Restoration: Efficient Section 7 Consultation with NMFS for Projects in Riparian and Aquatic Habitat
Many habitat restoration project applicants, whether proposing voluntary or mitigation activities, need a federal permit or have federal grant funding for their projects, or both. By Erik Schmidt, WRA Regulatory Permitting Specialist The Endangered Species Act (ESA) states that all federal agencies are responsible for conserving threatened and endangered species and their habitat. Section 7 … Continue Reading »
Paying for Stewardship: A Guide to Conservation Finance
Conservation finance is a fascinating new way for landowners to earn revenue, but it can prove challenging to navigate on your own. If you’re curious about this emerging field, check out Paying for Stewardship, a free guide for landowners about conservation finance, co-authored by WRA’s Jane Rice in partnership with the Western Landowners Alliance, Conservation … Continue Reading »
WRA is a Certified Small Business in Alameda County (2020 Update)
It has been a few years since we earned our certification as a Small Business with Alameda County’s Small, Local, Emerging Business (SLEB) Program. We have grown significantly in that time and wanted to share some updates. Services and Experience Our East Bay office team, located in Emeryville, offers a full suite of environmental consulting … Continue Reading »
WRA’s New Interns Are… Terrible
With California’s latest order to “shelter in place,” WRA has transitioned to a fully remote work environment. We asked our teammates to share photos of their home-office set ups for inspiration. That’s when we started noticing some unfamiliar characters. It appears we’ve acquired a new cohort of furry interns. And they don’t seem to be … Continue Reading »
A Message from WRA, Inc. Regarding COVID-19
Dear Clients, Project Partners, and Colleagues: With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic rapidly evolving, we want to inform you of our efforts to honor our commitments to meeting project deadlines and providing deliverables, while ensuring the health and safety of both our clients and staff. Our executive team is meeting daily to update our operations, project delivery, … Continue Reading »
WRA Celebrates International Women’s Day 2020
Did you know women comprise over 40% of WRA’s staff? As we continue to expand, that percentage is steadily growing! International Women’s Day is Sunday, March 8th, 2020. This year’s theme is #EachforEqual, with an emphasis on ‘collective individualism’ to create a gender equal world. “We are all parts of a whole. Our individual actions, … Continue Reading »