Stream Classification: EnviroVector has experience classifying and characterizing streams, ditches, drainages, and watercourses.  Will determine buffer width and development constraints.

Fish Studies: We can determine fish presence, usage, and habitat using a variety of methodologies, including electrofishing, seining, habitat studies, minnow traps, downstream analysis, and fish trapping. 

Downstream Analysis: We can perform a downstream analysis documenting any fish barriers and obstructions, such as water falls, poor water quality, culverts, beaver dams, low water levels caused by sheet slow, velocity barriers, and other structures and conditions. 

Construction Over Water: An HPA permit is required from the WDFW for any construction over (or in) Washington State waters. CDFG requires a similar permit in California.  Curtis Wambach's many years working as a Permit Specialist for the WDFW and as a Environmental Permit Manager for Southern California Edison has given him the knowledge and experience to obtain water permits successfully for your project. 

Other Stream Services: Stream mitigation plans, biological evaluations, stream relocations, flood control, erosion control, beaver management,

habitat management plans.

Hatchery Related Construction: Curtis Wambach, M.S., Principal of EnviroVector, worked for years on permitting hatchery construction and maintenance for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). 

Channel Dredging: Hatchery construction or maintenance may require channel dredging.  Delta's and its channel terminus can become clogged with sediment and debris, restricting fish access.  Dredging the channel allows fish to access the watercourse unrestricted, allowing improved fish access to the hatchery.  Federal, State, and local permits are required prior to dredging activities.  Permitting may include Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act administered by the US Army Corps of Engineers and State water quality agencies respectively, an HPA administered by the WDFW (Similar permit by CDFG in California), Federal & State Environmental Policy Act (i.e., NEPA, SEPA, or CEQA), and local permits from the City or County.  Other environmental permits may be necessary depending on the specific project and location. 

Fish Ladders:

Pollution Abatement Ponds

Outlets and Inlets

Drainage Management: Manage your site drainage effectively and legally to optimize pasture production, reduce flooding, protect the integrity of building structures, roads, and walkways, and to convey runoff to prevent erosion. 

Drainage Maintenance: Work with EnviroVector to maintain pasture ditches and drainage tiles to optimize pasture management. 

Beaver Management: Manage the damage caused by beavers--flooding, tree damage, property damage--through trapping, dam removal, beaver deceivers, and other methods.

Construction in Water: I permitted this bridge construction project for the Wash. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife on Rattlesnake Creek in Asotin County.  Listed salmon species occur in Rattlesnake Creek.  The bridge is located a short walk from the Grand Ronde River, a tributary of the Snake River, containing a number of listed fish species.  I prepared a Biological Evaluation, Corps permit application, HPA permit application, SEPA checklist, and construction permits.

Fish Studies: This stickleback was captured during our study to classify streams for the City of Marysville.  The City's stream typing depended on salmonid occurrence in the stream, so we seined and set out minnow traps to identify juvenile salmonids in the City waterways.

Downstream Analysis: Performed numerous downstream analysis projects in Pierce County to determine if wetlands drain to streams with flooding problems, which is required knowledge to complete wetland rating forms.  Found in many cases, wetlands may eventually drain to regional stormwater facilities, where some wetlands would not provide any significant value to prevent downstream flooding, lowering the wetland's rating.

Fish Passage: Is this a fish barrier?  The simple answer is no.  Fish, such as coho salmon,  can easily pass this structure.  The Wash. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife consider human-made blockages as non-barriers when classifying streams because the blockage can be removed or repaired. 

Mudminnow Study: We determined that no mudminnow habitat occurs on the subject property or within approximately 1000 feet downstream of the proposed subdivision.  The subject reach of stream (right) provides no mudminnow habitat.  Mudminnows prefer mud-bottom, very slow moving streams that flow less than 3 cm/sec.  This fast-moving gravel and cobble-bottom trickle is not mudminnow habitat.  Mudminnow habitat had been found more than 1000 feet of this proposed subdivision. 

Erosion Control: I permitted the repair of this eroded dike in Skagit County for the Wash. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife to protect the Skagit Wildlife Area from flooding.  A cross-dike had been constructed as the best repair option to avoid wetlands and to provide the minimum permitting requirements.