Statement of Qualifications

Introduction

Aqua-niche is a multidisciplinary ecological consulting firm specializing in wetland and upland habitat creation and restoration construction, a comprehensive menu of ecological consulting services, and the propagation of native plant materials. Aqua-niche provides cost-efficient, technically sound and innovative solutions to a variety of ecological and regulatory issues:

-Wetland creation, enhancement and restoration construction and landscaping
-Wetland design and design consultation
-Wildlife habitat construction and landscaping
-Bio-retention facilities/raingardens/wastewater treatment ponds
-Stream restoration and relocation
-Pond construction and restoration
-Nature trail planning and construction
-Wetland identification and delineation
-Wetland permits
-Wetland functional assessments
-Wetland mitigation site selection and evaluation
-Stream surveys and macro-invertebrate studies
-Ornithological studies
-Habitat assessments, HEP, PAM-HEP
-Reptile and amphibian studies
-Forest stewardship plans and forest inventories
-Wildlife inventories and wildlife management plans
-Rare species investigations and biological assessments
-Botanical studies and inventories
-Propagation of native wetland and upland trees, shrubs, wildflowers and forbs
-Wetland and upland seed mixes
-Wildflower seed mixes

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Representative Habitat Restoration Projects

Modern Landfill, York County, PA. 1.2 acre Wetland Creation, which included the design refinement, construction & landscaping and post construction monitoring for freshwater wetland mitigation project.

Modern Landfill, York County, PA. 1.1 acre Wetland Creation and 3000 feet stream relocation, which included, design refinement, construction & landscaping and post construction monitoring for freshwater wetland mitigation project and 3000 feet stream relocation which at the time was the largest ever done in PA.

Bile’s Island Post Mining Habitat and Wetland Creation Project, Bucks County, PA. 4.4 acres wetland creation and 5.0 Upland habitat. Landscaping for creation of freshwater tidal marsh for mitigation project associated with sand mining operation. Included creation of upland wildflower and habitat area.

Hartz Mountain, Hudson County, NJ. 300+ acre tidal marsh restoration, evaluation and design study. Study comparing the habitat quality of a 63 acre tidal marsh restoration to three sites (130, 65, 58 acres) of degraded (Phragmites spp dominated) marsh using avian species quantity and diversity as indicators. Study used for future design and permitting purposes.

Walnut Run, Dauphin County, PA. 1.0 acres wetland creation. Design, construction and post-construction monitoring for creation of freshwater wetlands for mitigation project.

Sunoco Pipeline, Union County, NJ. 2.0 acres wetland restoration. Three year tidal marsh restoration project associated with pipeline repair through wetland areas.

McKean Lake, Delaware County, NY. 15+ acre lakeshore restoration. Design and landscaping for restoration of area exposed by reduction of lake footprint resulting from lowering of a dam. Included reforestation and lake shore stabilization landscaping.

Glaize Orchard, Cumberland County, PA. 1.6 acres wetland creation and 200 feet stream relocation. Design and construction and post-construction monitoring of a wetland mitigation project and stream relocation.

200 Feet of stream relocation in Glaize Orchard.

Steelton Canal, Dauphin County, PA. 1600 feet of canal shoreline restoration. Restoration of canal shoreline located between Steelton Borough business district and the steel mill. Inlcuded shoreline stabilization utilizing biologs and wooded retaining walls, plantings and biomatting.

Ontaulaunee Creek, Lehigh County, PA. 100 feet of stream restoration and 4 acres of floodplain restoration. Shoreline restoration and floodplain enhancement using biologs and plantings.

623 Landfill, Goochland County, VA. 100 feet of stream relocation. Streamside stabilization and floodplain creation plantings for a stream relocation project.

623 Landfill streambank stabilization

Federal Business Centers, Inc., Middlesex County, NJ. 20+ acres wetland creation. Wetland and upland habitat creation project. Project included plantings and seeding/mulching.

MMM. York County, PA. 1.0 acre pond/wetland construction. Design, construction/landscaping and post-construction monitoring of a pond, shoreline stabilization and wetland mitigation construction project.

Rum Point, Atlantic County, NJ. 1.5 acre tidal marsh restoration. Tidal marshe restoration and mitigation landscaping.

Narrow’s Pointe, Queen Anne’s County, MD. Two storm water ponds and shoreline landscaping. Design and construction/landscaping for two storm water ponds and shoreline restoration located in the Maryland tidal waters critical zone.

Pigeon Creek, Chester County, PA. 100 feet of dam removal and 0.5 acres wetland restoration. Removal of an outdated dysfunctional dam and restoration of the stream side wetlands.

Pigeon Creek before the dam removal and wetland restoration.

Pigeon Creek following dam removal and wetland restoration

Westwood Hills, Cumberland County, PA. 0.6 acres of wetland mitigation and 250 feet of stream bank stabilization. Design, construction, landscaping, and post-construction monitoring for a wetland mitigation and stream bank restoration project.

Union Deposit Business Park, Dauphin County, PA. 4.5 acre wetland mitigation. Design, construction, landscaping and post-construction monitoring for a wetland mitigation project.

Mountain View Reclamation, Franklin County, PA. 2.75 acres wetland mitigation. Design, construction, landscaping and post-construction monitoring for a wetland mitigation project.

Haddon Lake, Camden County, NJ. 1300 feet of shoreline restoration. Installation of 1300 feet of biologs, biomatting and seeding/mulching for lake dredging project.

Franklin Lake, Monmouth County, NJ. 800 feet lake shore stabilization. Grading, planting, matting, biologs and seeding/mulching for shoreline restoration project.

Manheim Auto Auction, Lancaster County, PA. 8.0 acres storm water pond and 3.5 acres farm pond landscaping. Design and installation of plantings to create and/or enhance wildlife habitat in a storm water pond and a farm pond.

Hawks Landing, Cumberland County, PA. 1.2 wetland mitigation. Design, construction, landscaping and post-construction monitoring for a wetland mitigation project and experimental ephemeral pond creation.

Bradford Estates, Dauphin County, PA. Aqua-niche provided a variety of services for this 1.28 acre wetland creation and restoration project including permit preparation support, wetland design, construction monitoring, landscaping and planting and post-construction monitoring.

Bradford Estates after the first year

Bradford Estates after three years

Stonegate Commons, York County, PA. Aqua-niche provided design, landscaping and post-construction monitoring services for this 900+ feet stream restoration as part of a joint permit. Design and installation included biologs, plantings, erosion matting, live stakes, fascines, seeding/mulching and hardscape stabilization.

Biologs installed at Stonegate Commons after one year

Biologs installed at Stonegate Commons after two year

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Representative Ecological Consulting Projects

Howard Gale, Inc. Cumberland County, PA. Aqua-niche conducted a wetland delineation for a 22 acre site along the Conodoguinet Creek and a wetland delineation in an adjacent disturbed area.

Nyes Road Property, Dauphin County, PA. Aqua-niche conducted a preliminary wetland overview and wetland delineation report on this 100+ acre development site.

Mountain View Reclamation, Franklin County, PA. Aqua-niche has prepared an annual macro-invertebrate community evaluation and stream habitat monitoring report on a tributary to Conococheague Creek every year starting in 1994 as part of PADEP monitoring requirements for this solid waste management facility.

Mountain View Reclamation, Franklin County, PA. Aqua-niche provides continuing consulting services for this solid waste management facility including permit preparation, wetland delineation, biodiversity inventories, wetland mitigation design and botanical surveys.

Maryland State Highway Administration, MD. Aqua-niche has provided wetland delineation services as a subcontractor on a variety of MDSHA projects.

Valley Green Land Company, York County, PA. Aqua-niche provides ecological consulting services to this development company on a continuing, as needed, basis including permit preparation, wetland delineation, mitigation design and technical support.

Lancaster County Planning Commission, Lancaster County, PA. Aqua-niche prepared a multidisciplinary ecological impact assessment for the proposed Millersville Relief Route including a comprehensive plant community characterization, wildlife surveys, educational use surveys, impact evaluation and conceptual mitigation measures.

Swatara State Park Reservoir, Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties, PA. Aqua-niche prepared a natural resources inventory, ecological studies, an alternative analysis evaluation and a technical critique of the proposed project for the Sierra Club.

Chamberlin Property, Cumberland County, PA. Aqua-niche prepared a wetland overview, a wetland functional evaluation and provided expert testimony before the PA Environmental Hearing Board for a proposed mining operation on a forty acre site.

Westwood Hills, Cumberland County, PA. Aqua-niche provided wetland mitigation site selection, design, construction monitoring, landscaping and post-construction monitoring for this housing development.

Doran Property, York County, PA. Aqua-niche prepared a Forest Stewardship Plan according to guidelines provided by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry including a timber inventory, a wildlife habitat analysis, and recommendations regarding timber harvesting, habitat maintenance and improvement and wetland enhancement.

Ampco, Inc., Bucks County, PA. Aqua-niche conducted a wetland delineation on a 20 acre former industrial site.

Sharer Property, Blair County, PA. Aqua-niche provided expert testimony before the PA Agricultural Lands Condemnation Board regarding wetland mitigation site selection and design criteria related to sites selected for possible wetland mitigation for the Route 220 project.

Marshall’s Creek Traffic Relief Study, Monroe County, PA. Aqua-niche participated on the team which conducted the wetland delineation in this 2000+ acre study corridor for improvements to PA Route 209.

C&C Recycling Facility, Luzerne County, PA. Aqua-niche prepared a vegetation inventory on this hazardous waste clean-up project.

Melham Associates, Harrisburg, PA. Aqua-niche provides continuing ecological consulting services on an as needed basis for this engineering and planning firm.

Neptune High Tech West, Monmouth County, NJ. Aqua-niche, working with another consulting company, performed a wetland delineation on this 100+ acre development site.

Indian Run Site, Middlesex County, NJ. Aqua-niche participated in the wetland delineation of this 200+ acre property that was being evaluated as a potential site for a county park.

Rancocas Wetland Mitigation Bank, Burlington County, NJ. Aqua-niche prepared a wildlife habitat study, a rare species evaluation for a variety of species, a wildlife inventory and participated in the wetland delineation of this 325 acre site.

Bowmans Village, Cumberland County, PA. Aqua-niche performed a wetland delineation for a proposed 15 acre residential development.

Bradford Estates, Dauphin County, PA. Aqua-niche performed a rare species evaluation for two species of butterflies and one species of plant on this 70+ acre residential development site.

Summit Open Space Project, Union County, NJ. Aqua-niche performed a phase one Bog Turtle Habitat Evaluation on wetlands within this project area.

Allegheny Power Company / GreenVest, Washington County, PA. Aqua-niche participated on the team that did cover type mapping, habitat assessment, forest inventory and preliminary wetland replacement site identification for this 4000 acre site in western Pennsylvania.

Cedar Manor Mobile Home Park, Dauphin County, PA. Aqua-niche conducted an aquatic macro-invertebrate study on an unnamed tributary to Conewago Creek for analysis of sewage treatment effluent effects on stream habitat and water quality. We also did preliminary analysis for possible design and construction of wetlands for tertiary sewage treatment at this facility.

Interstate Village Mobile Home Park, Washington County, PA. Aqua-niche conducted an aquatic macro-invertebrate study on Bonar Creek and several of its tributaries to evaluate water quality effects from sewage treatment effluent.

Kimberton Stream Restoration Project, Chester County, PA. Aqua-niche prepared the permit package and design specifications for the restoration of 300 feet of stream presently enclosed in degraded, galvanized steel pipe. The project includes removal of the pipe, excavation of a new, restored stream channel and landscaping services.

West Orange Armory, Essex County, NJ. Aqua-niche performed a field survey to determine the presence or absence of twelve species of concern, including two avian species, one amphibian species and nine plant species on this forested site. A wetland delineation was also completed on the project site

Army Corps of Engineers Floodplain Conservation Easement Project, Essex County, NJ. Aqua-niche completed a wetland delineation on eight parcels being evaluated for this project.

Act One Consultants, Dauphin County, PA. Aqua-niche provides ecological consulting services on a continuing basis for this engineering company, including wetland delineations, tree surveys, permit preparation support, mitigation design and species of concern surveys.

Sand Springs Golf Course, Luzerne County, PA. Aqua-niche performed a field survey for species of special concern, wetland delineation work and design, construction and post-construction monitoring for a wetland mitigation project.

Fort Stewart Project, Dauphin County, PA. Aqua-niche conducted wetland delineation, tree surveys, mitigation construction and post construction monitoring for this housing development.

Mountain View Reclamation, Franklin County, PA. Aqua-niche conducted a wetland delineation and stream survey for the entire facility (500+ acres) as part of a permit application.

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Studies of Species and Habitats of Special Concern

Aqua-niche specializes in doing studies of Species of Special Concern. These studies require special knowledge of individual species. Each study must be designed for the particular species and area in which the study is done. Special equipment and methods are often required.

Species	Common Name	Status
Accipiter cooperii	Cooper’s hawk	New Jersey State Endangered (S3/S4)
Alasmidonta heterodon	Dwarf wedge mussel	Maryland State Endangered (S1) Federally Endangered Highly Globally Rare (G1/G2)
Ambystoma laterale	Blue-spotted salamander	New Jersey State Endangered (S1)
Ambystoma tigrinum	Eastern tiger salamander	New Jersey State Endangered (S2) Globally Vulnerable (G3)
Anemone canadensis	Canada anemone	New Jersey State Extirpated (SX)
Arabis hirsuta	Western hairy rock cress	Pennsylvania State Endangered (S1)
Buteo lineatus	Red-shouldered hawk	New Jersey State Endangered (S1/S3)
Calystegia spithamaea	Erect bindweed	New Jersey State Endangered (S1)
Carex polymorpha	Variable sedge	Pennsylvania State Endangered (S2) Federal Status Under Review Globally Vulnerable (G3)
Circus cyaneus	Northern harrier	New Jersey State Endangered (S3)
Cistothorous platensis	Sedge wren	New Jersey State Endangered (S3)
Clemmys insculpta	Wood turtle	New Jersey State Threatened (S3)
Clemmys muhlenbergi	Bog turtle	New Jersey State Threatened (S2) Pennsylvania State Endangered (S2) Federally Threatened Globally Vulnerable (G3)
Ellisia nyctelea	Water pod	Pennsylvania State Threatened (S2)
Helonias bullata	Swamp pink	Maryland State Endangered (A2) Federally Threatened
Hyla andersoni	Pine Barrens tree frog	New Jersey State Threatened (S3)
Lonicera hirsuta	Hairy honeysuckle	Pennsylvania State Status Tentatively Undetermined (S1)
Lygodium palmatum	Hartford fern	Pennsylvania State Rare (S3)
Muhlenbergia capillaris	Long-awned smokegrass	New Jersey State Endangered (S1)
Nycticorax nycticorax	Black-crowned night heron	New Jersey State Threatened (S3)
Nycticorax violacea	Yellow-crowned night heron	New Jersey State Threatened (S3)
Paepaema Sp. 1	Fly-poison borer moth	Pennsylvania No Official Status* (S2)
Penstemon laevigatus	Smooth beard tongue	New Jersey State Endangered (S1)
Phlox pilosa	Downy phlox	New Jersey State Historical (SH)
Phyciodes batesii	Tawny crescent	Pennsylvania State Historical (SH)
Pituophis melanoleucus	Northern pine snake	New Jersey State Threatened (S3)
Podilymbus podiceps	Pied-billed grebe	New Jersey State Endangered (S3)
Pycnanthemum torrei	Torrey’s mountain mint	New Jersey State Endangered (S1) Globally Rare (G2)
Ranunculus pusillus	Low spearwort	New Jersey State Imperiled (S2)
Sanicula trifoliate	Large-fruited sanicle	New Jersey State Endangered (S1)
Scirpus ancistrochaetus	Northeastern bulrush	Pennsylvania State Endangered (S3) Federally Endangered
Speyeria idalia	Regal fritillary	Pennsylvania No Official Status* (S1) Federal Status Under Review Globally Vulnerable (G3)
Strix varia	Barred owl	New Jersey State Threatened (S3)
Stylosanthes biflora	Pencil flower	New Jersey State Rare (S3)
Synaptomys cooperi	Southern bog lemming	New Jersey State Undetermined (S2)
Tomanthera auriculata	Eared false-foxglove	Pennsylvania State Endangered (S1) Federal Status Under Review Globally Threatened (G2)
	Vernal Ponds	New Jersey State Habitat of Concern Pennsylvania State Habitat of Concern

*Pennsylvania does not have a legislated authority to issue state status to terrestrial invertebrates.

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Resume of Managing Scientist

F. Stephen Goodyear
Managing Scientist


EDUCATION

M.S., Biology, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, 1990.

Thesis: Breeding Ecology of Six Species of Colonial Nesting Wading Birds on Walker Marsh, Accomack County, VA.

B.S., Biology, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, 1985.


SPECIAL TRAINING

Jurisdictional Delineation of Wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay Region Using the 1989 Interagency Federal Method, by the Chesapeake Bay Estuaries Program and the U.S.E.P.A., 1989.

Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) and Pennsylvania Modified Habitat Evaluation Procedure (PAMHEP) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1991.

Certified Botanist / Wildlife Scientist by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Forest Stewardship Program, 1993.


EXPERIENCE

Mr. Goodyear has over 20 years experience in environmental and ecological consulting and research. He is responsible for managing and performing field work and report preparation for ecological studies and environmental analyses and habitat restoration designs. He has worked on a variety of public and private projects including roadway and bridge construction, land development, habitat preservation and habitat restoration construction projects. His primary areas of expertise include: terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat evaluations, wetland delineations, wetland and wildlife habitat design and construction, rare species investigations, wildlife inventories and botanical studies.


Mr. Goodyear has conducted research on the breeding and feeding ecology of herons and egrets in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia. He has conducted numerous wetland delineations throughout the northeastern United States using the 1989 Federal Methodology, the 1987 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Methodology and the 1988 E.P.A. Methodology. Wetland delineations have included the routine methodology, the intermediate methodology and problem area and disturbed area investigations for federal, state and local government agencies and private clients.

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Additional Projects of Note

Dock Street Dam, Dauphin County, PA. Analysis of feeding habits and breeding population dynamics of a heron and egret nesting colony on the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, PA.

Route 33, Lehigh County, PA. PAMHEP analysis for a proposed roadway corridor for PADOT including a conceptual design for habitat mitigation.

Deer Creek, PA. Analysis of existing aquatic and riparian habitat and preparation of an aquatic and riparian habitat enhancement plan for a two mile reach of cold water fisheries.

Hackensack Meadowlands, NJ. Ornithological study of breeding, migratory and wintering populations of avian species in the marshes adjacent to Secaucus, NJ. Analysis included comparison of species utilization in an existing, degraded Phragmites marsh versus an “enhanced/restored” marsh and conceptual design recommendations for future restoration projects.

Exton Bypass, Chester County, PA. Site location studies, pre-construction hydrologic monitoring and wetland mitigation design for 20 acres of palustrine emergent, scrub-shrub and forested wetland creation for PADOT.

Interstate 195, MD. Design preparation for 13 acres of palustrine emergent, scrub-shrub and forested wetland for the Maryland State highway Administration.

Relocation of Saucon Valley Road, Lehigh County, PA. Survey for and analysis of the population of the globally threatened Tomanthera auricualta, eared false foxglove.

Benner Woods, Centre County, PA. Survey for the presence of the state listed species Arabis hirsuta, western hairy rockcress.

Route 100, MD. Survey for and analysis of existing populations of the federally threatened species Helonias bullata, swamp pink.

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Aqua-niche Nursery

-Aqua-niche carries a complete line of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants in containers.

-Balled and Burlap specimen trees are available in season. Trees must be dug during late winter or early spring.

-Bareroot trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are available in the spring.

-Wetland and upland specialized seed mixes are custom blended for your project.

-Delivery and storage services can be coordinated to fit your landscaping schedule.

-Custom growing of plant materials is available.

-Plant availability, cost estimates and additional information is available upon request.

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