Wetland Delineation and Functional Assessment Services
What is a Wetland Delineation?
A wetland delineation identifies the boundary between jurisdictional wetlands and uplands on a property, based on specific combinations of vegetative, soil, and hydrologic indicators.
The wetland delineation is used to understand the usable acreage for development, and how much falls under state and federal regulatory jurisdiction. It's one of the first and most consequential steps in any land use, development, or permitting process, because it can directly impact site design, buildable area, and project feasibility.
The Value of Wetlands
In Florida, wetlands are regulated by the state and federal government because they perform ecosystem services on which our built and natural environments depends. They filter pollutants and sediment out of surface water before it reaches our waterways and water supplies, they absorb and slow storm water during flood events, and they support many plant and animal species, some of which are found only in Florida. That ecological role is why federal and state agencies require a documented, defensible delineation before a project can move forward.
Wetland Functional Scoring and Assessment
Where a project involves wetland impacts, on-site mitigation, or restoration, a functional assessment is used to quantify the ecological value of those wetlands, which determines mitigation requirements and cost. In Florida, this assessment most often follows the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method or "UMAM". Getting this analysis right, and knowing how to strategically approach community selection and scoring, can meaningfully affect a project’s wetland mitigation design.
Excelsior's Wetland Delineation Experience
Excelsior’s wetland delineation reports and figures are drafted to be “review ready”, whether it’s by a county environmental protection division, water management district, or federal agency. We've completed thousands of wetland delineations throughout Florida, from multi-phase planned unit and commercial developments in Volusia, Orange, and Polk County to residential lots in St. Johns and Charlotte County.
Curious how the delineation process actually works? Read our blog post on wetland delineation in Florida for a deeper walkthrough.
Ready to find out what your site can support? Contact us today at 855-720-2333 or contact@excelsiorflorida.com to discuss your project.