Maumee Watershed Nutrient Reduction and Habitat Improvement Project
Pre-restoration ditched stream and hay fields to be restored by this project at the Forrest Woods Nature Preserve in Paulding County.
EnviroScience, Inc. and RiverReach Construction are proud to announce the kick off of the Forrest Woods Nature Preserve Restoration Project in Paulding County, Ohio. This design- build stream and wetland restoration project is being undertaken on behalf of the Black Swamp Conservancy (the “Conservancy”), who owns and manages the Forrest Woods Nature Preserve (the “Preserve”). The Preserve is one of the best remaining examples of the historic Great Black Swamp habitat, which used to be ubiquitous throughout the area. The project will restore two properties on the Preserve’s periphery that have been impacted by agricultural activities, including the ditching of stream and draining of wetlands using agricultural field tile.
In all, EnviroScience will restore over 3,600 L.F. of stream corridor and 40 acres of wetland habitat to the site. Over 50 acres of native vegetation will be planted after the completion of construction activities with a focus on riparian corridors, pockets of wooded wetlands, and micro-topographic ridges, which will be designed to replicate the Great Black Swamp habitat and morphology to the greatest possible degree.
In addition to the important stream, wetland, and riparian restoration goals, another critical aspect of this design- build project is the focus on incorporating nutrient reduction measures into the restoration design. This project will provide hard data to help determine whether stream and wetland restoration will be a viable mechanism in the effort to reduce Maumee River and Western Lake Erie nutrient loading and the resulting algae outbreaks and anoxic conditions.
One example of a nutrient reduction restoration feature that will be incorporated into the project are “denitrification riffle sequences”, which are extra deep, fine-grained riffle sequences designed to increase hyporheic zone flow and which are also seeded with woody material in order to speed the natural denitrification process. This incorporated woody material is critical until the riparian zone trees mature and can contribute large quantities of carbon naturally to the system. In addition to its denitrification benefits, maximizing the use of woody materials in this region is a much more holistic and cost-effective approach to restoration than using an unnatural and unnecessarily large volumes of rock.
EnviroScience is particularly pleased to be partnering on this project with researchers from Kent State University, who will be leading the effort to monitor and quantify the nutrient reduction benefits of the project. They will accomplish this through pre and post restoration water quality monitoring, nutrient analyses of site soils, and hydrologic assessments of the restoration sites. It is our hope that this project will help to better understand the biogeochemical processes that occur in restored stream, floodplain, and wetland ecosystems, which will lead to more comprehensive evaluation, and ultimately improvement, of restoration strategies aimed at nutrient reduction.
EnviroScience, RiverReach Construction and the whole project team would like to thank not only the Black Swamp Conservancy, but also the grant programs that provided the funding to make this project possible. These include the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Ohio EPA Surface Water Improvement Fund (SWIF), and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Sustain Our Great Lakes Program.
We look forward to providing periodic updates on the restoration progress as well as the long-term nutrient reduction and aquatic habitat benefits of this project.
Save the Date: EnviroScience Seminar & Open House
Please save the date for EnviroScience’s Seminar and Open House on October 13th, 2016 at our facility in Stow, Ohio.
The seminar will focus on managing large-scale ecological and environmental sampling projects, clean water ruling and permitting, assessing and evaluating immediate risks at impacted sites, and restoring the environment. Our speakers are scientists who have many years of experience and are recognized as national experts in environmental assessment and restoration. Presentations will include information about: Aquatic ecology Environmental sampling strategies Threatened and endangered species updates / additions Wetlands Permitting Regulatory strategies Ecological restoration
The seminar will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 13th followed by an open house, catered reception and networking opportunities.
More detailed information and a formal invitation will be sent out in the coming month. If you have any questions or wish to receive the formal invite, please email us at [email protected].
EnviroScience Supports GLEC for the USEPA’s National Aquatic Resource Surveys
STOW, OH (June 6, 2016) –EnviroScience, Inc. is proud to continue its support for primary contractor GLEC, Inc. in completing the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) National Aquatic Resources Survey (NARS). The contract is a five-year task order contract designed to assess the condition of the nation’s bodies of water, including lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and coastal resources.
Both field and lab survey methods are used to sample randomly selected sites across the country. Data is compared across different locations and years to determine water quality trends. A number of data indicators are used, including (but not limited to) benthic macroinvertebrates, fish tissue contaminates, phytoplankton, wetland vegetation, zooplankton, lakeshore habitat, algal toxins (microcystin), and cyanobacteria. The survey results will help officials improve overall water quality, recreation resources, and water monitoring programs on a national and local level.
EnviroScience was the primary contractor for the National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA), which is one of four main NARS programs. Read more at www.enviroscienceinc.com/2015_national_coastal_condition_asses sment/.
To learn more about NARS, visit www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys.
657 Species Recorded at CVNP Bioblitz
May 25, 2016—Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio—The CVNP Bioblitz wrapped up last weekend on May 21, 2016. The event was an unprecedented success due to the partnership between community volunteers, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the National Geographic, Summit Metro Parks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, EnviroScience biologists and many others. Volunteers made 3,440 observations and identified 657 species at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Bioblitz.
A special thanks goes to all our biologists who performed survey demonstrations during the 24-hour event.
Read more about the event here.
In Action
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Join EnviroScience, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, & National Geographic for a Bioblitz
Volunteers Needed to Help Identify Nationally Important Species in Our Backyard
May 20-21, 2016, locations throughout CVNP.
Click here for more information.
April 7, 2016—Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio—The Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) is thrilled to be selected as a key location for the national 2016 Bioblitz. This year, thousands of volunteers are expected to turn up across the country for a 24-hour data collecting event organized by National Geographic and the National Park Service. The collected data will be used to detect changes in biodiversity and aid in conservation efforts for parks such as the treasured CVNP. The Midwest event is sponsored by National Geographic and environmental consulting firm EnviroScience, Inc. Many of EnviroScience’s biologists and scientists will be in the field leading volunteers and performing demonstrations on various survey techniques. Data will be collected on as many species as possible, including plants, animals, fungi, microbes, and other species. The app iNaturalist will be used to collect and share data live.
The event is receiving a lot of attention from volunteers of all kind—local scientists, residents, families, students, and teachers. To sign up as a volunteer, click here.
In conjunction with the Bioblitz, the CVNP will also be hosting a “BioDiversity Festival at Howe Meadow.” It is a free community event with hands-on activities, delicious food, crafts, and more.
About the Sponsor – EnviroScience, Inc.
EnviroScience, Inc. is a team of over 100 expert biologists, commercial divers, environmental scientists, and environmental engineers headquartered in Ohio, with additional offices in Nashville, Tennessee and Richmond, Virginia. Since 1989, EnviroScience has provided technical services to help clients meet their environmental design and regulatory requirements.
Join EnviroScience for the 2016 OH Stormwater Conference
Ohio Stormwater Conference
May 4-6, 2016 Sharonville Convention Center 11355 Chester Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45241
One of the largest regional stormwater conference in the US, the Ohio Stormwater Conference provides an excellent opportunity to network with over 700 stormwater professionals. The conference is an annual collaboration between OSWA and the Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners.
EnviroScience exhibits annually at the conference and continues to strengthen its presence in the stormwater management industry. It has recently hired several industry experts, many who are also former Ohio EPA environmental engineers. They have decades of experience in NPDES Permitting, SWPPPs, Stormwater BMPs, MS4, SPCCs, Industrial MSGPs, green infrastructure, and more.
Among those representing EnviroScience at the conference are Dr. Michael Liptak and Neal Hess. Dr. Liptak is a board member of both the Ohio Stormwater Association (OSWA) and Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners (TCWP). He provides leadership at EnviroScience in the areas of wetland restoration, mitigation planning, wetland assessments and delineations, technical report preparation, terrestrial and aquatic surveys, and permitting. Neal Hess is new to EnviroScience and brings extensive experience in restoration project management and conservation real estate. Since 2006, Mr. Hess has raised and managed over $48 million in grant and other financing for natural resource protection, restoration and park development projects throughout the state of Ohio.
Stop by booth #58 to visit with EnviroScience’s environmental experts. To learn more about EnviroScience, visit www.enviroscienceinc.com.
The 2016 Ohio Stormwater Conference is an annual conference dedicated to advance the knowledge and understanding of comprehensive stormwater management for those dealing in all aspects of planning, design, implementation and regulatory compliance. Please visit the conference website at http://www.ohstormwaterconference.com/.
Key Hire Neal Hess Brings Extensive Experience in Conservation Real Estate to EnviroScience February 12, 2016 – Stow, Ohio –EnviroScience, Inc. is excited to welcome Neal Hess as a key personnel to its Restoration division. Mr. Hess brings to EnviroScience extensive experience in restoration project management and conservation real estate.
Mr. Hess has worked in the nonprofit sector (West Creek Conservancy and Trust for Public Land), the public sector (Summit Metro Parks) and the private sector (CT Consultants and EnviroScience). He has an Ohio real estate license and is in the process of earning a real estate broker’s license. Mr. Hess is the founder and principle of Conservation Realty Group LLC (Rubber City Realty broker). He has acquired and restored properties for clients in every corner of the state.
Since 2006 Mr. Hess has raised and managed over $48 million in grant and other financing for natural resource protection, restoration and park development projects throughout the state of Ohio. His specialty is identifying, financing, developing and managing high-quality ecological protection and restoration projects from the initial concept stage through to implementation and project completion. In addition to traditional grant sources, Mr. Hess is also experienced in the financing and development of stream, wetland and species mitigation projects. At Summit Metro Parks Mr. Hess was instrumental in the development and submission of the state’s first prospectus for an endangered species conservation bank and the nation’s first proposed conservation bank for endangered bats. He enjoys and is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to finance conservation and restoration projects.
Mr. Hess has a Bachelor of Science from Ohio University and two years of Master’s level coursework in geology. He received the 2015 Conservation Achievement Award from the Appalachia Ohio Alliance. He has also completed the Ohio Rapid Assessment Method (ORAM) Training for wetland classification through the Ohio EPA and is undergoing Rosgen Applied Fluvial Morphology Level 1 training. Mr. Hess is an alumnus of the 2012 Yale Conservation Finance Bootcamp and attended the 2013 Conservation Banking Class taught by The Conservation Fund.
Every Week Should Be “Bat Week”!
Bat Week is wrapping up, but we will never forget the importance of these furry critters to our ecosystem and their struggle with white nose syndrome, habitat loss, and other threats. Because of these serious threats, millions of bats have perished and experts are expecting many more species to follow suit. Learn how you can #savethebats by installing a bat house here. Our bat ecologists routinely complete full-spectrum habitat assessments and surveys for numerous state and federally endangered and threatened bats, including but not limited to:
The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) The Northern Long-eared bat Myotis( septentrionalis; NLEB) The Gray bat (Myotis grisescens) The Virginia Big-eared bat Corynorhinus( townsendii virginianus; VBEB) Ozark Big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens; OBEB)
Check out the video below for some interesting facts about these cool creatures. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCyiWaCiA8s
EnviroScience Receives Cascade Capital “Business Growth Award” Above: CEO Marty Hilovsky
STOW, OH (October 8, 2015) – EnviroScience, Inc. was honored to be a recipient of the Cascade Capital Business Growth Award this year. CEO Marty Hilovsky accepted the award Thursday night at an awards ceremony held at the John S. Knight Center in Akron, Ohio.
The program recognizes 44 outstanding small business owners who are key players in building economic prosperity in Summit, Medina, Portage, Wayne, Ashland and Holmes counties. To receive the award, a company’s sales and personnel must have increased over the past 5 years.
EnviroScience has received numerous awards the past few years recognizing its exceptional growth since its inception in 1989. Over the past couple of years, EnviroScience has secured multi-million dollar contracts, opened a new office in Richmond, Virginia, and created a new team launching an “Environmental Compliance Services” group. CEO Marty Hilovsky attributes the company’s success to its managerial leadership and entrepreneurial spirit.
About EnviroScience, Inc.
Since 1989, EnviroScience, Inc. has provided ecological services, aquatic environment studies, commercial diving, and lake management solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. Recognized for excellence in marine services, ecological restoration and biomonitoring, EnviroScience, Inc. provides technology, recommendations and solutions to meet environmental needs. The Stow, Ohio headquarter is located at 5070 Stow Road, Stow, Ohio 44224. For more information, visit their website at www.EnviroScienceInc.com or call 800-940-4025.
ES Featured in ADCI Underwater Magazine’s 2015 Inland Diving Section EnviroScience’s commercial dive program was recently featured in the September-October issue of Underwater magazine, the official publication of the Association of Underwater Diving Contractors International (ADCI, http://www.adc-int.org/).
EnviroScience (ES) has been a member company of the ADCI since 2006, which included an audit of ES’s diving program, personnel and equipment. The ADCI has been at the forefront of safety and communication throughout the diving and underwater operation community. The ADCI was founded in 1968 by a small group of diving companies. Their goal was to create a non-profit organization that would cultivate and promote commercial diving, establish uniform safe standards for commercial divers, and encourage industry-wide observance of these standards.
EnviroScience is proud to be featured in this publication. For more information about EnviroScience’s commercial diving and marine capabilities, visit www.es-divers.com. See ES in the inland diving feature here.