Powerline Corridor
   Florida's Atlantic Coast

Overview
Water & Air scientists assisted a consulting engineer with the delineation and evaluation of wetlands along multiple power line corridors throughout Florida. Wetlands and listed species within the corridor are identified to assist with environmental permitting support for a large power company. Electronic files are provided to the field team for the proposed site layout. These data, imported into a mapping global positioning system (GPS), assist the field inspectors with their location and evaluation of the sensitive features within the proposed impact area. The GPS system allows the field team to locate site features within the corridor without requiring land surveyors mark the project area. Any changes in the right of way design can be transferred to the field team and incorporated into their work plan. Field data collected in the GPS is then transferred to either a geographic information system (GIS) or computer aided design (CAD). The environmental data, combined with the final layout are provided to the permitting team.

Details

• Establishment and improvement of access roads.
• Maintenance and expansion of existing corridors.
• Impact analysis of new corridors.
• Mitigation evaluations using Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM), the Wetland Rapid Assessment Procedure (WRAP) or the Army Corps of Engineer's WATER analysis.

Results
Wetland impact evaluations by Water & Air scientists provide the engineer with critical data for the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) application. The permitting team uses the environmental data to calculate and minimize the impact of the project design. When appropriate, existing facilities such as roads and culverts are mapped to provide the engineers with existing infrastructure information. Over 200 miles of corridors have been mapped and evaluated. Rapid turnaround of field data has been critical to the successful completion of these fast tracked projects.