Aquatic Ecology Threatened & Endangered Species

An understanding of aquatic habitats, aquatic wildlife, and how to find and identify aquatic resources is essential to providing thorough aquatic assessments. Likewise, an understanding of the regulatory framework surrounding aquatic ecology is vital to serve the needs of our clients and maintain project timelines. Copperhead employs a team of dedicated, knowledgeable, and experienced aquatic biologists who offer services including surveys, inventory, analysis, and compliance consultation for freshwater mussels and fish as well as water quality and aquatic health assessment through macroinvertebrate sampling, water chemistry testing, and analysis.

Copperhead’s aquatic project experience includes Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance through formal and informal Section 7 consultation (e.g., Biological Assessments, reviews of Biological Opinions, conservation and mitigation measures), presence/probable absence survey and population monitoring, aquatic species relocation prior to construction disturbance, emergency mussel relocation and agency coordination following accidental stream disturbance, fish tissue analysis for pollutant monitoring, as well as macroinvertebrate collection, analysis, and monitoring for Clean Water Act compliance.