The Verdantas Team (as Flatwoods Consulting Group Inc.) assisted Duke Energy Florida, LLC. (Duke Energy) with the HD Lattice Tower Replacement project in Pinellas County, Florida. This project involved replacing five dilapidated lattice tower structures, three of which were within Mobbly Bay. The scope of work included ecological surveys (wetland delineation, general listed species survey, gopher tortoise survey, and submerged aquatic vegetation survey), permitting assistance, compliance, and post-construction monitoring. During the design phase of the project, our team provided the results of the ecological surveys which included preliminary ecological surveys to determine the presence of ecological constraints that would influence the overall design and construction. This effort included a wetland delineation in accordance with state and federal guidelines, general listed plant and wildlife survey, gopher/tortoise burrow survey, and a submerged aquatic vegetation survey within the proposed project area. Once designed, we prepared and submitted applications to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to obtain state regulatory and proprietary authorizations, as well as federal authorization through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under Section 404 and Section 10 regulations, and approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Verdantas delineated the extent of benthic resources within the project area. Temporary impacts associated with construction barge shading were authorized under the federal permit. In order to ensure impacts are temporary in nature the permit requires post-construction monitoring for two years. Flatwoods prepared a Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Monitoring Plan that was approved during the permitting process. As a condition of the federal authorization Duke Energy is required to fulfill the effort outlined in the plan. Our team is currently under contract to conduct follow up monitoring events and provide Duke Energy with reports that are suitable for submittal for compliance.
Expertise
Natural Resources & Environmental Planning
Market
Client
Duke Energy - Florida, LLC
Location
Central Florida