click on the title to see more info
Wetland boundary determinations are often a critical component of land use planning. Delineating wetland boundaries requires a thorough understanding of the existing physical features including topography, vegetation, soils, and hydrologic characteristics. Such delineations also require a mastering of federal, state, and local delineation methodology and criteria.
LEC conducts Wetland Functional Assessments to evaluate the qualitative physical characteristics within a wetland, which allows us to determine the functions and values within the ecosystem. Wetland functions and values are inherently linked to understanding site conditions and play an important role in ACOE 404 permitting. This understanding is essential to assessing impacts, project design, potential alternatives, and when necessary, appropriate compensatory mitigating measures.
Vernal Pools are ephemeral bodies of fresh water that provide essential breeding habitat for amphibian and invertebrate species, that are often dependent on this habitat for survival. Identification and certification of vernal pools has become an important aspect of wildlife protection and permitting with local, state, and federal agencies.
LEC conducts Natural Resource Management Surveys to inventory plant community composition, invasive/exotic species, wildlife habitat potential and utilization, and potential rare plant and animal habitats. LEC develops Natural Resource Management Plans that incorporate preservation of critical habitat areas, and often focus on passive recreational use, enhancing wildlife habitat, and/or managing invasive/exotic species. Natural Resource Management Plans are typically prepared for non-profit or public agencies for Open Space management, but may be applied to development projects as part of a comprehensive land management plan.
LEC conducts a variety of botanical surveys for state-listed rare plants in accordance with NHESP guidelines. As required on all such surveys, NHESP must pre-approve the candidate botanist before the survey begins. Considering LEC's vast botanical survey background, our staff is often pre-approved to conduct such surveys for many state-listed rare plants. Having an understanding of the location(s) and abundance of rare plants on a project site is critical for project design and MESA permitting.
Rivers and Streams provide surficial connections between and within protected wetland systems. Streams are afforded several levels of protection and regulatory criteria at the federal, state, and local levels, depending on their status and function. LEC is well-versed in these often complex regulations, and experienced in working with engineers in order to meet federal and state stream crossing standards. In addition to meeting these standards, preserving long-term stream function through bank stabilization and/or restoration is often required.
LEC has extensive experience with successful design and implementation of wetland replacement and restoration projects. Successfully restoring or replacing a wetland area is linked to site-appropriate design, qualified oversight during installation, and monitoring and stewardship of the area to maximize success potential. When implemented correctly, a restored/replaced wetland area will serve the same or similar function as the lost area.
Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a submerged flowering plant that is crucial in supporting marine habitats by providing food and shelter for many commercially important species, such as juvenile scallops and flounder. Eelgrass also provides a stabilizing force against physical disturbances of bottom sediments.
LEC provides baseline mapping of eelgrass beds and assessment of population health. This information is used to evaluate potential implications from marine development, design alternatives, and appropriate mitigation when impacts are unavoidable.
Soils are primarily differentiated by color, layer, texture, internal structure, firmness, wetness, slope, and landscape position, and classified by examining these characteristics, as they are observed in a soil profile.
For detailed site planning, LEC can make definitive determinations of water table elevation, assessment of hydric soil status on difficult sites and predict infiltration permeability by applying state-of-the-art soil classification methods. A name or class is assigned to a soil having a specific set of characteristics, using national standards. Once a soil is classified in the field, its behavior under various uses can be predicted with regularity. Targeted laboratory analyses may also be performed to strengthen predicted values.
Soil maps are published in "Soil Survey Reports", providing a general graphic inventory of soils that occur across the landscape, focusing on the upper five feet of surficial material, where most human activity occurs.
While this generalized mapping is a valuable tool, LEC can assist clients with natural resource management, planning, and development by evaluating soils at a much more detailed level. Products such as "High Intensity Soil Maps" and "Site-Specific Soil Maps" can be tailored to specific sites and clients interests.
Some applications for soil mapping include identifying appropriate sites for waste disposal or sources of sand and gravel, predicting water table elevations or infiltration capacity, estimating the depth to bedrock or impermeable layers and determining agricultural potential.
74 Elm Street
Worcester, MA 01609
508-753-3077
centrallec@lecenvironmental.com
Take Exit 25B to Route 290 West toward Worcester. Take Exit 18 and follow signs for Route 9 West, which becomes Highland Street. Follow Highland Street for half a mile and turn left onto West Street. Follow West Street for several blocks to the traffic light, and turn right onto Elm Street. LEC is located half a block from the traffic light on the left.
Take Exit 10 to Route 290 East toward Worcester. Take Exit 17 and follow signs for Route 9 West, which becomes Highland Street. Follow Highland Street for half a mile and turn left onto West Street. Follow West Street for several blocks to the traffic light, and turn right onto Elm Street. LEC is located half a block from the traffic light on the left.
Merge onto Route 290 West toward Worcester. Take Exit 18 and follow signs for Route 9 West, which becomes Highland Street. Follow Highland Street for half a mile and turn left onto West Street. Follow West Street for several blocks to the traffic light, and turn right onto Elm Street. LEC is located half a block from the traffic light on the left.
1248 Route 28A, Unit 6
P. O. Box 778
Cataumet, MA 02532
(508) 563-5357
capelec@lecenvironmental.com
Follow Route 495 South toward Cape Cod/Bourne Bridge. The route number will change to Route 25 approximately 8 miles north of the Bourne Bridge. Proceed over the Cape Cod Canal on the Bourne Bridge. Once over the bridge, merge onto the rotary. Take the second exit off the rotary (1/2 way around) onto Route 28 South toward Falmouth and Woods Hole. Travel south on Route 28 until reaching the next rotary (Massachusetts Military Reservation Rotary), then take the first exit from the rotary toward Route 28A. Take the next (immediate) left onto Route 28A. Approximately 2 miles south, turn right into the parking area of Cataumet Place Offices.
Follow Route 3 South toward Cape Cod/Sagamore Bridge. At the rotary before the Sagamore Bridge, take the first exit onto Route 6 West, toward Wareham and the Bourne Bridge. After traveling 2.5 miles on Route 6 West, and passing under the Bourne Bridge, merge onto another rotary and take the first exit, leading to the Bourne Bridge. Proceed over the Cape Cod Canal on the Bourne Bridge. Once over the bridge, merge onto another rotary. Take the second exit off the rotary (1/2 way around) onto Route 28 South toward Falmouth and Woods Hole. Travel south on Route 28 until reaching the next rotary (Massachusetts Military Reservation Rotary), then take the first exit from the rotary toward Route 28A. Take the next (immediate) left onto Route 28A. Approximately 2 miles south, turn right into the parking area of Cataumet Place Offices.
Follow Route 195 East. At its terminus, exit to the right onto Route 25 South toward Cape Cod/Bourne Bridge. Proceed over the Cape Cod Canal on the Bourne Bridge. Once over the bridge, merge onto the Rotary. Take the second exit off the rotary (1/2 way around) onto Route 28 South toward Falmouth and Woods Hole. Travel South on Route 28 until reaching the next rotary (Massachusetts Military Reservation Rotary), then take the first exit from the rotary toward Route 28A. Take the next (immediate) left onto Route 28A. Approximately 2 miles south, turn right into the parking area of Cataumet Place Offices.
Follow Route 28 North from Falmouth/Woods Hole. Exit onto Highway 151 Westbound. Turn left at the first stop-light intersection onto 28A North. Travel approximately 1 mile, turn left into the parking area of Cataumet Place Offices.
107 Audubon Road
Building 2, Suite 110
Wakefield, MA 01880
(781) 245-2500
northlec@lecenvironmental.com
Take the exit for Route 95 South/128 North (Waltham, Gloucester). Follow the ramp for 95 South, Waltham. Now traveling on 95 South (128 South), take Exit 42, Salem Street/Wakefield. At the end of the ramp turn right onto Audubon Road. Proceed on Audubon for .5 miles. Turn right into the 107 Audubon Commerce Center Office Park. LEC is located in Building 2, which is the 3-story brick building. Entering the building at the main entrance, LEC is located in Suite 110, off the lobby on the right.
Take the exit for Route 95 South/128 North (Waltham, Gloucester). Follow the ramp for 95 South, Waltham. Now traveling on 95 South (128 South), take Exit 42, Salem Street/Wakefield. At the end of the ramp turn right onto Audubon Road. Proceed on Audubon for .5 miles. Turn right into the 107 Audubon Commerce Center Office Park. LEC is located in Building 2, which is the 3-story brick building. Entering the building at the main entrance, LEC is located in Suite 110, off the lobby on the right.
Take Exit 42, Salem Street. At the end of the ramp, turn left onto Salem Street. Turn left onto Pleasure Island Road at the Sunoco Gas Station. Once under Route 128, Pleasure Island Road becomes Audubon Road. Proceed .6 miles on Audubon Road and turn right into the 107 Audubon Commerce Center Office Park. LEC is located in Building 2, which is the 3-story brick building. Entering the building at the main entrance, LEC is located in Suite 110, off the lobby on the right.
Take Exit 42, Salem Street/Wakefield. At the end of the ramp turn right onto Audubon Road. Proceed on Audubon for .5 miles. Turn right into the 107 Audubon Commerce Center Office Park. LEC is located in Building 2, which is the 3-story brick building. Entering the building at the main entrance, LEC is located in Suite 110, off the lobby on the right.
36 Cordage Park Circle
Suite 312
Plymouth, MA 02360
(508) 746-9491
southlec@lecenvironmental.com
Take Exit 9 (Route 3A South). Follow Route 3A South for approximately 1.5 miles. Turn left into Cordage Commerce Center. Follow access around to the parking lot located to the right of the buildings. LEC is located in the Office Level entrance. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor. Suite 312 is at the end of the hall.
Take Exit 6 (Route 44 East). Follow Route 44 East for 1 mile to the intersection of Routes 44 and 3A. Turn left onto Route 3A, heading North. Follow Route 3A North for approximately 2 miles. Turn right into Cordage Commerce Center. Follow access around to the parking lot located to the right of the buildings. LEC is located in the Office Level entrance. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor. Suite 312 is at the end of the hall.