Wetland Challenge Becomes Living Classroom in Pickering's Hands
Issue: The presence of a stream and wetlands on the site (earmarked for a new American Way Middle School) created a challenge for Memphis City Schools officials who wanted to use the property because of its proximity to another school.
Approach: Our team viewed the wetlands challenge as an opportunity. We identified 0.5 acre herbaceous depressional wetlands, 0.5 acre bottomland hardwood wetlands and approximately 1,100 LF of a first order tributary of Ten Mile Creek. Then working through an individual permit and cooperation with the State and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the stream was relocated and used to create mitigation wetland cells on site that double as an outdoor learning center for students.
Tasks: Our activities on this assignment included:
- Obtaining a Section 404 Permit and a 401 State Water Quality Certification from State and Federal agencies
- Negotiating a 3-to-1 rather than a 4-to-1 mitigation ratio with regulators
- Designing onsite mitigation of three acres of bottomland hardwood wetlands and 1,500 LF of a relocated first order tributary of Ten Mile Creek.
- Supervising construction of wetlands and relocated streams
- Supervising planting of species
- Monitoring on a semi-annual basis through 2007
Result: We helped the Memphis City Schools overcome its challenge and meet its goals with a creative solution that has drawn regional attention and created an outdoor environmental learning laboratory for school kids.