Tag Archives: permitting

Specialized Research and Expertise Drive California’s Golden Mussel Response, Dudek Says 

Adrianne Cruz

Science‑based approaches help water managers assess infrastructure risk and act quickly  Encinitas, CA – April 21, 2026 –  Dudek, a U.S.-based environmental, planning, and engineering consulting firm, is supporting California’s response to the spread of golden mussels through specialized research and multidisciplinary expertise that is helping water managers assess infrastructure risk and act quickly across complex water systems

Read More

How Hydrology Modeling Supports Accurate Wetlands Delineation

Nicole Flewellen

Computerized hydrology modeling software utilizes sophisticated numeric models to analyze water runoff within a watershed area over a specific time period and rainfall intensity. This advanced technology revolutionizes the assessment of water resources and their impact on project planning. By integrating existing topography, soil types, and vegetation cover, hydrology models can accurately predict water surface

Read More

What You Need to Know to Secure Permits under the Amended 2023 WOTUS Rule

Nicole Flewellen

On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court of the U.S. (SCOTUS) issued a ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case, stating only wetlands with a continuous surface connection to large rivers, lakes, and streams are eligible for federal protection. On August 29, 2023, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended the 2023 Clean Water Rule

Read More

5 Helpful Steps to Negotiate the Best Permit Conditions for Every Project

Nicole Flewellen

Construction delays, tied-up bonding capacity, and extraneous years of site mitigation, monitoring, and maintenance are just a few of the consequences of poorly considered and negotiated permit conditions. Conversely, a thorough, thoughtful permitting strategy can save you time and money. Dudek Habitat Restoration Practice Director Mike Sweesy offers five tips on how to tailor a

Read More

3 Reasons you Need a Protected Species Observer to Ensure Marine Project Success

Nicole Flewellen

From November 1 through March 31, manatees migrate south from along the Eastern Seaboard, seeking warmer waters off the coast of Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico. During these five months, manatee presence in the area increases significantly, so many in-water construction activities must be halted. In 2021, an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) was

Read More

Hermes Copper Butterfly Listed as a Threatened Species: What that Means for Your Projects

Nicole Flewellen

On December 21, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officially published the final listing rule for the Hermes copper butterfly (Lycaena [Hermelycaena] hermes), designating it as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As the species is endemic to San Diego County and northern Baja California, Mexico, the final rule designates

Read More

Glare Analysis and Photo Simulations Provide Transparency throughout Solar Energy Project Development

Nicole Flewellen

Glare from solar panels can potentially impact sensitive receptors, such as aircraft pilots, air traffic controllers, motorists, residents, and recreationists. So, glint/glare analysis is increasingly becoming a required component of solar development applications at the local and federal levels. Additionally, depending on complexity, project components can be difficult for the public and decision-makers to conceptualize

Read More

3 Keys to Successful Solar Permitting in Virginia

Nicole Flewellen

Virginia recently passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which includes a renewable portfolio standard that will require all of its utility companies to source 100% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2050. As such, the demand for permitting and constructing renewable energy facilities is now stronger than ever. Successful solar permitting in Virginia requires

Read More

New Waters of the U.S. Definition Established by Navigable Waters Protection Rule: How your projects may be affected

Nicole Flewellen

On January 23, 2020, after nearly three years of intensive public outreach and engagement, including pre-proposal involvement that generated more than 6,000 recommendations and approximately 620,000 comments, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the “Navigable Waters Protection Rule,” which establishes a new definition of “Waters of the U.S.”

Read More

3 Tips for Infill Battery Energy Storage Permitting

Nicole Flewellen

Powin Energy’s 2-megawatt (MW)/8-MW-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) recently went online fewer than six months after the project was awarded, marking an energy industry first for the speed of battery energy storage permitting, manufacturing, installing, and commissioning of an asset of this size on a distribution feeder. Located in Irvine, California, the sys­tem provides

Read More