With significant expertise developed as former environmental regulators, the staff of WRA is very experienced and knowledgeable in the rapidly changing arena of environmental and water resource management regulations. With its in-depth knowledge of the regulatory arena at the Federal, state, regional and local level, WRA offers unique experience and expertise in environmental permitting. This translates into efficient and effective project permitting and overall regulatory compliance. Staff of WRA also provide expert witness services. Environmental Permitting and Compliance Experience Wetland Mitigation Design and Permitting Desalination Concentrate Discharge Permitting Commercial Retail and Office Park Construction Permits Environmental Assessments / Impact Statements Jurisdictional Wetland Delineations Threatened and Endangered Species Evaluations Expert Witness Services Public Utility Regulatory Coordination and Compliance Related Projects Tampa Oaks Business and Commercial Park, Opus South Corporation - Hillsborough County, FL WRA prepared all stormwater, wetland mitigation and roadway designs for a 65-acre commercial development that included 250,000 square foot office park and outparcels in Temple Terrace Florida. Site design included utilizing the existing wetland system for stormwater control and floodplain mitigation, saving significance land for development. Wetland mitigation included creation and transplantation of mature cypress trees for significant cost savings. The permitting involved extensive negotiations with the SWFWMD, US ACOE and the Hillsborough County EPC.See Project Photo Gallery Florida International Cargo Airport - Hardee and Polk Counties, FL WRA is responsible for the hydrology and hydraulics for a proposed cargo airport and mixed-use development on 20,000-acres of reclaimed phosphate lands In Hardee and Polk Counties. This includes the development of the DRI, Environmental Resource Permits and the Water Use Permits for the project. University Consumer Square, Benderson Development Company - Manatee County, FL WRA designed and permitted a 200-acre commercial development for a Winn Dixie, Home Depot and four additional outparcels. The project involves a major wetland impact that is being mitigated by a combination of creation and transplantation. WRA negotiated a lowering of the floodplain by 1.5 feet on average and the removal of 8.2 acres of forested wetlands. Wetland mitigation consisted of transplanting 4.5 acres of forested wetlands saving considerable land and cost to the developer. Permitting included site drainage, water quality treatment, floodplain compensation, and wetland impact negotiations and mitigation. This transplantation project was negotiated with the SWFWMD, Manatee County and the US ACOE and was the first permitted transplant project in Manatee County. The project also involved an extensive restudy of the FEMA 100-year floodplain. Winn-Dixie Supermarket - Largo, FL WRA negotiated all agency permits for stormwater system and wetland impacts. Permits allowed impacts to wetlands without mitigation, and filling within the 100-year floodplain without providing additional compensation. WRA also negotiated land exchange for clients between the Southwest Florida Water Management District, City of Largo and the developer. WRA also assisted the client in an environmental enhancement project adjacent to the site, which increased property value. Hydrological and Biological Evaluation of the Riverside Ranch - Polk City, FL Provided hydrologic and biologic review for the Riverside Ranch in Polk City, FL to supplement acquisition evaluation information for review by the Green Swamp Land Authority. Information was used to gain a better appraisal for the Client in order to negotiate the ultimate value of the property. Feasibility Analysis, Tarpon Power Partners, L.P., Hardee County Power Plant - Hardee County, FL WRA evaluated the feasibility and the hydrologic and biologic aspects of the siting of a major power plant in Hardee County, FL. Much of the study revolved around the availability of water, both traditional and alternative supplies, for cooling purposes for the plant. Alternative Stormwater and Environmental Design, Wal-Mart - Crystal River, FL WRA developed conceptual designs to alleviate stormwater and environmental issues and citizen concerns regarding a proposed Wal-Mart site in a heavily residential area of Crystal River. The design developed a system to fix existing drainage/stormwater problems, enhance onsite and offsite environmental systems and create natural buffers to better shield existing homeowners from the proposed development. Drainage Design and Environmental Services, Wal-Mart - Brandon, FL WRA provided assistance on the drainage design for the expansion of an existing store into a Supercenter. This store is located in the Delaney Creek Basin that is volume rather than peak sensitive making it one of the hardest basins to permit within the SWFWMD. WRA also provided all of the environmental services needed for permitting including wildlife surveys, wetland jurisdictions, alternative design services and offsite mitigation alternatives. Environmental Services, Wal-Mart - Brooksville, FL WRA developed the wetland survey for this site in Hernando County. WRA also conducted and produced the wildlife survey required for environmental permitting. Pelican Pointe - Tampa Bay, FL WRA designed and permitted Pelican Pointe, an 8-acre, 46-unit waterfront Townhome Community located on Tampa Bay in Hillsborough County. On-site improvements included paving, grading, drainage, water and sewer design, as well as an access connection to an FDOT roadway. Off-site improvements included a 500-ft sanitary force main extension that required directional bores under a state road and local waterway. The site layout required impacts to wetlands and encroachment into potions of the 100-yr floodplain. WRA designed and permitted wetland mitigation and floodplain compensation plans to offset these impacts. WRA provided construction management support throughout the construction phase. Canterbury School - St. Petersburg, FL WRA designed and permitted a 10-acre athletic facility and associated access road for The Canterbury School, a private school located on Placido Bayou in St. Petersburg. The project included the design and construction of a soccer field, baseball field, softball field, parking areas, an access road and two bridge crossings. Water, sewer and stormwater design were also required for the project. The project was built primarily in a large marsh area bisected by a tidal creek directly adjacent to the pool. Design challenges associated with the low-lying site included extensive filling and drainage design to elevate the fields above tidal inundation levels and ensure proper drainage, installation of retailing walls along the creek to maximize buildable area, two bridge crossings for access across the creek, and significant hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to ensure no adverse flooding impacts caused by the fill areas and bridge crossings. A major permitting challenge was the extensive wetland impacts required for construction of the facilities. Approval to impact the wetlands was required from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, U.S. Army Core of Engineers, City of St. Petersburg and the Pinellas County Water and Navigation Control Authority. Approval was ultimately granted after WRA negotiated an off-site mitigation plan that included restoring approximately 10 acres of wetland habitat on Weedon Island. WRA provided construction management support throughout the construction phase of both the athletic facility project and the off-site mitigation project. Wexford Townhomes - Hillsborough County, FL WRA designed and permitted a 35-acre, 226-unit Townhome Community located in central Hillsborough County. On-site improvements included paving, grading, drainage, water and sewer design. Offsite improvements included a 1,000-ft extension of fire, water and sanitary utilities. The site layout required impacts to an existing wetland, as well as significant floodplain encroachment. WRA offset these impacts through negotiations with the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission and the Southwest Florida Water Management District by permitting a 9-acre off-site floodplain compensation area that incorporated a required wetland mitigation area. WRA also coordinated with the City of Tampa for connection to water and sewer service. Riva Trace - Manatee County, FL WRA is currently under design and permitting for a 47-acre, 152-unit Townhome Community in Southern Manatee County. The site is directly adjacent to the Braden River, which requires extra stormwater requirements such as extensive water quality treatment. WRA has met extensively with the Manatee County Transportation Department throughout the design process to accomodate future county improvements. The site layout required significant floodplain impacts that have been mitigated for through floodplain compensation areas and extensive floodplain conveyance modeling. Homewood and Embassy Suites - Brandon, FL The project includes the construction of a 7-story Homewood Suites and a 6-story Embassy Suites. The hotels will be constructed over top an existing Celebration Station Amusement Park. The existing retention pond on-site will be modified into a block retaining wall retention pond to accomodate extra runoff. The Homewood Suites and retention pond will be constructed and under operation during Phase I while the Celebration Station will continue to be fully operational. The second phase will consist of the Celebration Station demolition and construction of the Embassy Suites. For more information about our environmental permitting and compliance services, contact us through e-mail at info@wraconsultants.com, or by phone at (813) 265-3130. Home | About WRA | Projects | Newsletter | Links | Contact Us Environmental Services | Water Policy and Planning | Site Development Desalination Services | Conflict Resolution