Customized Strategies for Diverse Markets

Wiregrass Ecological Associates recognizes that the needs and considerations of our clients differ based on their respective markets. We value our clients input in the development of comprehensive and integrated environmental solutions. Our staff combines deep expertise and proactive professionalism with innovative technologies to deliver efficient and timely results – regardless of the market sector.

The environmental challenges and requirements facing many airports often appear complex when considered in terms of airport operations and growth. WEA has experience coordinating and integrating environmental programs with the design, planning, and operational constraints that face airports and airport sponsors. An Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) Associate, WEA also employs a FAA Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologist. Our commitment is to provide airport clients with the technical expertise to tackle environmental challenges in a cost-effective and on-time model that minimizes impacts on airport operations.

WEA offers numerous services to support aviation clients including:

– Wildlife Hazard Risk Mitigation (WHA, WHMP, Training)
– Planning (NEPA: EA, Cat Ex, EA short form)
– Mitigation Design and Implementation
– Forest and Habitat Managment
– Regulatory Compliance and Permitting
– Ecological Studies
– State or AIP Grant Funding Process Guidance

WEA staff has worked with various aviation clients and airports including:

– Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP)
– James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY)
– Tuscaloosa Regional Airport (TCL)
– Venice Municipal Airport (VNC)
– Tallahassee Regional Airport (TLH)
– Sebring Regional Airport (SEF)
– Tyndall Air Force Base
– Fairchild Air Force Base
– Transportation for London
– High Performance Magnetics
– Flightline Group
– Lockheed Martin

As global demand for energy increases, the industry faces increasing scrutiny related to environmental impacts and regulation. WEA staff is experienced in providing environmental and ecological consultation services for energy clients in the southeast. Programmatic and strategic planning, combined with rapid mobilization and efficient implementation, serve as the cornerstones of WEA’s energy sector services. WEA understands and honors that for privacy and strategic considerations all data collected for private industry clients remains confidential and wholly owned by that client.

WEA offers various services to support energy clients including:

– Biodiversity and Conservation
– Rare Species Surveys and Compliance
– Geospatial and Data Management Services
– Regulatory Permitting, Compliance, and Monitoring
– Habitat Surveys and Assessment

WEA staff has provided services for energy clients including:

– Confidential Clients
– Duke Energy
– Florida Gas Transmission
– Florida Power Company

The importance of teaming and partnering with other environmental firms is paramount to the strategic vision of WEA. WEA provides a variety of specialized services which often meet the needs and fill the gaps of services provided by larger environmental firms. Our staff teams extensively with other firms of various sizes and understand the complexities of multidisciplinary collaboration. As a certified US Small Business Administration enterprise and HUBZone eligible firm, we can provide project management and subcontractor support services to meet federal and state contract conditions.

WEA can lead projects or assist other environmental firms by providing the following services:

– Biodiversity and Conservation
– Fisheries Management
– Forest and Habitat Management
– Geospatial and Data Management Services
– Rare Species Compliance
– Regulatory Permitting, Compliance, and Monitoring
– Wildlife Management

WEA staff has teamed with other environmental firms including:

– Atkins North America
– Dial Cordy & Associates
– Environmental Science Associates
– Finite Carbon
– Golder & Associates
– Gladding Jackson
– Microterra Biotech
– Research Planning, Inc.
– Shea Wildlife and Environmental
– SCS Consulting Services

As a certified US Small Business Administration enterprise firm and HUBZone eligible, WEA staff has worked extensively as a prime or subcontractor on multiple governmental projects. We have worked directly for governmental agencies and represented clients interacting with these agencies on the federal, state, and local level. Our experience with private industry and regulatory compliance allows WEA to uniquely bridge the objectives and constraints facing both sectors.

WEA provides various services to support federal, state, and local governments including:

– Arborist Services
– Biodiversity and Conservation
– Fisheries Management
– Forest and Habitat Management
– Geospatial and Data Management Services
– Rare Species Compliance
– Regulatory Permitting, Compliance, and Monitoring
– Wildlife Management

WEA staff has worked with numerous federal, state, and local governments and agencies including:

– Baldwin County (Alabama)
– Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
– Cheltenham Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (Maryland)
– City of Cocoa (Florida)
– City of Roeland Park (Kansas)
– City of Tallahassee (Florida)
– Dare County Bombing Range (North Carolina)
– Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA)
– Escambia County (Florida)
– Fairchild Air Force Base (Washington)
– Florida Department of Transportation
– Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
– Florida Forest Service
– Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
– Fort Benning (Georgia)
– Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
– Fort Jackson (South Carolina)
– Fort Stewart (Georgia)
– Jennings State Forest (Florida)
– Leon County Department of Public Works (Florida)
– Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point (North Carolina)
– Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP)
– Port Panama City (Florida)
– Shaw Air Force Base – Poinsett Combatt Range (South Carolina)
– Support Facility – Blount Island (Florida)
– Tyndall Air Force Base (Florida)
– United States Air Force
– United States Army
– United States Army Corps of Engineers
– United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service (USFS)
– United States Department of Homeland Security
– United States Fish and Wildlife Service
– United States Marine Corps
– Walton County (Florida)

Since its origins as The Wildlife Company (TWC), WEA has had a long history of providing services for forest and natural resource industry clients. By maintaining close ties with our parent company, Southern Forestry Consultants, Inc. (SFC), WEA retains the ability to use additional staff expertise and experience depending on our clients’ needs. WEA staff includes Registered Foresters, Certified Wildlife Biologists, Certified Burn Managers, Certified Senior Ecologists, and Certified Tree Farm Inspectors. WEA understands and honors that for privacy and strategic considerations all data collected for private landowners remains confidential and wholly owned by that client.

WEA offers various services to our forest and natural resource industry clients:

– Biodiversity and Conservation
– Fisheries Management
– Forest and Habitat Management
– Geospatial and Data Management Services
– Rare Species Compliance
– Regulatory Permitting, Compliance, and Monitoring
– Wildlife Management

WEA staff has met the goals and objectives of numerous forest and natural resource industry clients including:

– BTG Pactual
– Bureau Veritas
– Forest Resource Solutions
– Georgia Pacific Corporation
– Glatfelter Corporation
– Hancock Timber Resource Group
– International Paper
– New Forests
– Plum Creek Timber Company
– PotlatchDeltic
– Pricewaterhouse Coopers
– Private and confidential land owners and trusts
– Rayonier, U.S. Forest Resources
– Resource Management Service
– Resolute Forest Products (Bowater)
– The St. Joe Company
– Smurfit-Stone Container
– Temple-Inland
– Timberland Investment Resources
– Westervelt Company
– Weyerhaeuser

Technical expertise and a competitive cost structure has resulted in WEA staff project experience with numerous non-governmental organizations and research institutions. As classically trained biologists and ecologists, the roots of our staff’s education can be traced back to the foundations of scientific research. WEA also understands the role advocacy in conservation and the modern environmental arena. Through grant opportunities, funding mechanisms, and donations, WEA has worked to meet the goals and objectives of non-governmental organizations and research institutions

WEA offers various services to support non-governmental organizations and research institutions including:

– Biodiversity and Conservation
– Fisheries Management
– Forest and Habitat Management
– Geospatial and Data Management Services
– Rare Species Compliance
– Regulatory Permitting, Compliance, and Monitoring
– Wildlife Management

WEA staff has worked with numerous non-governmental organizations and research institutions including:

– American Forest Foundation
– Auburn University
– Coffeen Land Trust (Florida)
– Ducks Unlimited
– Duke University
– The Environmental Defense Fund
– Georgia-Alabama Land Trust
– Florida Audobon Society
– Florida Forestry Association
– Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida
– Mississippi Land Trust
– Mississippi State University
– National Deer Association
– North Carolina State University
– National Council of Air and Stream Improvement
– National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
– The Nature Conservancy
– Tall Timbers
– Texas Historical Commission
– University of Florida
– University of Texas
– University of Tennessee
– US Endowment for Forestry and Communities

WEA assists real estate and residential investment groups, companies, and individuals enhance outdoor recreational opportunities on properties to improve owner use and/or re-sale value. WEA is fully equipped to utilize proven habitat and wildlife management data and technology to enhance the value of property for the recreational user. Hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, hiking, biking, and bird watching are all issues that WEA has experience at weaving into the overall management of properties. Additionally, WEA understands and honors that for privacy and strategic considerations all data collected for private landowners remains confidential and wholly owned by that client.

WEA offers numerous services to support aviation clients including:

– Aesthetic enhancement
– Road network design and construction
– Pond construction
– Wildlife viewing enhancement
– Wildlife habitat enhancement
– Regulatory Compliance and Permitting
– Firewise
– Sea Turtle Lighting and Nest Protection (also Dark Sky Initiatives)
– Bear Safe Communities
– Trails and Signage
– Stormwater Cleaning
– Mitigation design and implementation
– HOA presentations and education

WEA staff has worked with various real estate and residential community clients including:

– Florida Landings
– Private and Confidential Landowners
– Forestar Group
– The Sembler Company
– Simon Property Group
– The St. Joe Company
– Sacred Heart Mitigation Areas
– Shepherd’s Branch and Oak Ridge Mitigation Areas
– Southwood
– SummerCamp
– Windmark Beach

WEA staff has worked extensively with the Florida Department of Transportation to meet the environmental challenges faced during the implementation of its environmental program. WEA has worked on projects at various stages of the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) process including Wetland Evaluation Reports (WER), Endangered Species Biological Assessment Report (ESBAR), wildlife crossing evaluations, mitigation options, and peer reviews.

WEA offers various services to support transportation clients including:

– Biodiversity and Conservation
– Geospatial and Data Management Services
– Rare Species Compliance
– Regulatory Permitting, Compliance, and Monitoring

WEA staff has worked with transportation clients including:

– Alabama State Port Authority
– Alabama Department of Transportation
– Florida Department of Transportation
– Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
– Georgia Department of Transportation
– Leon County Department of Public Works (Florida)

Our deep relationships with governmental entities, attorneys, and industry partners benefit our clients by streamlining project timelines and minimizing potential hurdles.