Persistent sewer backups plagued a Thiensville neighborhood during heavy rains, with infiltration from aging pipes suspected as the culprit. Learn how the Village teamed up with R/M and MMSD to use innovative techniques to reduce infiltration (PP/II) and address sewer backups at no cost to homeowners.
Facing stricter phosphorus limits, the Stephensville Sanitary District teamed up with R/M and the Wisconsin Water Quality Clearinghouse to find an innovative solution. Through Water Quality Trading, they’re balancing phosphorus levels, reducing chemical use, and saving costs. Discover how this collaboration is setting a new standard for phosphorus reduction.
Wetland mitigation banking offers a promising solution to compensate for the loss of wetlands due to activities like municipal construction, private development, or agriculture. By restoring, creating, or enhancing wetland areas, these mitigation banks provide credits that developers can purchase to offset the environmental impacts of their projects. Instead of individually restoring wetlands for each project—a costly and complex task—developers can buy credits from established banks, streamlining the process and meeting environmental regulations more efficiently.
Bats play a crucial role in ecosystems by consuming agricultural and forest pests and acting as predators of biting insects. They also help reduce the spread of insect-borne diseases like the West Nile Virus. However, since 2014, bat populations in Wisconsin have been rapidly declining due to a fungal disease that causes high mortality rates among cave-dwelling bats.
This disease, known as White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), was first identified in New York in 2006 and has since spread across the U.S., reaching Wisconsin in 2014. WNS has led to the most significant decline in North American wildlife ever recorded, impacting many species of cave-hibernating bats. Some populations have experienced nearly 100% declines. In Wisconsin, WNS poses a severe threat to all four cave bat species: the Big Brown Bat, Little Brown Bat, Northern Long-Eared Bat (NLEB), and Tricolored Bat.
Due to the significant decline in Wisconsin’s cave-dwelling bat populations, all municipal projects must undergo a review to assess potential impacts on bats. This review is required before proceeding with later phases of the project. Identifying whether your project area contains suitable habitat for NLEBs can help expedite the permitting process.
Private development, agriculture, and utility projects do not require approval, but municipal projects do. Approval from both the state and federal governments is required before the project can begin.
Federal Approval: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (via the Information for Planning and Consultation Determination Key; IPaC DKey)
State Approval: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (via the Natural Heritage Inventory; NHI)
To avoid delays, aim to get approval from the IPaC DKey and NHI early in the project design phase (around 30% completion).
Trees and snags with a diameter of 3 inches or greater at breast height (dbh) that feature exfoliating bark, cracks, crevices, and/or cavities provide suitable habitat. Bats typically roost singly or in maternity colonies under bark or more often in cavities or crevices of live trees and snags. Suitable roosting habitats must be within 1,000 feet of a forest.
Other potential roosting sites include:
Bridges
Covered bridges
Culverts taller than 4 feet and longer than 130 feet
Old structures
Trees located more than 1,000 feet from forested areas
Trees in predominantly urban, developed areas
Pure stands of trees less than 3 inches in dbh that lack larger trees
Contact Your Environmental Consultant: They can provide options, such as performing field surveys, to determine whether bat habitat is present in the project area.
Potential Roost/Habitat Survey: A trained biologist can assess the project area to confirm the presence of suitable habitat. Additional coordination with the USFWS/WDNR may be required for a final determination.
Conservation Measures: If habitat is present, measures such as tree clearing during the winter (August 16 to May 31) may allow the project to proceed without further conditions.
Habitat Conservation Plan: If impacts on bat habitat cannot be avoided, the existing habitat must be replaced or mitigated, typically at a 2:1 ratio. A mitigation plan must be submitted to the USFWS, and incidental take permits may be pursued through the WDNR.
Do you need a review to assess the potential impact on bats on your future project site? Contact one of our experts today!
Senior Biologist
Nick is a Senior Biologist with more than 10 years of experience managing and completing complex ecological-related projects from both public and private sector clients. He conducts or evaluates projects involving wetland delineations, potential wetland mitigation needs, cultural resource screens, archaeological reports, threatened and endangered (T&E) species reports, and storm water/erosion control plans.
Maintaining water quality is essential for the health and safety of any community, particularly for those that are classified as Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) communities or are governed by Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). These designations bring with them a set of stringent requirements to prevent pollution from contaminating local water bodies. Meeting these standards not only ensures compliance with environmental regulations but also contributes to the broader goal of protecting natural resources for current and future generations.
Hub Sites offer a centralized platform for municipalities to share vital community information, from polling locations to complex project data. Learn how these online portals enhance transparency, streamline workflows, and foster collaboration between local government and its residents.
The City of Franklin constructed a new interceptor to address increased development but soon faced severe odor complaints. To combat this niche issue, a multi-phase approach was implemented to effectively mitigate odors, allowing the interceptor to operate efficiently for the community.
R/M is excited to announce the addition of Iowa-based engineering firm Axiom Consultants (Axiom) to our 100% employee-owned organization. This addition brings together two strong engineering organizations, providing numerous opportunities and benefits for both employees and clients. Clients of both firms will benefit from a broader range of services offered under one cohesive team, including civil engineering and building services such as structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing.
Taking place annually on June 23, International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the achievements of women in engineering. R/M is extremely proud of all our women who make community possible with their work every day. Meet a few of our women in engineering at R/M!
Quality observation, documentation, and communication are essential to ensure all project components are balanced, and disruptions to residents are minimized. Learn how R/M’s field services team and technology bridges the gap between client and contractor to ensure project requirements are being met through diligent construction review.
Thinking about a new project but worried it might impact endangered species? This guide will help you navigate the state and federal regulations protecting these vulnerable creatures. Learn about the key steps involved in the review process, from initial screening to permits, and discover how to avoid project delays.
In the constantly evolving world of civil engineering, a new technology is revolutionizing how engineers approach facility renovation and design: the "digital twin". Discover how digital twins can significantly enhance design, visualization, and planning capabilities, proving invaluable in the design and renovation of municipal facilities.
Federal standards for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for public drinking water systems were updated on April 10, 2024, including 4.0 ppt for PFOA and PFOS compounds. The upcoming PFAS threshold for municipal action will be significantly lower. Learn what these changes mean for your municipality.
Employee-owned civil engineering firm, Ruekert & Mielke, Inc. (R/M), is excited to announce the addition of Ryan Spackman, P.E. as the Office Manager in charge of leading civil engineering for their Kenosha, Wisconsin location.
Considering rate increases for utilities, such as water, electric, and sewer services, becomes necessary when facing challenges like low cash flow or imminent large capital projects. Implementing gradual rate adjustments can prevent customer shock and facilitate easier budgeting, making it essential for utilities to evaluate their financial health and plan accordingly.
Mobile GIS apps put crucial infrastructure data in your hands, anywhere. Discover how Ruekert & Mielke, Inc.'s mobile GIS applications revolutionize fieldwork by providing instant access to critical infrastructure data.
Forestry grants play a crucial role in helping municipalities fund the development and maintenance of community forestry programs. This includes activities such as tree inventories, plantings, pruning, invasive species control, and other sustainable practices. Additionally, leveraging GIS to maintain accurate tree data keeps tree inventories and forestry management plans accurate and efficient. By combining these two tools, municipalities can effectively maintain the health and resilience of their forest ecosystems.
Securing funds for infrastructure projects can be a challenge for municipalities. The good news? There's a wealth of grant programs available to support a wide range of projects. Whether you're looking to upgrade storm drains, install solar panels, or restore your local stream, there's likely a grant program out there that aligns with your goals. Follow these steps to find the best grant to fit your project!
Unprecedented federal and state funding has led to a surge of municipal right-of-way permit requests from private utility companies looking to install community-wide fiber and rural broadband network infrastructure. However, projects of this magnitude place considerable demand on municipal staff and community resources. We’ve compiled a checklist of duties and best practices to prepare your community and safeguard your existing infrastructure.
Installing filters for phosphorus removal has proven to be an effective way to meet the Water Quality-Based Effluent Limits (WQELS) for effluent total phosphorus. Consideration should be given to identify potential strategies to fit filters in an existing hydraulic profile. Learn more about best practices when considering the addition of pumping equipment.
