WWE assists clients with both the attainment of permits and with permit compliance.

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act Permitting and Assessment

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates activities that discharge into wetlands and other waters of the U.S. Obtaining the required permitting is an obstacle that can delay or derail a project if not managed. WWE has successfully obtained permits for projects of all sizes. Throughout all of these projects, WWE guides projects toward the most efficient permitting path possible.

WWE has successfully obtained 404 permits for projects varying in size and complexity from small-scale wetland assessments to large-scale projects requiring individual 404 permits and compensatory mitigation. Our aquatic resources scientists have expertise in communicating complex regulatory concepts to stakeholders in an easy-to-understand manner, helping clients avoid procedural missteps, project delays, and unexpected costs while obtaining the necessary authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Our strong working relationships with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helps avoid surprises and keeps projects on track toward obtaining the necessary authorization.

Local and State Wetland Permitting

State, county, and municipal governments frequently adopt wetland and environmental permitting regulations that go beyond federal rules. WWE works with local governments throughout the U.S. to help projects maintain conformity to all wetland rules and regulations. Identifying these additional constraints up front can help avoid delays and unexpected costs.

Flood risk management and Permitting

Since the 1960s, WWE has been responsible for numerous floodplain modeling projects and regulatory floodplain/floodway assignments including Conditional Letters of Map Revision (CLOMRs), Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs), and Flood Hazard Area Delineations (FHADs). WWE has extensive experience with floodplain and floodway regulations, management, and policies and with those who regulate them, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Mile High Flood District (MHFD), and multiple local and state agencies. WWE staff members frequently testify on flooding issues given our expertise with hydrology, hydraulics, and regulatory aspects of flood risk management.

WWE is a member of the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (CASFM) and has several Certified Floodplain Managers on staff.

municipal stormwater engineering

WWE has been a leader in municipal stormwater engineering for decades, having written the original Urban Storm Drainage Criteria Manual (USDCM) in 1969 for the Mile High Flood District (formerly the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District) and having assisted with periodic updates to the USDCM, most recently in the 2010s. WWE works for many municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permittees in the Metro area, assisting with program development, program management, compliance/auditing, and regulatory reporting. Andrew Earles and Lily Montesano have assisted the City of Arvada with MS4 work including construction and post-construction inspections and program documentation and reporting.

CONSTRUCTION SITE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND PERMITTING

WWE has an active practice in construction site stormwater management and permitting for a variety of clients including utilities, MS4s, transportation, oil & gas, developers, and contractors. WWE has prepared hundreds of stormwater management plans (SWMPs) and assisted many clients with obtaining and complying with stormwater permits from state and local governments. WWE has been an innovator in developing streamlined permitting approaches for utility work and work involving maintenance and construction activities in waterways. WWE also frequently provides training presentations to educate permittees. WWE has worked for several clients to develop comprehensive environmental management systems (EMSs) that address cradle-to-grave aspects of stormwater management ranging from due diligence prior to property acquisition to management and maintenance of post-construction stormwater control measures.

Wastewater Discharge

WWE performs specialized services for wastewater discharge permitting including compliance with nutrient control regulations in Colorado and other states, proposed stringent limits addressing drinking water and fish consumption rates (arsenic and selenium to name two), limits for temperature and E. coli, stringent dissolved metal limits in mining applications, and other site-specific issues.

Dewatering

WWE provides expertise on construction and permanent dewatering system design and permitting throughout Colorado. Some notable WWE dewatering projects have been located at ski resort developments where base area construction typically locates residential parking below the multistory living spaces and below the groundwater surface. These designs require addressing groundwater inflow to the excavation, protection of the structure after construction, and discharge quality issues, both during and after completion of the structure. WWE has also provided these services on structures built within municipal boundaries such as in downtown Denver and on the Broadmoor Hotel property in Colorado Springs.