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Guides & Resources

Practical guides for ecological desktop studies, environmental surveys, and federal/state data in the US.

May 14, 20269 min read

Sea Turtle Nesting Season: Construction Restrictions on US Coastal Projects

A practical guide to sea turtle nesting season restrictions for coastal development. Lighting ordinances, beach construction windows, FWC and USFWS requirements, and how to keep your project on schedule.

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May 11, 20268 min read

Monarch Butterfly ESA Listing: What It Means for US Development Projects

The monarch butterfly ESA listing decision is pending. What environmental consultants and developers need to know about milkweed habitat, survey requirements, and voluntary conservation measures.

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May 7, 202610 min read

Clean Water Act Section 404 Permits: A Practical Guide for Developers

Everything you need to know about Section 404 wetland permits. Nationwide vs individual permits, the USACE process, compensatory mitigation, and how to avoid the most common permitting delays.

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May 4, 202610 min read

NEPA Environmental Review: EA vs EIS and When Each Is Required

A practical guide to NEPA environmental review for consultants and developers. When you need a CATEX, EA, or EIS, what each involves, and how to avoid common mistakes.

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April 30, 20269 min read

Gopher Tortoise Surveys in Florida: Permits, Timing, and Relocation Requirements

A complete guide to gopher tortoise survey requirements for Florida development projects. FWC permits, burrow surveys, relocation protocols, and recipient site selection.

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April 27, 20268 min read

Bald Eagle Nest Buffers: The 660ft Rule, BGEPA Permits, and What Developers Need to Know

A practical guide to bald eagle nest buffers for US development projects. The 660ft rule, BGEPA permit requirements, nesting season timing, and how to avoid project delays.

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April 23, 202611 min read

Indiana Bat and Northern Long-Eared Bat: Survey Requirements, Timing, and Section 7 Compliance

Everything US environmental consultants need to know about Indiana bat and NLEB surveys. Mist-net protocols, acoustic surveys, tree assessments, seasonal timing, and the 2024 programmatic BiOp.

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April 20, 20267 min read

FEMA Flood Zones Explained: What AE, VE, X, and SFHA Mean for Your Project

A plain-language guide to FEMA flood zone designations. What Zone AE, VE, X, A, and SFHA mean for development projects, environmental assessments, and ecological site planning.

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April 16, 202610 min read

Wetland Delineation: What You Need to Know Before the Field Visit

A practical guide to wetland delineation in the US. The three-parameter approach, USACE regional supplements, desktop screening, and what to expect from the permitting process.

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April 13, 20268 min read

USFWS IPaC vs EcoCheck US: What Each Tool Does and When to Use Both

A practical comparison of IPaC and EcoCheck US for environmental project planning. What each tool provides, where they overlap, and how to use them together for a thorough desktop assessment.

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April 9, 202612 min read

The Complete Guide to ESA Section 7 Consultation for Environmental Consultants (2026)

A practical walkthrough of the Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation process. Informal vs formal consultation, biological assessments, biological opinions, and how to avoid project delays.

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April 7, 202610 min read

How to Run an Ecological Desktop Study for Any US Site in Under 5 Minutes

Skip the manual agency-hopping. A practical guide to running a complete ecological desktop assessment for any US location using federal environmental data sources.

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