News

April 14, 2020 GreenVest is dedicated to restoring stream and wetland ecosystems through designs focused on achieving targeted ecological lift and systemic function. One of the many ecosystem services of a wetland is a supportive habitat utilized by many different species of plants and animals, allowing for a highly diverse ecosystem. Among the most pressing issues, the destruction of wetlands in the United States and the loss of habitat for vulnerable wildlife are some of the top reasons restoration is so important! Many unique critters call GreenVest project sites home, including bog turtles and the Pine Barrens treefrog, and they…

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by Doug Lashley (GreenVest President & CEO) | March 16, 2020 The impacts of changing meteorological conditions and rising tides can no longer be talked about as a future challenge. Every day across the country communities are being ravaged at an alarming rate with the impacts of increasingly severe weather. 93% of these unrelenting conditions impact our water resources from damaging erosion and flooding to altered water flows and changing weather patterns. With the frequency and intensity of climate-related extreme weather events on the rise, there are significant cost implications to how we manage water resources and their associated infrastructure. We…

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by David Merkey | February 13, 2020 As a young wetland professional, I remember the excitement of my first wetland delineation. I got out in the field with my supervisor, learned new plants, explored the colors in the Munsell chart, learned to squint to see that slight difference in the shades of green where the sedges gave way to grasses indicating a change in soil/hydric conditions, and took soil probe after soil probe to narrow down just where that upland/wetland dividing line was that meant so much to our client. As the years went by, I began to lose count…

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by McKenzi Heger | January 21, 2020 Upland forests occur where drainage is sufficient and soils go for long periods without being saturated. According to the climate and soil moisture, we are able to accurately determine the classification of the upland forest lands in and what type of upland forest restoration technique is needed to correct any oversaturation problem. These classifications are: Xeric: When soil moisture is extremely dry.Mesic: When soil moisture is moderate.Wet-mesic: When the soil is wet but not flooded. In terms of upland forest restoration, there is no “one size fits all” solution or a singular reason…

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December 17, 2019 Circa 1608, as per the maps of Captain John Smith, Mattawoman Creek, or Mataughquamend in Algonquin, translates to “where one goes pleasantly.” Thanks to current restoration efforts, that statement holds true today. The Mattawoman Creek Mitigation Site (MCMS) is a stream and wetland mitigation bank site located in Pomfret, Charles County, Maryland. The MCMS includes approximately 80 acres of forested freshwater wetland and upland habitat that has been restored, created, enhanced or preserved. This land is highlighted by 4,000 linear feet of stream restoration. The importance of this watershed is well documented. According to the Maryland Division…

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by McKenzi Heger | November 26, 2019 Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world and are often looked at in similar ways as rain forests and coral reefs. Their physical and chemical features (including climate, topology, and geology) are the deciding factors when it comes to which species inhabit the wetland. Not only do they provide habitat for these species, but they also provide a large amount of food that helps attract them. The dead plant leaves and stems break down and create organic matter for insects and aquatic animals to feed on which, in turn,…

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by McKenzi Heger | October 22, 2019 Forests are incredibly important systems that provide valuable ecological services to humans and wildlife alike. Unfortunately, these systems are often undervalued, and human activities such as tree clearing, introduction of invasive species, and increased impervious cover can cause serious degradation to forested lands. This degradation can lead to a loss of the ecological functions of an established forest, and can increase soil erosion, disrupt the water cycle, and contribute to climate change through the release of carbon stored in woody biomass. Forest restoration is the act of rebuilding and maintaining forests to support…

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by McKenzi Heger | September 17, 2019 Riparian buffers can benefit our environment in many ways. From preventing erosion to abating flood and storm damage and providing vital wildlife habitat, these vegetated riparian buffers are important to maintaining and improving water quality and overall system health. According to the EPA, riparian areas “act as natural filters of nonpoint source pollutants, including sediment, nutrients, pathogens, and metals, to water bodies, such as rivers, streams, lakes and coastal waters.” They typically consist of trees, shrubs, and grass that are planted between croplands and surface water. Riparian buffers are meant to filter pollutants…

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by McKenzi Heger | August 14, 2019 When it comes to our environment, a little can go a long way, especially when it comes to wetland restoration. You may be asking yourself – what is wetland restoration, and why is it important for our environment? According to the EPA, wetland restoration is the manipulation of a former or degraded wetland and its characteristics, whether it be physical, chemical, or biological. The end goal is to get the wetland back to its natural functions. Wetlands act as natural buffers, meaning they can protect and prevent damage from a selection of natural…

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by McKenzi Heger | July 17, 2019 GreenVest has been hard at work starting and completing various projects throughout the State of Maryland, including the Rolling Ridge Stream Restoration Project and Jamesburg Park Conservation Area Wetland Enhancement Project. Learn more about each project below from Vice President, Brian Cramer: Rolling Ridge Stream Restoration Project During June, GreenVest completed all in channel stabilization work on the Rolling Ridge Stream Restoration project (RRSRP).  The project consists of 3,467 linear feet of actively eroding gravel/silt bedded channels which have been historically channelized and straightened along two tributaries to Councilmans Run within the Worthington Valley area…

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