Scout Now Offers Aquatic Science Services… 4 Key Things You Need to Know

Introduction

I’m writing this blog post as the newest member of the Scout team. As a senior aquatic scientist with decades of experience in the field, I’ve had the privilege of working on a variety of marine, estuarine, and freshwater projects across the West. Joining Scout has given me the opportunity to bring my expertise to a company that shares my commitment to client-focused consulting, keen understanding of regulators and regulatory requirements, environmental stewardship, sound scientific principles, innovation, and quality/timely execution of projects. In this blog, I’ll be sharing some key insights into the aquatic science services we now offer at Scout and how these can benefit your projects.

1. What are Key Aquatic Science Services?

Aquatic science services encompass a wide range of activities aimed at monitoring, understanding, managing, and restoring aquatic environments. These services are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting sustainable development. At Scout, our key aquatic science services include:

1) Water and Sediment Quality Monitoring and Assessment

• Baseline water quality studies and sediment contaminant investigations
• Long-term status and trends monitoring programs

2) Regulatory Compliance and Permitting

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documentation and technical studies
• Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System compliance

3) Dredging and Sediment Management

• Sediment sampling and analysis plans and implementation and project permitting
• Dredged material management plans and reuse/disposal evaluations

4) Aquatic Ecology Studies

• Marine resources population surveys
• Aquatic habitat assessments

5) Aquatic Habitat Restoration

• Stream and wetland restoration
• Riparian buffer enhancement

2. What Kinds of Projects Can These Services Support?

Our aquatic science services support a diverse array of projects, from small-scale local initiatives to large, federally funded undertakings. Some examples include:

• Environmental Monitoring: Comprehensive assessment of legacy contaminants in marine and estuarine sediments
• NEPA/CEQA: Providing comprehensive aquatic assessments for development projects to ensure minimal environmental disruption.
• Restoration Projects: Leading efforts to restore degraded aquatic habitats, improving biodiversity and ecosystem health.
• Regulatory Compliance: Assisting clients in navigating complex regulatory landscapes to achieve compliance with federal and state environmental regulations.

3. Sample Projects?

To give you a better idea of our capabilities, here are a few sample projects we’ve worked on:

• Dredged Material Characterization Studies for Ports and Harbor and Military Clients: Planned and implemented comprehensive dredged material investigations to support maintenance dredging, major infrastructure projects, and habitat restoration adhering to rigorous state and federal regulations.
• Shelter Island Yacht Basin (SIYB) Copper TMDL: Led a decade-long status and trends assessment of dissolved copper levels in SIYB for the Port of San Diego, which included water quality monitoring, modeling, source evaluation, and public outreach.
• Planning and Implementing Regulatory Agency-Directed Investigations: Managed numerous comprehensive, multi-client investigative order contaminant assessments that included analysis of sediment chemistry and toxicity and fish tissues samples to assess potential clean-up of legacy sites.
• Environmental Planning Technical Support: Prepared a wide-ranging technical study that was included in an Environmental Impact Review (EIR) on the potential impacts of fireworks on surface water resources, which included a post-fire work display comprehensive ambient water quality monitoring program.

 4. What Sets Us Apart?

At Scout, we pride ourselves on offering innovative solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each project. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Expert Team: Our team includes senior aquatic scientists and dredge specialists with extensive experience in Southwest and Pacific projects.
• Comprehensive Services: From environmental assessments to habitat restoration, we provide a full spectrum of aquatic science services.
• Proven Track Record: Trusted by federal agencies and industry leaders for delivering high-quality, timely results.
• Client-Focused Approach: We work closely with our clients to develop solutions that meet their specific needs and goals.

We’d love to hear from you and discuss how our aquatic science services can support your next project. Contact us today at: hello@scoutenv.com.