Wetlands and Jurisdictional Delineations

Sage conducts USACE protocol wetland/ jurisdictional delineations to identifying potential jurisdictional waterways, Sage first reviews existing maps and documents, including vegetation maps and biological surveys, prepared for the site, and aerial photographs of the site prior to surveying the site.
Field surveys identify and delineate areas of the project site that fall under the regulatory jurisdiction of the USACE pursuant to Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act and CDFW jurisdiction pursuant to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code.
To determine jurisdictional areas, Sage investigates criteria specified by the USACE. Wetland boundaries, if present, are determined using the current accepted methodology which requires positive evidence of hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and wetlands hydrology for a determination that an area is a wetland. If potential wetlands are identified, data plots will be established to determine the wetlands/uplands boundaries.

Regulatory Permitting

Sage prepares and submits permit application packages and all requisite support documentation to acquire applicable regulatory permits; including a USACE Clean Water Act Section 404 permit, CDFW Section 1602 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement, and Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Section 401 Water Quality Certification.

Stormwater management includes controlling flooding, reducing erosion and improving water quality. Sage accomplishes management tasks by implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs).
BMPs are structural, vegetative or managerial practices used to treat, prevent or reduce water pollution.

Sage utilizes innovative bio-engineering techniques, such as gabion drop structures to reduce erosive velocities, stream bank stepping and low/high-flow by-pass structures to spread hydrology to adjacent areas, topsoil salvage, and seed imprinting techniques.
Sage establishes and implements project-specific Channel Maintenance Plans to address sedimentation buildup and invasive plant infestation in order to improve hydraulic capacity and habitat value.