Anzer

Ecosystem Management

Expert

Wetland Restoration and Protection

The benefits of restoration of degraded or destroyed wetlands and creation of new wetlands has only recently been recognized. As the population has expanded across the Nation during the past few centuries, wetlands have been drained and altered to accommodate human needs. These changes to wetlands have directly, or indirectly, brought about changes in the migratory patterns of birds, local climate, and the makeup of plant and animal populations.

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Site Assessment

A wetland’s structure, function, and ability to persist over time are greatly influenced by its location. Benefits that extend beyond the wetland itself can be derived from the placement of a wetland if care is taken in site selection.
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Hydrologic Analysis

Modeling can help to understand inflows and outflows of ground and surface water, the resulting water levels, and the timing and duration of soil saturation or flooding.
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Water Source and Quality

Water quality is a major determinant of the success or failure of wetland restoration or creation. Inputs of chemicals from the surrounding landscape can overwhelm a wetland’s ability to improve water quality.
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Substrate Handling

Most of the chemical reactions in wetlands take place in the soils. The soils of project wetlands are receiving increased attention as studies link substrate characteristics to ecological function.
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Plant Handling

Vegetation is the most striking visual feature of a wetland. It is important to recognize the constraints of this unique environment when planning a project wetland.
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Long Term Management

Careful monitoring of newly established wetlands and the ability to make mid-course corrections are critical to long-term success.

Treatment Wetlands

Treatment wetlands are ecosystems dominated by aquatic plants that use natural processes to remove pollutants. Throughout Florida, the United States, and the world, treatment wetlands provide a cost effective alternative for water and wastewater management.

In general, wetland water treatment systems have been found to lower concentrations and mass loads of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS),  total nitrogen concentrations , total phosphorus, metals, and organic compounds. Removal of pollutants in treatment wetlands is limited by the form and inflow concentration of the constituents, water flow rates and residence time, the presence of oxygen, substrate type, and the entire chemical makeup of the water to be treated. 

We are an expert in developing and applying treatment wetland technologies to solve a variety of water quality challenges, including treatment of urban stormwater and municipal wastewater, lake and reservoir eutrophication, and runoff from confined animal feeding operations, agricultural lands, and industrial sites. We have extensive experience at all stages of treatment wetland project implementation from conceptual planning through final design (including preparation of construction plans and specifications), permitting, cost estimating, construction management, start-up and operational services, and post-construction monitoring and reporting.

Natural Treatment Wetlands

Natural treatment wetlands have been used for the disposal and treatment of secondary and tertiary wastewater effluents for many years. Hundreds of wastewater treatment facilities discharge to natural wetlands nationwide. Studies have led to an understanding of the natural potential of wetland ecosystems for pollutant assimilation and to the design of new natural treatment wetlands.

Properly using a natural wetland to treat secondary wastewater or stormwater involves considering regional permitting conditions, hydraulic loads, pretreated water distribution throughout the wetland and alternative discharge areas etc.

Constructed Treatment Wetlands

Constructed surface flow treatment wetlands are typically shallow, man-made impoundments planted with emergent, rooted vegetation. Water flows overland through the wetland and primarily above the sediment surface. Unlike natural treatment wetlands in which hydrology is largely fixed by the tolerance limits of the existing plant community, a constructed treatment wetland can be designed to regulate water depth and residence time.

Constructed Wetlands

Nature Resources Consulting

Anzer provides environmental consulting services with a focus on water quality improvement in wetland and aquatic ecosystems and evaluating the ecology of natural systems.

Spatial Data & GIS

Anzer’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) department assembles and analyzes spatial data to support all of our science, permitting, archeology, and engineering projects. Our GIS professionals specialize in environmental modeling, site feasibility studies, aerial photograph interpretation, and historic map analysis, and also provide custom mapping products to support our clients’ land development processes.

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