Environmental Fieldwork
The Commission continually helps local, county, and State units of government evaluate project proposals by delineating the extent, and evaluating the quality, of wetlands, environmental corridors, natural areas, critical species habitats, and other sensitive natural resources located on project sites. Commission staff also conduct reviews of environmental corridor and wetland delineations conducted by private consultants.
Each year, the Commission receives approximately 100 requests for site evaluations from government officials and conservancy organizations. Projects include transportation improvement projects, development projects, municipal facility and utility projects, park improvement projects, and natural area protection and management projects.
Who can request a field inspection by Commission Biologists?
In most cases, requests should be made by government officials (i.e., municipality, county, or State) or official representatives of government entities such as engineering and planning firms. This includes requests for fieldwork on private properties that should be made by government officials on behalf of private landowners. Requests for natural area and critical species habitat evaluations may be made by government officials, conservancy organizations and land trusts.
What is the cost of services?
Most environmental fieldwork will cost a minimum of $500 to $600. Additional service fees will apply based on the size and scope of work involved. The additional fees are based on Commission staff time to conduct the work (with a not to exceed amount).
Projects that have an assigned WisDOT Project ID Number are exempt from the fees noted above. An 80/20 cost-share formula is applied by WisDOT for projects run by counties and local municipalities. WisDOT covers 80% of the Commission’s costs while the local unit of government is responsible for the remaining 20%. WisDOT is responsible for invoicing the counties and local municipalities for these projects. For State-run transportation projects, WisDOT covers all Commission costs.
Natural areas and critical species habitat-related fieldwork requiring no more than 4 hours of Commission staff time are exempt from the standard fees. You can find information on the services we provide in our current service fee schedule.
Who pays the fees and when are they due?
For private projects, the landowner is responsible for paying all fees. For public projects, the unit of government will be responsible for payment of any fees. The initial $500 to $600 fee should be paid when the signed application is submitted to the Commission. Additional service fees will be due upon completion of the final report.
How are fees paid?
Fees must be paid by check or Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer. Checks can be made payable to the “Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission” or “SEWRPC” and dropped off or mailed to the Commission office: W239 N1812 Rockwood Drive, P.O. Box 1607, Waukesha, WI 53187-1607
What is the process for making a request?
Government officials and others authorized to make a request should begin by filling out and submitting the request form provided below. Commission staff will acknowledge receipt of the form and reply with any questions. When the project size and scope are confirmed, Commission staff will issue an agreement with a not-to-exceed cost of services. The agreement should be completed and signed by the property owner and submitted with payment of the initial $500 fee. Once the agreement is returned to the Commission, a project file will be generated in preparation for fieldwork.
How is fieldwork scheduled?
Commission staff schedules fieldwork on a first come-first served basis unless site constraints (i.e. active cropland) require Commission staff to delay the field inspection. Once a field date is selected, Commission staff will notify the government official who made the request as well as property owner(s), surveyors, and other interested parties. The fieldwork will be scheduled when the online agreement is received. Fieldwork will not proceed until the signed application and initial fee are received.
What happens when fieldwork is complete?
Commission staff will provide preliminary findings, including an aerial map showing the field-staked wetland, environmental corridor, and other notable observations. Private property owners are responsible for hiring a registered land surveyor to record the location of wetland and/or environmental corridor boundary markers. A survey file (.dwg or shapefile) is to be provided to Commission staff when it becomes available. For public projects, Commission staff may utilize a GPS unit to record the coordinates of any wetland and/or environmental corridor boundary markers, or the extent of other sensitive natural resources as necessary.
Does the Commission provide a final report?
The Commission will provide to all interested parties a detailed wetland delineation report as required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Environmental corridor delineations and reviews that do not involve wetland determinations will consist of a letter, aerial map, and vegetation survey.