MAD Scientist & Associates presents at 2011 OPRA Conference

Environmental Consulting Firm Ohio | Wetland Consultants | Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia

This blog is an outreach tool of MAD Scientist & Associates, established to enable sharing of our experience as Specialists in Ecological and Wetland Consulting. Since 1998, we have been proud to offer Environmental Consulting Services throughout the Midwest. We specialize in Wetland Assessment (e.g., Ohio Rapid Assessment Method, ORAM), Permitting (Section 404/401 and Ohio EPA Isolated Wetland Permits), Wetland Mitigation (Site Selection, Design, Construction Oversight), Mitigation Monitoring (Wetlands & Streams), Stream Assessment (Headwater Habitat Evaluation Index, HHEI; Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index, QHEI; Biological Assessments of fish and invertebrate communities), General Ecological Surveys and Biotic Inventories, Threatened and Endangered Species Studies, Wildlife Surveys, Botanical Surveys, Floristic Studies (Vegetation Index of Biotic Integrity, VIBI; Floristic Quality Assessment Index, FQAI), Invasive Species Surveys and Management, Park and Land Lab Planning, Ecological Site Characterization, Stressor Identification, Toxicological Literature Research, Screening, and Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA).

Mark Dilley and Jennie Morgan of MAD Scientist & Associates (MAD) recently presented “Ecologically Focused Park Planning, Management and Enhancement” at the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association’s (OPRA’s) annual conference. This conference is a pleasure for us, as MAD particularly enjoys working with park districts to conduct ecological assessments and develop ecological enhancement and education opportunities. This OPRA educational session presented a welcome opportunity for us to share some of our ideas, successes and lessons learned with resource professionals. Our talk covered three areas of importance to park managers, and provided several examples of each from our client projects:

Ecological Assessments: The importance of understanding your land (e.g., species inventories and habitat mapping)
Ecological Enhancements: Designing site specific ecological enhancements (e.g., invasive species control, vernal pool creation, wetland restoration)
Ecological Education: Promoting ecological education through site specific tools (e.g., field guides, interpretive signs)

Audience members, including park district representatives from across the state, were impressed by the types of ecological enhancements that could be accomplished, even in small city parks. If you were at our talk, we look forward to talking with you as you explore options for ecological assessments, enhancements and education opportunities in your parks. If you missed our presentation and would like to learn more about our services, please contact us at 614-818-9156.

Environmental Consulting Firm Ohio | Wetland Consultants | Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia