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Individual landowners and developers who are planning a construction project that will alter a wetland, stream, or other water bodies, or who wish to avoid having an impact to those areas may need assistance to identify them and to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and similar state or local ordinances.
Mill Creek Environmental provides a variety of services that can help landowners and developers identify sensitive areas and avoid costly mistakes such as stream buffer encroachments and wetland disturbances. These services include:
- Wetland Determinations and Delineations
- State Water Determinations
- Stream Buffer Delineations
- Stream Buffer Variance Applications
- Baseline Sedimentation Studies
- Baseline Water Quality Studies
- Stream Flow Assessments
- Watershed and Runoff Basin Delineations
- Pre and Post Development Hydrology Studies
- Streambank Restoration
Mill Creek Environmental has assisted clients in the identification of state waters, stream buffers, and wetlands on a variety of projects, has helped clients obtain stream buffer variances when buffer encroachments were necessary, and has provided pre and post development water quality assessments to document that construction activities have not impacted nearby waterways. These services are frequently provided concurrently with the erosion control planning and stormwater monitoring and permitting services we offer.
Some frequently asked questions are answered below:
What is a wetland?
What does a wetland delineation project involve?
Initially, one of our staff scientists or biologists will conduct a desktop review and complete a site visit to gather field information about the topography, soils and vegetation in the project area. From this, a determination can be made as to whether any wetlands are present.
If wetland characteristics are present in an area, the boundary of the wetland area will be determined and then marked with stakes or flagging. The wetland boundary can then be surveyed and incorporated into a wetland delineation map or added to an existing site plan as needed. Finally, a Wetland Delineation Report will be produced to document these activities. This report summarizes the site, the scientific field data, the wetland and its rating, and includes a detailed site map of the existing and proposed development along with the wetland areas and their associated buffers.
What qualifies as “State Waters”?
Each state defines “State Waters” The Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act defines State Waters as “any and all rivers, streams, creeks, branches, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, drainage systems, springs, wells and other bodies of surface or subsurface water, natural or artificial, lying within or forming a part of the boundaries of the State, which are not entirely confined and retained completely upon the property of a single individual, partnership, or corporation.”
Simply stated, any waterway that is not entirely confined on property owned by a single individual is “State Waters.”
Do dry creeks require a buffer?
What are the stream buffer requirements in Georgia?
Is it possible to get a variance from the stream buffer requirements?
For more information, a free consultation or a customized price quote, please call us
706-579-1607
or fill out the form below for a free service estimate.

Wetland and Stream Consultants and Engineers
We are your wetland and stream consultant with practical solutions. We have completed many wetland delineation and stream restoration projects for landowners and developers. We take pride in the fact that we can offer quality service for a very competitive price.
706-579-1607