Wetland Survey AND MAPPING in Oakland

Serving contractors, developers, property owners, engineers, other land surveyors, local municipalities, and state and federal governments.

Many wetlands are home to endangered plant and animal species. All wetlands are protected and require a wetlands survey to be conducted before the City of Oakland will approve building permits. With over 70 years of experience, Cinquini & Passarino, Inc. has extensive expertise in providing accurate and timely wetlands surveys. We work with property owners, and developers, as well as state and local governments. 

What is a Wetlands Survey?

Wetlands are unique ecosystems that are home to many threatened and endangered species. Because of this, they’re protected by federal and state laws. In most cases, you’re required to get a permit to build on a wetland or deepwater habitat. 

If you’re planning to develop an area of land, you may already know if there are wetlands present. However, to be compliant with the law, you’ll need to know their exact location, boundaries, and buffer width.

If a wetland is discovered, you’ll receive: 

• Boundary markers
• A map with the boundaries clearly defined
• A final report that includes the results of the survey, wetlands data, and other relevant details 

What’s Considered a Wetland?

It’s common to think a wetland needs to hold water throughout the year to be considered truly “wet.” However, some wetlands may only hold water for as little as 6 weeks out of the year during the growing season. To determine whether you have a wetland on your property, our surveyors will analyze the following:

• Soil
• Vegetation
• Hydrology
• Topography

The National Wetland Inventory offers an online wetlands mapper that can be used for preliminary project assessments. However, the NWI data cannot be used to determine jurisdictional wetland boundaries. You’ll still need to have a wetlands survey conducted. If wetlands are discovered during the survey, the United State Army Corps of Engineers will determine jurisdiction. 

Contact Us Today to Discuss Your Surveying Needs

Wetland mapping is more challenging than a typical topographical map. This is because it often requires greater accuracy and a contour interval of less than one foot. Our expert wetland mappers will give you all the information you need to purchase, develop, or build on a property. We have experience assisting with everything from wetland mitigation banks and tiger salamander habitats to construction staking for manmade wetlands. 

In addition to wetlands surveys in Oakland, we also offer ALTA surveys, ground and aerial topographic surveys, hydrographic surveys and expert witness testimony.