Wetland Delineation Report Guide

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Wetland Delineation Report Guide for Solar Developers

Wetlands can pose a significant challenge to any solar project, but the risks associated with wetlands can be mitigated significantly through a Wetland Delineation Report. SolRiver Capital wants developers and installers to understand when a Wetland Delineation Report is needed during the diligence process for you to secure an investment from us. In this guide on the Wetland Delineation Report, we discuss:

  1. What a Wetland Delineation Report is;
  2. Why SolRiver requires it (in certain circumstances) and when it is needed;
  3. The scope SolRiver requires; and
  4. Who can provide the service.

What is a Wetland Delineation Report?

A Wetlands Delineation report identifies any areas on a project site that are considered wetlands, which are defined by the US Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) as “those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and under normal circumstances, do support a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.” The Wetlands Delineation report details the location of all wetlands, streams, rivers, lakes, etc. and typically also identifies the flood hazard of the site according to FEMA.

Why is the Wetland Delineation Report needed and when do you need it by?

If wetlands are present on the site, the solar array must be adjusted to create proper buffer zones for these areas. The USACE “approval” of the system design ensures that it complies with the applicable regulations. The Wetland Delineation Report must be dated within six (6) months of NTP.

What is the required scope for a Wetland Delineation Report?

For the Wetland Delineation Report, a site visit and a review of federal, state, and local documents are required. The report must indicate that the proposed layout in the site plan does not impact any federal/state wetlands areas and/or wetlands buffer zones and that sufficient space exists to install a solar system.

SolRiver Capital

SolRiver Capital is a solar investment fund dedicated to financing development, construction, and acquisition of small and mid-size utility-scale projects across the US.

Who can help prepare a Wetland Delineation Report?

ECS Limited: https://www.ecslimited.com/