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Environmental Assessment
SERVICES
HARP can facilitate the analysis of any tract of land with respect to plant communities, animal communities, and wetlands, describing past management and other natural resource related issues. These studies provide input into land planning for residential and commercial developments, highways, parks, gardens, airports and golf courses. These surveys may simply be a report outlining findings on a site, or the surveys may result in Environmental Assessments (EA) and/or Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). These official documents are often prepared for regulatory and permitting agencies on large-scale projects or for projects in environmentally sensitive areas. |
Symphyotrichum georgiamum Georgia aster |
HARP can supply assistance in the design of master plans for parks, gardens, municipal projects and projects by private developers. HARP can provide trail guide or educational guide interpretation, writing and installation. HARP can serve as a consultant for recommendations on best management practices (BMP’s) for development projects.
QUALIFICATIONS
Beginning in the mid-1960’s, HARP’s founder, Dr. Jim Matthews, started surveying natural areas across North Carolina in search of rare and unusual plant species and plant communities. From this early beginning, HARP has evolved into one of the Piedmont’s most trusted botanical survey firms.
HARP has five professional botanists on staff, with a combined experience in local botany of over 100 years. HARP draws upon a myriad of resources including the UNC Charlotte Herbarium, now on permanent loan to Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department, a collection of over 40,000 preserved botanical specimens. HARP is unparalleled in botanical expertise in the Piedmont region. This is reflected by the fact that HARP has performed the Natural Areas Inventories for Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston and Lincoln counties for the NC Natural Heritage Program. Many rare and unusual plants, animals and communities have been located through these surveys. Additionally, many properties that have these special communities have been preserved and placed into protective covenants based on the Heritage surveys. HARP is very proud of having the opportunity to help survey, preserve, conserve and protect areas across the Piedmont of both Carolinas.
HARP has performed assessments on innumerable land tracts across the piedmont, foothills and mountains of the Carolinas. HARP has fostered relationships with professional wildlife biologists, ecologists and archaeologists, and employs their assistance on special needs projects. HARP has an extensive network of other professional contacts that can contribute to projects on an as needed basis.
NOTABLE PROJECTS
- HARP prepared two major Environmental Assessments for new 25 miles of sewer lines along the Rocky River and Clarke Creek in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties, NC.
- Prepared the baseline report for Water Quality and Terrestrial Communities for the Paul and Agnes Rhyne Conservation Preserve, Lincoln County NC, for the Catawba Lands Conservancy.
- Performed the Biological and Wetland Analysis, Pickens Transmission Main - Stage II and III, for Greenville Water Systems and Black and Veatch, Greenville SC.
- Performed Biological Analysis for Diamond Creek Golf Club, Avery and Watauga Counties NC.
- Performed the Natural Areas Inventories for Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba counties for the NC Natural Heritage Program.
- Wrote the original Chimney Rock Park Nature Trail Guide, integrating biology and geology at the various stops along the trails.
- Performed the biological assessment for the 1,800 acre development on Lake Wylie, Mecklenburg County, which has become The Palisades.
- Provided Biological Analyses for three Lake Keowee projects for Crescent Resources, Oconee County, S.C., including and arranging for a Ground Penetrating Radar Survey for the Lake Keowee Waterside Crossing Cemetery.
- Performed the Plant Communities and Species of Concern Inventory for The Palisades Development.
- Provided Botanical and arranged for Ornithological Analysis for the Catawba Indian Nation Administrative Office (Long House) Site.
- Provided Botanical and Wildlife Analysis for the Beaverdam Creek area infrastructure development, serving 3,000+ acres.
- Biological Master Plan analysis for East Burke Park, Burke County, NC, 93 acres.
- Biological Analysis and Wetland Delineation for the 358-acre Griffith Lakes Development, Charlotte, NC.
- Provided direction and acquisition leadership for protecting the Rocky River Natural Landmark, Stanly County, NC.
- Provided field assessments for four sites for the National Natural Landmarks, Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior.
- Directed Biological survey of the Close Family Properties in Ft. Mill, SC, for 5,000 acres around Ft. Mill.
- Prepared interpretive brochure for Anne Springs Close Greenway nature trail.
- Biological survey of site for Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Belmont, NC.
- Organized effort to establish the Whitehall Nature Preserve (Salamander habitat), Charlotte, NC.
- Provided vegetation analysis and trail layout for two parks for Town of Cornelius, NC.
- Provided vegetation analysis and trail design for park for Town of East Spencer, NC.
- HARP and its botanists are responsible for the discovery of numerous communities of Helianthus schweinitzii well know as the federally endangered Schweinitz's Sunflower that only grows within 100 mils of Charlotte North Carolina.
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Helianthus schweinitzii - Schweinitz's Sunflower |
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