A message from our Vice President,
Travis Hemmen
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It’s always exciting to finish a year. There is a sense of completion as we approach the end of 2018 here at Westervelt – another trip around the sun, another four seasons of land stewardship on wetland habitats across our regions from the California grasslands to the Florida cedar swamps. What did we accomplish? What did we learn? We added an additional 5,000 acres of high-quality preserves to the conservation landscape. We created and restored over 500 acres of seasonal wetlands, providing multi-species benefits and flood protection for local communities. We gained and shared valuable feedback in our monitoring reports on successful practices. We kept all of our employees safe. We had a good year.
We were also fortunate to grow in 2018. We added staff to all our regional offices – the Western Region (Sacramento, CA), Southeastern Region (Auburn, AL), and the Rocky Mountain Region (Denver, CO). We are now a team of over 50 environmental professionals working together to improve the mitigation industry.
We added significantly to our portfolio of raw land with the acquisition of over 4,500 acres. We also initiated a five-year planning process to determine our conservation goals and how our organization can fund those efforts. We made a commitment to look closely at our five year plan, to be aspirational, and to remember we are committed to long-term objectives.
Our 2018 has come to an end so we know it’s time to look ahead. We may be focusing on the next five years, but as an "in-perpetuity" business we must plan into forever. Look for much more conservation from our team in 2019!
~Travis Hemmen
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The Camp Fire in Butte County, which is now 100 percent contained, is the deadliest wildfire in modern California history. The blaze has killed at least 88 people (at the time of this report), with more than 200 still unaccounted for. Cal Fire estimates the fire destroyed more than 15,800 structures, including thousands of residential homes in and around Paradise, a town of 27,000 in the Sierra Foothills east of Chico. In the days following the Camp Fire disaster, the WES California team came together to donate supplies. Our staff pulled together a whole truck filled with clothes, toys, blankets, and gift cards. While more donations are needed, evacuation centers have now become inundated with goods. Financial contributions are currently the best way to help people in the aftermath of this disaster.
These are a few of the organizations that are currently accepting monetary donations:
Disasters are upsetting experiences for everyone involved. This is a time for people to come together and support one another. Mental health experts recommend finding a balance with regard to social media coverage. Be patient with yourself and others, and remember it is common to have any number of stress reactions such as anger, frustration, and anxiety.
To reach out for free 24/7 counseling or support, contact the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text 'TalkWithUs' to 66746.
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Yellowleaf Mitigation Bank Receives Sixth and Final Credit Release
11 years have passed since receiving the initial credit release from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, for this 547-acre site located in Shelby County, Alabama.
Yellowleaf Mitigation Bank was established to provide compensatory mitigation credits for stream and bottomland hardwood forested wetland credits. The project has been esteemed as an ecological gem by the regulatory and restoration community. Beyond the presence of Cahaba lily (Hymenocallis coronaria) found here, there are four federally protected mussel species found within the project site.
The bank has met all performance standards and will now be entering the long-term management phase. Yellowleaf will be preserved by a conservation easement held by our friends at the Freshwater Land Trust (FLT). Westervelt will continue to sell the remaining stream and bottomland hardwood wetland credits until sold out. Oversight of the long-term management and monitoring of the bank will be directed by a five-member long-term stewardship board appointed by Westervelt and the FLT. Careful management of the property and a committed endowment fund will ensure the bank has continued success and perpetual protection.
The Westervelt team is proud of this project and looks forward to continuing to work with the resource agencies to improve the long-term management of compensatory mitigation projects.
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At The Westervelt Company, Westervelt Ecological Services' parent company, we know that getting the small things right helps us ensure we get everything right- whether we’re manufacturing wood products or preserving the habitat of California red-legged frogs. We have a 134-year history of stewardship that sets us apart in our industry and guides our continuing focus on environmental responsibility, quality, and sustainability.
Find out more about The Westervelt Company in this article from World Biomass Magazine by clicking the link below.
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In the month of November, Westervelt’s Rocky Mountain Region staff joined the Professional Women in Building (PWB) in a drive to support efforts by HomeAid Colorado. HomeAid Colorado leverages relationships within the home building industry to garner in-kind donations of labor and materials to help build and maintain homes, apartments, and shelters. HomeAid’s focus on shelter allows other local nonprofits to focus their energy and resources on providing direct services like financial education, job skills training, and counseling.
This specific event collected travel size hygiene items for HomeAid’s Essential Care Kits Drive. These small items, such as tooth brushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and soap, were first sorted by type and then volunteers compiled small care kits to include a variety of items in separate bags. These kits will be distributed to people in need around the Denver area.
The Rocky Mountain Region was pleased to be a part of such a wonderful event and give a little back to our community before the holiday season. More information about HomeAid Colorado can be found here:
https://www.homeaidcolorado.org/
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Welcome to the Team, Dayna!!!
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Dayna Winchell is an Associate Project Planner that has joined the establishment division of WES in the Western Region. Dayna graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biology from CSU San Marcos and also received a master’s in conservation biology from University of Queensland, Australia. Prior to working at Westervelt, she worked for both small and large consulting firms in the Sacramento area. She performed a variety of duties including habitat assessments, wetland delineations, rare plant surveys, and protocol level surveys for special status species. In addition, Dayna is experienced in writing technical documents and preparing applications for Water Quality Control Board 401 Certification, US Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements.
In her spare time, Dayna enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and camping both at the beach and in the mountains. She likes to travel and has a long bucket list of places that she would like to visit.
Join us in welcoming Dayna to our team!
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Western Region:
600 North Market Blvd., Suite 3
Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: (916) 646-3644
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Southeastern Region:
2128 Moores Mill Road, Suite B
Auburn, AL 36830
Phone: (334) 821-1999
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Rocky Mountain Region:
7348 S. Alton Way, Suite 9D
Centennial, CO 80112
Phone: (303) 927-0037
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Headquarters
1400 Jack Warner Parkway NE
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404
Phone: (205) 562-5000
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