Habitat Survey Planning and Development. Prior to conducting the waters and wetlands delineation survey and habitat characterization, tidal elevation survey, and submerged aquatic resources survey, readily available desktop data including survey boundaries provided by the client, prior Approved Jurisdictional Determinations (AJDs) related to the survey area, USACE AJD regulations and guidance documents, TPWD’s published seagrass and oyster data, historical tide data, GLO resource management codes, GLO state tract boundaries, available bird rookery data, United States Fish and Wildlife Services’ (USFWS) relevant listed species literature, regional and local studies, existing bathymetric and topographic data, current and historical aerial imagery, nautical charts, soils data, floodplain maps, National Wetland Inventory Maps, United States Geological Survey benchmarks, surveyor benchmarks and other pertinent data will be reviewed and analyzed. Examination of all available desktop data will assist to refine the scope of field work for the waters and wetlands delineation and habitat characterization survey, tidal elevation survey, and submerged aquatic resources survey. Information gathered above will allow creation of survey and sampling plans, including establishment of survey area boundaries, GPS data loading, development of survey transects, preliminary terrestrial and marine survey observation point locations, onsite access and marine vessel routes, pinpoint probable areas of sensitive resources (wetlands, seagrasses, oyster reefs, etc.), hydrologic features, probable hydrologic connections, property boundary coordinates, benchmark coordinates, USACE SOP requirements for GPS use, and other components required by USACE guidance. The survey plans will be coordinated with the client for approval prior to conducting surveying activities.
