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Joel Johnson
Lead - Environmental
Joel’s experience includes mitigation design and monitoring, water quality monitoring, habitat mapping and conservation planning, environmental permitting at all levels of regulatory jurisdiction, and wildlife mon- itoring and relocations. He has managed many suc- cessful projects and contracts, including permitting and construction oversight of regional off-site wetland mitigation area, assessment of basin-wide wetland mitigation alternatives, environmental planning proj- ects, environmental assessments, permitting, and other related studies. Joel is experienced in the data collection, analysis, and reporting in support of NEPA studies, which have focused on transportation proj- ects and preparing documents for Federal Highway Administration. He is an Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and serves on the steering committee for the Gopher Tortoise Technical Advisory Group. He has conducted a number of species-speci c eld surveys for projects with potential protected species involvement, including the Gopher tortoise, Florida sand skink, Eastern Indigo snake, Florida scrub-jay, bald eagle, snail kite, Northern crested caracara and Florida mouse.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
pared a Gopher Tortoise 10 or Fewer Burrows relocation permit application and submitted to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Following permit issuance, WGI installed a live trap to capture the identi ed tortoise and relocate it off-site to a permitted recipient site.
Ochlockonee Bay Multi-use Trail Design-Build, Wakulla County, FDOT District 3, Project Scientist. This project required coordination with the FDOT, NWFWMD, FDEP, Division of Historic Resources/State Historic Preservation Of ce, and USACE. An evaluation of project wetlands, sovereign submerged lands, and potential for protected species was completed and provided in report format for review by the FDOT and reviewing agencies. The project successfully quali ed for a General Permit with the NWFWMD and Nationwide Permit with the USACE.
Kings Bay Revegetation Project, Citrus County, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Project Manager. Project Manager for this experimental project to provide design, permitting, and installation of a manatee exclusion barrier for the revegetation of American eelgrass in the Crystal River/Kings Bay springshed. The project included preparation of an alternatives analysis and assisting the client with selection of a preferred concept, design and bid support for assembly of the approved design, environmental permitting support, and installation and maintenance of approved design. Project tasks performed included envi- ronmental permitting support through the FDEP, FWC, USACE, USFWS, and USCG, water quality and manatee observer compliance, maintenance inspection and reporting, and proj- ect schedule and budget oversight. This highly visible project was completed successfully with no stoppages or permit violations and within the time limit required per contract.
Pithlacascotee River and Millers Bayou Phase II and III Dredge Project, Pasco County, Project Scientist. Lead scientist for this dredge feasibility, design, and permitting project for Millers Bayou and Pithlacascotee River in Pasco County, Florida. Prepared an Environmen- tal Impact Statement to evaluate potential impacts of alternative channel alignments. Lead in-water assessment of seagrass limits, abundance, and health using Braun-Blanquet meth- odology. Project required extensive agency coordination and negotiation with state (FDEP) and federal (USACE and NMFS) regulators. Assisted the client in reducing impacts to sub- merged resources while meeting the needs of the City and residents. Performed a functional analysis and developed a mitigation plan that was approved by the regulatory agencies for unavoidable impacts to aquatic resources.
Education:
Bachelor of Science
Biology
University of North Texas, 1998
Certi cations:
FDEP Stormwater Management Inspector
FWC Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent
Total Years Experience: 16
Pinehill Terrace Gopher Tortoise Relocation, Martin County, Mr. Lance Wolfe. WGI contracted with Mr. Lance Wolfe to assist with the relocation of gopher tortoises from Mr. Wolfe’s half acre undeveloped property in Jensen Beach, Florida. WGI worked with Mr. Wolfe to avoid as many gopher tortoise burrows as possible within the design of the single family residence. This allowed the permitting to move through quickly and limited the costs to the owner.
8615 McRae Road, Hillsborough County, Mr. Jorge Cordova, Supervisor, Project Manager.
Joel prepared the permit application and coordinated with the owner and FWC to assure a complete and accurate application was submitted. Joel installed and monitored bucket traps and facilitated relocation of the captured tortoise to the recipient site manager. WGI pre-
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