Ecological Services
Green Infrastructure Grant programs fund bioswales, stormwater wetlands, and native plantings that reduce nonpoint source pollution in Illinois communities. The IEPA’s Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities (GIGO) program is one of the most accessible funding sources for municipalities ready to replace aging stormwater infrastructure with nature-based solutions. A3 Environmental Consultants (A3E) helped the City of Rockford,
- Published in Ecological Services
319 Grant funding supports watershed restoration projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution in impaired waterways. Administered by state environmental agencies under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, these competitive grants support streambank stabilization, sediment control, native plantings, and stormwater best management practices. In Illinois, the IEPA manages the 319 Grant program with funding from
- Published in Ecological Services
Ecological Services protect land, water, and habitat across Illinois — and the right consultant makes the difference between a regulatory headache and a successful project. Whether you need a single wetland delineation or a multi-year restoration program, Ecological Services are most effective when delivered as modular, adaptable solutions rather than rigid packages. A3 Environmental Consultants
- Published in Ecological Services
In Northern Illinois, conservation work is rarely just about protecting scenic landscapes—it is about structuring durable, defensible transactions that ensure ecological value persists across geography and generations. Modern Land Preservation is increasingly shaped by technical due diligence, funding complexity, and aligning landowner objectives with long-term conservation outcomes. A3 Environmental Consultants (A3E) operates at the center
- Published in Ecological Services
The City of Belvidere, Illinois engaged C.E.S., Inc. to address chronic sediment accumulation and maintenance challenges in the 6th Street Channel, a municipal stormwater conveyance that had become increasingly difficult and costly to maintain. The City’s original plan called for lining the channel with concrete, but regulatory agencies would not permit a hardened channel due
- Published in Ecological Services, Project Profiles
In August 2024, A3 Environmental Consultants completed a wetland delineation for Professional Environmental Engineers, Inc. at a 23-acre site along Lincoln Avenue in Lisle, DuPage County, Illinois. The area, a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational land use, required a thorough evaluation to determine the presence of wetlands and any potentially critical habitats. This project
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence, Project Profiles
A3 Environmental Consultants proudly congratulates Steve Barg of the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation on receiving this year’s George and Barbara Fell Award at the Natural Land Institute Annual Dinner. As an environmental consulting firm serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, we are honored to stand alongside the Natural Land Institute (NLI) in advancing land protection,
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Consulting
Clean water supports public health, economic stability, recreation, and ecological integrity. In 2025, A3 Environmental Consultants (A3E) partnered with the Region 1 Planning Council (R1) to develop a comprehensive Water Quality Report – Our Our Water’s Health in the Rockford Region – for the Rockford Metropolitan Area. Spanning parts of Boone, Ogle, and Winnebago counties,
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Consulting, Project Profiles
A well-designed Strategic Conservation Plan is more than a document, it is a decision-making framework that helps land trusts and public agencies protect the right land, at the right time, for the right reasons. In Northwest Illinois, where working agricultural landscapes intersect with high-value waterways and remnant natural habitats, conservation decisions must balance ecological function,
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Consulting, Project Profiles
Ravine restoration is rarely just about fixing erosion—it is about protecting public infrastructure, preserving valued community assets, and managing stormwater responsibly in the face of aging systems and changing rainfall patterns. In Rockford, Illinois, Sinnissippi Park presented a textbook example of how unchecked stormwater conveyance through a steep ravine can escalate into a visible, disruptive,
- Published in Ecological Services
Stream Restoration is essential for managing urban waterways prone to erosion and flooding. In Downers Grove, Illinois, the Prentiss Creek Streambank Stabilization Project demonstrates how strategic ecological design can restore a waterway while safeguarding nearby neighborhoods. In 2023, A3 Environmental Consultants (A3E) – known as Olson Ecological Solutions at the time – teamed up with
- Published in Ecological Services
Stream remediation is often triggered by failure—flooding, sediment buildup, or infrastructure that simply can’t keep up. In Belvidere, Illinois, a chronically silting drainage channel created recurring maintenance and flood concerns for the City, prompting a request for a straightforward fix. The initial idea in 2022 was familiar to many municipalities: concrete the channel, simplify upkeep,
- Published in Ecological Services
Rockford, Illinois is the 5th largest city in the state. It has long sought effective strategies to protect and restore its waterways through stormwater management. A3 Environmental Consultants – known as Olson Ecological Solutions at the time – addressed these concerns head-on with the South Fork Kent Creek Watershed Plan. This EPA-approved plan focused on
- Published in Ecological Services
Successful natural area restoration relies on more than construction—it requires structured, ongoing monitoring to verify long-term success. In Hoffman Estates, Illinois, A3 Environmental Consultants (A3E) – known as Olson Ecological Solutions at the time – has been providing restoration monitoring services since 2024 to ensure that areas disturbed by the M-5 facility construction meet performance
- Published in Ecological Services
Effective wetland restoration depends on more than construction and planting—it requires consistent monitoring to ensure long-term success. In Winnetka, Illinois, A3 Environmental Consultants (A3E) has been providing vegetation monitoring services since 2024 to ensure that disturbed wetlands recover according to United States Army Corps of Engineers permit performance standards. Monitoring ensures that restoration activities achieve
- Published in Ecological Services
Restoration monitoring is not the glamorous part of a construction project, but it is often the part that determines whether a project ultimately succeeds or becomes a regulatory headache. In Naperville, Illinois, where development frequently intersects with streams, wetlands, and other regulated aquatic resources, restoration monitoring plays a critical role in keeping projects compliant long
- Published in Ecological Services
Counties across Northern Illinois face a familiar challenge: impaired waterways, regulatory pressure, and limited budgets colliding with very real water quality problems. A well-developed watershed plan is often the difference between reacting to impairment listings and proactively improving streams, lakes, and downstream receiving waters. Over the past decade, A3 Environmental Consultants – known as Olson
- Published in Ecological Services, Project Profiles
Habitat enhancement is a critical tool for protecting and restoring high-value natural areas in highly urbanized regions like Cook County, Illinois. With more than 69,000 acres of preserves under management by the Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC), proactive ecological stewardship is essential to maintain biodiversity, ecosystem services, and public value. Since 2019, A3 Environmental
- Published in Ecological Services, Project Profiles
A well-executed Watershed Plan is one of the most effective tools municipalities have to protect water quality, prioritize infrastructure investments, and meet regulatory expectations without guessing. In 2022, A3 Environmental Consultants (A3E) led development of an EPA-approved Watershed Plan for the Winneshiek Creek watershed in Stephenson County, Illinois. The effort balanced technical analysis, stakeholder priorities,
- Published in Ecological Services, Project Profiles
A wetland mitigation bank is only as successful as its planning, performance standards, and long-term monitoring. For municipal and government stakeholders, the difference between a functional public asset and a regulatory headache often comes down to early technical decisions and sustained agency coordination. In Afton, Wisconsin, the Bass Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank demonstrates how a
- Published in Ecological Services, Project Profiles
About A3 Environmental Consultants A3 Environmental, LLC (A3E) is a Chicagoland ecological consulting firm that designs, implements, and monitors practical, science-based ecological restoration projects. We deliver hands-on restoration and habitat-enhancement work — from invasive-species control, selective herbicide application, brush removal, mowing, and prescribed burning to native-plant specifications, construction oversight, and long-term monitoring — for wetlands,
- Published in Environmental Consulting, Ecological Services
In March 2024, A3 Environmental Consultants conducted a wetland delineation on a 29.5-acre site along Smith Road in Manhattan, Will County, Illinois. This project was commissioned by Atwell, LLC and Smith Land Holdings LLC, with the goal of identifying wetland boundaries and determining their regulatory status under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) guidelines. The
- Published in Environmental Consulting, Ecological Services
Position Summary: The Senior Wetland/Aquatic Scientist will lead wetland delineations and aquatic resource assessments in compliance with applicable regulations. This position requires expertise in wetland and stream ecology, permitting, and regulatory compliance. The selected candidate will manage projects, oversee junior staff, and support business development efforts. The role requires strong leadership and technical skills to
- Published in Environmental Consulting, Ecological Services
I’ve volunteered to head up a American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) Standard committee regarding Wetland Screens. Part of the process is to explain why I think the standard is necessary. This is my attempt to explain my thoughts. In the due diligence phase of a property transaction, assessing the buildability of a
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence, Ecological Services
This wetland screen scope of work defines the desktop analysis A3E conducts to identify any known or potential wetlands located at the site in relation to the planned site development locations. This analysis will determine the floodplain boundaries, hydric soils, topography, wetlands on the National Wetlands Inventory, signs of aquatic resources on aerial imagery considering
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Consulting
Wetland Delineation Cost: What You Will Pay in 2026 A wetland delineation cost starts at approximately $3,500 for a standard project in Illinois and can range up to $8,000 or more depending on site size, complexity, and permitting requirements. The total wetland delineation cost breaks down into four components: a wetland screen ($1,000), field survey
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence
If you have a vacant property which you’d like to purchase and you need to make absolutely certain your project won’t be blocked because of a wetland, you will need to submit a jurisdictional determination request. Essentially this is a letter you will receive back from the US Army Corp of Engineers and / or
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence
In the universe of services termed “environmental due diligence” one of these services is determining if a property has a wetland. There are different levels of due diligence needed to answer important questions before the sale of a commercial property. Wetland due diligence is no different. We created four different levels with four different price
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence
A wetland delineation report is the “deliverable”, the thing you receive, when you purchase a wetland delineation. This work is performed during the due diligence process which happens in advance of purchasing a commercial property. Not every project is the same. Not every client needs the same level of inspection done on their property. Because of
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence
A full wetland delineation is a known quantity. It’s an established report whose contents and format are done the same way by everyone who perform wetland delineations professionally. There are drawbacks to a full wetland delineation. They take time to schedule and complete. They are the most involved and therefore the most expensive option available.
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence
A full wetland delineation is a known quantity. It’s an established report whose contents and format are done the same way by everyone who perform wetland delineations professionally. There are drawbacks to a full wetland delineation. They take time to schedule and complete. They are the most involved and therefore the most expensive option available.
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence
A full wetland delineation is a known quantity. It’s an established report whose contents and format are done the same way by everyone who perform wetland delineations professionally. There are drawbacks to a full wetland delineation. They take time to schedule and complete. They are the most involved and therefore the most expensive option available.
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence
A full wetland delineation is a known quantity. It’s an established report whose contents and format are done the same way by everyone who perform wetland delineations professionally. There are drawbacks to a full wetland delineation. They take time to schedule and complete. They are the most involved and therefore the most expensive option available.
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence
A full wetland delineation is a known quantity. It’s an established report whose contents and format are done the same way by everyone who perform wetland delineations professionally. There are drawbacks to a full wetland delineation. They take time to schedule and complete. They are the most involved and therefore the most expensive option available.
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence
Wetland Project Background In April 2023, A3 Environmental Consultant’s joint venture with Olson Ecological Solutions (A3E+OES) conducted a wetland project for an approximately 1.2-acre parcel planned for minor development by the landowner in Section 1, Township 40 North, Range 10 East, located in Medinah, Illinois in DuPage County. The purpose of the wetland delineation was
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence
In April 2023, a wetland survey was conducted for a 3-acre project area in the town of Wyanet, found in lovely Bureau County, Illinois, intended for cell tower construction. The land use at the time was grazing pasture with a pond and drainage ditch, a wooded area to the east, and a naturalized area to
- Published in Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence, Project Profiles
Jurisdictional vs Non-Jurisdictional Wetlands Wetlands can be considered jurisdictional if they meet certain criteria established by the government agency that has jurisdiction over them. In the United States, the primary agency responsible for wetland regulation is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which administers the Clean Water Act. It’s important to note, the USACE
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence, Ecological Services
Wetlands are vital components of the natural landscape, providing important ecosystem services such as water filtration, flood control, and habitat for a diverse array of plants and animals. In Illinois, wetland resources are protected under state and federal regulations, including the Illinois Wetland Protection Act and the Clean Water Act. These regulations require that wetlands
If you’re interested in wetland delineations, there’s a good chance you either own or are thinking of purchasing vacant land. You’re hoping to build on the land and you want to make sure you have enough room to do so without disturbing the wetland. You might want to know what happens if you do end
- Published in Environmental Consulting, Ecological Services
Essential Utilities is a utility company that has stakes in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia The company provides drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure and services. Aqua America is Essential Utilities water services arm. Aqua America called A3E OES which is a joint venture between A3 Environmental Consultants and
- Published in Project Profiles, Ecological Services, Environmental Due Diligence