Education
M.S., Ecology
Florida State University
B.A., Biology
University of South Florida
Expertise
Environemental Permitting
Environmental Impact Assessment
Mitigation Planning and Design
Environmental Monitoring
Ecology
Wildlife
Water Quality
Expert Witness Testimony
Project Management
Certifications
PADI Open Water
Professional Affiliations
National Association of Environmental Professionals
National Mitigation Banking Association
Community Activities
Presenter, Florida Chamber of Commerce Environmental
Permitting Short Course since 1989
Committee member, Manatee County ELMAC, 2001-2005
Florida Airports Council - Environmental Committee
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Ms. Birkitt has over 30 years of experience in the environmental
field including 10 years with state and local regulatory agencies
and 10 years with a major international consulting firm. Her expertise
includes environmental impact studies, environmental permitting,
NEPA coordination, and Section 7 Consultation, ecosystem restoration,
project management, construction oversight, and regulatory compliance
specializing in wetlands, wildlife, water quality, aquatic ecology,
mitigation and mitigation banking.
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Experienced in management of large-scale development
and construction projects involving multiple technical disciplines. |
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Proven experience in expediting state, federal,
and local regulatory agency negotiations. |
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Acknowledged ability in construction monitoring
and successful resolution of regulatory compliance issues. |
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Recognized expertise in wetlands restoration,
mitigation and mitigation banking. |
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Qualified as an expert
in wetlands, water quality, and environmental regulations. |
Projects have included linear facilities such
as: natural gas and petroleum products pipelines; roads and other
linear projects; airports; residential and commercial developments;
marinas and ports; municipal parks; wetland mitigation and mitigation
banks; and storm water and domestic and industrial wastewater discharges.
As Principal-in-Charge for all BES projects, Ms. Birkitt oversees
all client services and deliverables, ensuring quality results,
timely completion, and adherence to budgeting constraints.
SELECTED PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Lake Okeechobee Isolated Wetlands Restoration
Project
Project Director for a three year program initiated by the South
Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to design and construct
isolated wetlands restoration projects to reduce phosphorous loadings
into Lake Okeechobee. The project involves coordination with landowners,
assessment of onsite biological and hydrological conditions, alternatives
evaluation, hydrological modeling, environmental and engineering
design, and development of a wetland management plan to be implemented
by the landowners. Delineation of an easement boundary and surveying
are also required. The first phase under this project is restoration
of a 400-acre site on the Kirton property. Construction oversight
was provided and the construction has been completed. A second wetlands
restoration project, Lemkin Creek, is now underway.
Tampa Bay Mitigation Bank
Partner in development of Tampa Bay Mitigation Bank providing permitting
and environmental design services. Project includes the restoration
of Andrew’s Creek headwaters and restoration, creation, and
enhancement of freshwater and estuarine wetlands on a 160-acre site
in southern Hillsborough County. Responsibilities included preparation
and negotiations of ERP, freshwater and wetlands design, conducting
WRAP functional assessment methodology and coordination with federal
Mitigation Bank Review Team. All permits have been issued for the
bank. Construction has been initiated.
L-40 Conveyance Project
Project Director for the natural resources component of a Reconnaissance
Study for the South Florida Water Management District evaluating
the conveyance opportunities for the delivery of water from Lake
Okeechobee to southeastern Palm Beach County, Lake Worth Drainage
District, Broward County, and the Hillsboro Canal. The study will
determine the feasibility of conveying the untreated water in an
alternate way versus the current action which takes the water through
the Refuge.
San Pedro Bay Mitigation Bank
Project Director for wetland restoration and development of a 7000-acre
mitigation bank in San Pedro Bay, Taylor County, Florida including
design of the enhancement and restoration plan, preparation of permit
applications, and negotiations with state and federal agencies.
The project included WRAP analysis and establishment of mitigation
credits working with the FDEP, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and
federal Mitigation Bank Review Team. Extensive studies of ecological
and hydrological conditions on the site, development of restoration
conditions and negotiation of appropriate methods for measuring
ecological and hydrological enhancement were conducted. The state
Mitigation Bank Permit and all federal approvals for the site have
been issued and the project is in the implementation phase. Vegetative
and hydrological monitoring are currently underway.
Alligator Lake Habitat Restoration –
Pinellas County
Project Director for a multi-faceted 35-acre restoration project
funded by Pinellas County and the Southwest Florida Water Management
District. Project objectives include enhancement, restoration, and/or
creation of wetlands and uplands to improve water quality and wading
bird habitat in upper Tampa Bay. Project includes management of
team of engineers, surveyors, geotechnical consultants, and biologists.
Design and construction management services are also included.
Rivergarden Park Shoreline Restoration
Project Director for approximately 2,500 linear feet of shoreline
restoration and stabilization at a City of Tampa park on the Hillsborough
River. Oversight of engineering design and development of shoreline
restoration and planting plans will be provided. Community meetings
were held to obtain input from adjacent neighborhoods. The project
is partially funded through the SWIM program of SWFWMD.
Gulfstream Natural Gas Pipeline
Environmental permitting (state, federal, and local) for the Florida
portion of a 753-mile natural gas pipeline for Gulfstream Natural
Gas System, utilizing the “team permitting” approach.
The pipeline crosses the Gulf of Mexico, entering Florida at Tampa
Bay and extending across the state. The project involved issues
associated with nearshore coastal waters in Manatee and Hillsborough
Counties, the phosphate mining district, Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem,
Kissimmee River Restoration Project, and wetlands and waterbodies
throughout the onshore route in central and south Florida. The project
required extensive coordination with over fifty agency representatives
including regulatory agencies, resource and planning entities, local
governments, environmental groups, and other special interest groups
utilizing the team permitting process. Responsibilities also included
preparation of the draft Team Permitting Agreement involving more
than 15 regulatory agencies and local governments and a petition
for a variance from water quality standards.Permitting responsibilities
included Environmental Resources Permit (FDEP), Section 10/404 Permit
(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) for offshore, nearshore, and onshore
portions of the pipeline, a Marine Construction Permit and public
easement for the Tampa Port Authority, and approval from Hillsborough
County Environmental Protection Commission. Numerous public coordination
meetings were held across the state and an extensive effort to identify
locally recommended mitigation sites was made. Over 100 sites were
identified for consideration. Site selections from this list were
based on criteria that included environmental quality and habitat
characterization, land availability, restoration opportunities,
and public benefits.
Southwest Florida Water Management District
– Property Valuation
Conducted an extensive analysis of a proposed wetland mitigation
bank on 2,500 acres in Hillsborough County, Florida for property
valuation. Included in the analysis were the technical feasibility
of wetlands restoration and mitigation bank development, permitting
feasibility, credit assessments utilizing Wetland Rapid Assessment
Procedures, costs to develop, market demand, and credit values of
the proposed mitigation bank. This analysis was instrumental in
the resolution of an eminent domain case.
Van Fleet International Cargo Airport
and Mixed Use Development DRI
Project Manager for a greenfield cargo airport and mixed use development
proposed on approximately 22,000 acres of previously mined lands
in Hardee County, Florida. The project will require a Development
of Regional Impact (DRI), and state and federal environmental permits
as well as FAA approval. Key issues are wetlands, wildlife, and
hydrology in addition to land planning. An offsite regional mitigation
approach is being evaluated for wetlands impacts. A coordinated
permitting process is also planned to ensure consistency among the
environmental reviews by the various regulatory agencies.
The Reserve at Sweetwater Estuary
Project Manager for environmental and permitting services and project
coordination for the The Reserve at Sweetwater Estuary Project on
a 3,700-acre parcel along the coast of Taylor County near Keaton
Beach, Florida. Providing oversight of project and team coordination
regarding environmental permitting and associated design activities.
Wetlands jurisdictional delineation, threatened and endangered species
assessment, and site planning assistance have been provided. Wetlands
and seagrass impact assessment and a conceptual mitigation plans
were developed. Project has been re-designed as an environmentally
sensitive, “green” development with a golf course resort
and town center. The marina has been eliminated from consideration.
An Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) and USACE Section 404 Permit
applications are pending. Detailed saltmarsh and freshwater mitigation
plans were developed and approved by the Suwannee River Water Management
District.
Port Dolphin Natural Gas Pipeline
Project Director providing environmental consulting services necessary
for obtaining environmental permits (state, federal, and local),
preparation of FERC Resource Reports, and assisting in all environmental
aspects of a 3.8-mile natural gas pipeline project for the Port
Dolphin Pipeline System. The pipeline would begin at an offshore
deep water port in the Gulf of Mexico, making landfall at Port Manatee
in Southwest Florida, and connecting landward to the TECO and Gulfstream
Natural Gas interchange. The project involves issues including impacts
to hardbottom habitat and potential impacts to wetlands. The project
is using a “coordinated” permit process, which requires
extensive coordination with regulatory agencies, resource and planning
entities, local governments, environmental groups and other special
interest groups.
St. Augustine Airport
Project Manager responsible for QA/QC in the preparation of the
Environmental Assessment (EA) and for development of mitigation
options for the proposed Taxiway Extension. The purpose of the project
is to provide separation between the runway and taxiway to meet
FAA safety standards. The project will impact approximately eight
acres of estuarine salt marsh. Restoration of an approximately 10-acre
spoil island is proposed as mitigation. Assistance in agency coordination
and permitting negotiations with the St. Johns River Water Management
District, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and commenting agencies
was required.
Gainesville Regional Airport
Project Manager for development of an Environmental Assessment for
the Gainesville Regional Airport expansion. The existing conditions
portion of the report has been prepared. Additionally, a detailed
description of existing site conditions has been conducted and an
Interim Assessment Report prepared for submittal to St. Johns River
Water Management District. A portion of Gum Root Swamp was proposed
as mitigation as preservation mitigation for previous wetlands impacts
and permit applications were prepared for tree clearing activities
on the property. Also assisted in negotiations with SJRWMD for permit
compliance.
EXPERT WITNESS/LITIGATION ASSISTANCE
Expert witness testimony for wetlands, wildlife,
and environmental permitting issues for the Buckeye Florida effluent
pipeline in Taylor County, FL.
Review of expert opinion report on potential impact
to manatees of discharge from the Buckeye Florida effluent pipeline
to the Gulf of Mexico.
Provided expert opinion analysis and report and
litigation assistance for a valuation hearing for land acquired
by the Southwest Florida Water Management District by eminent domain
for the water supply reservoir in Hillsborough County, FL.
Qualified previously as an expert witness on wetlands,
water quality, and environmental issues on projects including: City
of Sarasota wastewater sprayfield, various canal projects, power
plant certifications, pipeline projects, and other projects.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Lake Restoration Evaluation
Evaluation of restoration proposal for Lake Apopka including assessment
of potential for nutrient reduction, improvement of fisheries habitat,
and compliance with state regulations.
Environmental Services for Natural Gas Pipeline
Project Director for an 815-mile billion dollar natural gas pipeline
for FGT Phase III expansion project; responsible for: 1) preparation
of environmental section of the FERC F-IV document for the EIS,
including resource reports on vegetation and wildlife, water use
and quality, geological resources, soils, and land use; and 2) obtaining
all state, federal, and local environmental and land use permits
for the project. Five regional mitigation sites involving wetlands
restoration, hydrologic enhancement, and exotic species removal
were designed. Approximately 1,350 acres of wetlands mitigation
were developed in Florida including restoration of the Steinhatchee
WMA, the Apalachicola River floodplain, and the Loxahatchee River
State Park and over 500 acres in other states.
Environmental Services for Natural Gas Pipeline
Wetland and wildlife survey, environmental impact assessment and
permitting assistance for an 86-mile natural gas pipeline in north
Florida for SONAT; evaluation of mitigation options and development
of mitigation plan for forested wetlands impacts by wetlands preservation.
Included negotiations with the US Forest Service and US Fish and
Wildlife Service regarding red cockaded woodpecker populations and
development of petition for variance from water quality standards.
Loxahatchee River Restoration Project
Environmental impact assessment; identification of state and federal
mitigation requirements, and development of a mitigation plan for
the Loxahatchee River Restoration Project involving creation (80-acres),
enhancement (4200-acres), and preservation of wetlands for a project
that included development of a major reservoir system.
REGULATORY AGENCY EXPERIENCE
• Assessment of predicted impacts on surface
and ground water quality and wetland and aquatic habitat including
freshwater and estuarine systems and compliance with environmental
regulations for over 1000 projects and discharge situations.
• Rule development for water quality and
volume discharges to wetlands to protect natural resources; assessment
of benthic diversity indices as water quality standards.
• Management and implementation of the statewide industrial and domestic wastewater and storm water permitting programs for FDER.
• Expert witness testimony regarding wetlands,
water quality, and environmental regulations.
• Established and chaired Governor's Subcommittee
on Mosquito Impoundment Management; development of management concept
to protect and restore wetland, water quality and wildlife value
along the east coast of Florida.
• Project Manager for the Kissimmee River
Restoration Demonstration Project (SFWMD); assessment of water quality,
hydrological and biological impacts and compliance with state and
federal environmental regulations.
• Project Manager for the Florida Keys
Seagrass Restoration Project and the Florida Keys Canal Water Quality
Study conducted in coordination with U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
PUBLICATIONS
Environmental Resource Permitting,
Niceville, July 2008—Provided training to environmental
professionals regarding new Environmental Resource Permit (ERP)
rules being adopted by the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
Florida Chamber of Commerce Environmental
Permitting Summer School, Marco Island, 2001-2007--Faculty
member for courses covering ERP wetland regulations, wetland mitigation,
secondary impacts, cumulative impacts, wetland-dependent wildlife
protection, and Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM)
Birkitt, B. F., A. B. Hodgson and B. L. Lane.
2003.
The Tampa Bay Mitigation Bank: A New Option for Wetland Mitigation
in the Central Florida Region. In: Proceedings BASIS IV, Tampa Bay
Estuary Program. St. Petersburg, FL.
Birkitt, B.F. and J. Barco, 2002.
Utilizing Isolated Wetlands to Reduce Phosphorus in Lake Okeechobee.
Presenter, 27th Annual Conference National Association of Environmental
Professionals, June 23-26, 2002, Dearborn, Michigan.
Birkitt, B.F. and L. F. Trepper, 2001.
New Directions in Permitting a Large Pipeline Project in Florida
– Team Permitting. Presenter, 26th Annual Conference National
Association of Environmental Professionals, June 24-28 2001, Washington
D.C.
Birkitt, B.F. and R. Copp, 1997.
Combining Ecosystem Management and Mitigation Banking: San Pedro
Bay Restoration. Proceedings, 22nd Annual Conference of the National
Association of Environmental Professionals, May 19-23, 1997, Orlando,
Florida.
Birkitt, B.F., and T. B. Gunter. 1995.
Regional Mitigation for a 615-mile Pipeline: Hydrologic Restoration,
Exotic Species Removal, and Reforestation. Presentation, 22nd Annual
Conference on Ecosystem Restoration and Creation, May 18-19, 1995,
Tampa, Florida.
Gunter, T. B. and B.F. Birkitt, 1995.
Evaluation of Natural Recruitment of Wetland Trees and Shrubs Along
a North Florida Pipeline Corridor. Proceedings, 22nd Annual Conference
on Ecosystems Restoration and Creation, May 18-19, 1995, Tampa,
Florida.
Birkitt, B.F., 1989.
Loxahatchee River Restoration as Mitigation. Presentation at International
Symposium: Wetlands and River Corridor Management, Association of
Wetland Managers, July 5-9, 1989, Charleston, South Carolina.
Birkitt, B.F. and S. Gray, 1989.
Wetland Impact Evaluation and Mitigation: Comparing Apples to Oranges,
in Fisk, D., Editor, Proceedings of a Symposium on Wetlands: Concerns
and Successes, American Water Resources Conference, September 17-22,
1989, Tampa, Florida, pp 259-267.
Birkitt, B.F., and T.B. Gunter, 1989.
Wetland Preservation as Mitigation: Implementation of the DER Policy,
in Fisk, D., Editor, Proceedings of a Symposium on Wetlands: Concerns
and Successes, American Water Resources Conference, September 17-22,
1989, Tampa, Florida, pp. 355-363.
Birkitt, B.F., 1983.
Considerations for the Functional Restoration of Impounded Wetlands,
in Webb, F.J., Editor, 1983 Proceedings of Tenth Annual Conference
on Wetland Restoration and Creation, Hillsborough Community College,
Tampa, Florida.
Birkitt, B.F., 1981.
Aquatic Macrophyte and Invertebrate Community Structure in the Wakulla
River, unpublished thesis, Florida State University.
Birkitt, B.F. and B.J. Dougherty, 1980, Impacts of Bridging on the
Aquatic Ecology of Three Rivers in Florida, Transportation Research
Board Journal.
Birkitt, B.F., B.J. Dougherty, et al., 1979.
Effects of Bridging on Biological Productivity and Diversity, Florida
Department of Transportation Publication FL-ER-9-79, pp. 1-74.
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