To support TxDOT in delivery of the Grand Parkway (State Highway 99) Segment I-2, Hollaway worked closely with TxDOT’s contractor to meet restoration obligations under a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permit, as construction activities resulted in a severed hydrological connection to a large wetland complex (causing it to dry up). Hollaway facilitated negotiations between TxDOT, USACE, and the contractor to identify a solution that met the spirit of the CWA.

Hollaway quickly designed, obtained approval for, and implemented a Voluntary Restoration Plan that restored and enhanced three forested wetlands. This included excavating a new “swale” to restore the severed hydrology, which was particularly challenging as buried box culverts installed beneath the “temporary road” had to maintain a minimum top cover of soil.

Due to lack of local nursery sources with suitable quantities of woody wetland plants, Hollaway proposed and implemented a planting method called “live staking” to source the woody vegetation on site, saving the project budget and time. After one year, the USACE determined that success criteria were met and cleared TxDOT of its obligations, closing the unauthorized action. Hollaway performed monitoring services to support TxDOT’s contractor, and the restoration was considered successful.