P. Chase Bernier, CWB, PWS

 

                                                  United States

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Acushnet Sawmill Ecological Restoration Project, Acushnet, Bristol County, Massachusetts

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier provided ecological restoration design and construction oversight for this approximately 19-acre habitat restoration. Stream restoration activities included bank stabilization, stream channel restoration, and reconnecting and restoring the adjacent floodplain of approximately 1,500 linear feet of the Acushnet River and an adjacent tributary. Mr. Bernier was responsible for the baseline conditions investigation and design of the wetland and tributary restoration areas. Additionally, Mr. Bernier provided construction oversight of the habitat restoration which included the coordination of contractors, ensuring the correct construction of the restoration areas and habitat features, and ensuring compliance with health and safety protocols.

 

Shpack Superfund Site, Norton and Attleboro, Bristol County, Massachusetts

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier supported the compensatory mitigation effort of a historically radiologically and chemically contaminated landfill in Norton and Attleboro, Massachusetts. Mr. Bernier assisted the compensatory mitigation efforts of this project by monitoring the mitigation area, assisted in the developing of an operation and maintenance plan for the mitigation area, and oversaw construction efforts and directed

 

Taconic Farms, Germantown, Columbia County, New York

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier was responsible for the annual monitoring of an approximately 600 linear foot section of Camp Creek as part of a post-construction stream restoration for a commercial facility. Six random sampling points were established along the banks of the stream to document vegetative community success, species composition, and habitat establishment. Mr. Bernier developed a Stream Restoration Quality Assessment as a methodology to determine the overall success of the restoration. An annual report was completed and submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers summarizing the results of the monitoring.

 

Manton Pond Dam Fish Passage, Johnston, Kent County, Rhode Island

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier assisted with the design of a fish ladder to provide fish passage at the Manton Pond Dam on the Woonasquatucket River for diadromous fish species including river herring and American eels. As part of this project, Mr. Bernier delineated the aquatic resources in the vicinity of the dam and completed wetlands functional assessment and wildlife habitat assessment. Mr. Bernier assisted with the evaluation of different fish passage design alternatives and completed the environmental permitting for the proposed project.

 

Oxbows Restoration Project, Cranston, Kent County, Rhode Island

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier assisted with technical reviews; development of design plans, specifications, and bid documents; and permitting services. The project included sediment quality assessments, wetland delineations and functional assessments, baseline mapping of vegetation, flora and fauna surveys, and completed and submitted permits for a Section 401 Water Quality Certificate, Section 404 Individual Permit, and a Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Application to Alter a Freshwater Wetland.

 

Pawtuxet Falls Dam Removal, Cranston and Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier assisted with the permitting of this project including a Section 404 and Section 10 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Individual Permit, a Section 401 Water Quality Certificate, and a Rhode Island Application to Alter a Wetland permit. Mr. Bernier also assisted with an evaluation of contaminated sediment transport and exposure, evaluation of 4.5 miles of wetland impacts, river restoration evaluation and design, and fish/eel passage evaluation and design. Additionally, he oversaw the restoration of native flora communities including the selection of appropriate species, installation of plantings, and management of construction efforts.

 

Shady Lea Mills Dam Removal, North Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island

Project Manager

Mr. Bernier developed a Preliminary Evaluation Report which evaluated the feasibility of different alternatives for removing the dam and/or providing diadromous fish passage at the Shady Lea Mill on the Mattatuxet River. Mr. Bernier completed an aquatic resources assessment which evaluated the quality and function of the onsite wetlands, watercourses, and adjacent habitats. Mr. Bernier oversaw the development of dam removal alternatives, completed sediment sampling and mapping, and completed an aquatic resources assessment.

 

Sodco Farm Wetland Restoration, Slocum, Washington County, Rhode Island

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier designed and permitted an approximately five-acre wetland restoration which included the restoration of a perennial stream, multiple wetland habitat types and an Invasive Species Control Program. The project included field reconnaissance to document baseline ecological conditions, consultations and negotiations with both the state and federal agencies regarding the restoration design, and construction oversight. The completed project was enrolled in the federal Wetlands Reserve Program.

 

Northern Virginia Stream Restoration Bank, Reston, Fairfax County, Virginia

Survey Technician

Mr. Bernier conducted in-field baseline conditions surveys including stream channel profile and cross-section surveys, topographic surveys, tree identification and locations, sediment transport studies, and construction oversight for the Northern Virginia Stream Restoration Bank. The project encompassed a total of approximately 29 linear miles of highly degraded urban stream channels impacted from steep, actively eroding banks that threatened adjacent buildings and infrastructure. Stream restoration methodology followed the Natural Channel Design techniques established by Rosgen. Results of the baseline conditions survey were then utilized to design and construct channel morphology including the utilization of a reinforced bed, rock and log structures, and the creation.

 

Loudon County Wetland and Stream Bank II & III, Ashburn & Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia

Survey Technician

Mr. Bernier provided construction oversight of a wetland and stream mitigation bank complex which included a mosaic of wetland habitats encompassing approximately 21 acres as well as the restoration of nearly 8,000 linear feet of degraded stream channel. Construction oversight included ensuring correct elevations of grade, proper construction material and placement, and correct geomorphological construction of the restored channel. Additionally, Mr. Bernier oversaw the proper placement and construction of in-stream features such as j-hooks, cross veins, and weirs in addition to adjacent wetland and upland habitat features. Mr. Bernier was also responsible for the coordination of on-site contractors, directing construction crews, quality compliance of the construction, and ensuring compliance with health and safety protocols.

 

Swan Creek Stream Restoration, Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia

Survey Technician

Mr. Bernier conducted in-field baseline conditions surveys for an approximately three-mile section of stream corridor within a heavily developed suburban environment. Mr. Bernier was responsible for completing stream channel profile and cross-section surveys, topographic surveys, and tree identification and locations. Stream restoration methodology followed Natural Channel Design methods established by Rosgen. Results of the baseline conditions survey were then utilized to design correct channel morphology.

 

Fort Belvoir Base Realignment and Closure, Fairfax County, Virginia

Survey Technician

Mr. Bernier conducted in-field baseline conditions surveys for approximately 4,500 linear feet of stream corridor within the military complex. Baseline condition surveys included stream channel profile and cross-section surveys, topographic surveys, and tree identification and location surveys. Survey methodology was based on Natural Channel Design techniques developed by Rosgen. As part of the project, an approximately 1,260 linear foot section of stream reach of an unnamed tributary to Accotink Bay was restored which included stabilization of an energy dissipation structure, reconnecting a culvert along the tributary to the adjacent floodplain, construction of log structure habitat features and grade control structures, and the creation of adjacent wetland habitats.

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                                                         Brazil 

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Project Name, Location

Project Scientist

Description...

 

                                                    New Zealand

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Eastbourne Dunes, Eastbourne

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier was responsible for restoration activities associated with tidal wetland and coastal dune restoration. The area had been degraded from incompatible land uses and the introduction of invasive species. Restoration activities involved the eradication of invasive species, the re-introduction and monitoring of native planted species, and the stabilization of coastal dunes.

 

 

Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve, Pauatahanui

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier was responsible for beech forest and tidal wetland restoration services on an approximately 158-acre wildlife reserve. The area was restored from farmland and a go-kart race track to the majority of its natural current tidal wetland state. Restoration activities included the creation of a series of shallow ponds, tracks, boardwalks and hides for observing birdlife, planting native species, and establishing a plant nursery and visitor centre.

 

 

Coromandel Peninsula, Port Charles

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier was responsible for ecological restoration activities throughout the Coromandel Peninsula, an area approximately 280,000 acres. Primary activities included the eradication of invasive predators including ship rats (Rattus rattus), stoats (Mustela erminea), hedgehogs (Erinaceinae spp.), and feral cats (Felis catus). Eradication involved placing traps at strategic points throughout the dense forest as well as monitoring trap success and predator populations.

 

 

Bushy Park Forest Reserve, Wanganui

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier was responsible for ecological restoration activities on an approximately 243-acre forest reserve. Restoration activities involved restoration of endemic forest wildlife communities and eradication and exclusion of non-native wildlife species, (e.g., predators) from the park and monitoring their presence and populations within the park. Additionally, as part of the restoration plan for this reserve, a breeding songbird study was completed to observe and document re-introduced populations of New Zealand robins.

 

　

Matiu-Somes Island, Wellington

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier was responsible for podocarp-hardwood forest restoration activities on an approximately 61-acre scenic reserve. Restoration activities included reforestation of degraded and impacted habitats from previous non-compatible land uses, invasive species eradications, and re-introduction of native flora and fauna species. Reforestation areas were monitored to ensure survivability and success of planted species and to monitor the success of re-introduced endemic wildlife species.

 

 

Otari-Wilton’s Bush, Wellington,

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier was responsible for podocarp-hardwood forest restoration activities on an approximately 247-acre nature reserve. Restoration activities included reforestation of degraded areas, restoration of native forest communities, eradication of non-native invasive vegetation, installation of exclusion devices, and monitoring of restored areas. After planting, these areas were monitored to ensure their ecological success and corrective actions were implemented as necessary to combat outside stressors which inhibited successful establishment of native planted vegetation.

 

 

Rimutaka Forest Park, Wairarapa

Project Scientist

Mr. Bernier was responsible for invasive predator species monitoring and eradication program on an approximately 54,000-acre nature reserve as part of a restoration plan. Restoration activities included the trapping of ship rats (Rattus rattus), stoats (Mustela erminea), and brushtail opossums (Trichosurus vulpecula) as well as monitoring their extant populations within the boundaries of the park. Additionally, as part of the restoration plan an endemic breeding bird survey was conducted to observe and document species density of three endemic songbird species: fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa), silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), and bellbird (Anthornis melanura).