This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District released updated guidance for Aquatic Resources Delineation Reports (ARDRs) and GPS data submittals, formalizing expectations for wetland delineations and the supporting GPS data required for jurisdictional determinations.
At ESE Partners, we have already reviewed these updates to ensure our methodologies comply with the new standards. Our goal is simple: help our clients maintain compliance while keeping their projects on track.
Why This Matters
The Galveston District does not have the staff to visit every project they review. They want to receive permit requests with wetland delineation reports that make them feel comfortable issuing a permit without ever visiting the project site.
The Galveston District is known for its detailed and often nuanced review process. These new guidance documents provide greater clarity around what the District expects, particularly regarding GIS formats, delineation mapping, report contents, and reporting structure. But with more clarity comes the need for greater precision, and that’s where experience matters.
We Stay Ahead, So You Don’t Fall Behind
ESE Partners has a long track record of working within the Galveston District. Our Natural Resources and GIS teams are trained to respond quickly to evolving agency requirements, and we have already reviewed our internal QA/QC workflows to align with the new delineation and spatial data guidance.
Why Clients Trust ESE
We know each USACE district can interpret guidance differently and we have deep experience navigating the Galveston District’s approach. From pre-application strategy to field delineations and agency coordination, our team understands how to build submittals that are technically sound and tailored to district expectations.
Need Support? We’re Here.
If you have a project that requires a wetland delineation that will be submitted to the Galveston District, reach out. We’ll put our experience to work meeting current standards and position your project for timely review.
