PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

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R. Richard Snarski

Education
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana; M.S. in Soil Science, May 1980
Thesis project on surface mine reclamation.

University of Connecticut, Storrs; B.S. in Soil Science, May 1978
Emphasis of study in soil classification and genesis.

Professional Registrations
Registered Soil Scientist
Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS #1391)
Certified Professional Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Specialist (CPESC #200)
The Society of Soil Scientists of Southern New England

Work Experience
Soil & Wetland Scientist - New England Environmental Services and Blackledge River Nursery, Marlborough, Connecticut, 1983 - Present
Established New England Environmental Services in 1983 and Blackledge River Nursery in 1990. Specialize in wetland delineations, wetland design and construction, wetland assessments, soil investigations and construction supervision. Specific projects include:

• Conducted several thousand inland and tidal wetland delineations throughout Connecticut for development projects using the state methodology. Performed several hundred federal wetland delineations which required detailed soil and vegetation transects. Clients include private individuals, corporations, non-profit organizations, state agencies, Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Mohegan Tribe.

• Designed and supervised the creation and restoration of numerous wetlands in Connecticut. Wetland systems include deep and shallow marshes, red maple swamps, lake shorelines and wetland detention basins. Creation and restoration projects have included inland, freshwater-tidal, brackish and tidal wetlands. Activities for wetland creation and restoration involve ground water monitoring, determination of appropriate hydrology, soil medium, selection of plant species and layout, construction supervision and planting of wetlands. Experienced in acquiring Local, State (401 and Water Diversion) and Army Corps of Engineers individual permits.

• Established Blackledge River Nursery which specializes in the propagation of native herbaceous wetland plants. Six acres of wetlands were constructed to conduct research with created wetlands in areas of construction, seed germinations, influence of fluctuating water levels on plant growth and survival, soil requirements of aquatic plants and competition among aquatic plant species.

• Performed numerous wetland assessments for development projects identifying functional values of wetlands and impacts to the wetlands, including hydrology, water quality, sedimentation and wildlife habitat. Present findings to Local, State and Federal agencies to obtain the necessary wetland activity permits.

• Conducted numerous Department of Environmental Protection (D.E.P.) Pollutant and Renovation analysis for subsurface sewage disposal systems over 5,000 gallons per day. Analysis involve test hole descriptions, permeability testing, determination of groundwater flow direction and gradient and the design of septic fields to meet D.E.P. standards for hydraulic capacity and effluent travel times.

• As a Certified Professional Erosion Control Specialist, have developed and supervised numerous erosion control plans for development projects for private organizations and municipalities.

Amphibian and Reptile Related Experience
New England Environmental Services
Blackledge River Nursery

• Identified and confirmed two-hundred and eleven vernal pools in the State of Connecticut from 1996 - 2003.
• Taught the field session for the Vernal Pool 3 Symposium in Ledyard, Connecticut; sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; Spring 1998.
• Assisted the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection in locating vernal pools for the May 1997 Municipal Inland Wetland Commissioner’s Training Program.
• Constructed seven successful vernal pools in the Towns of Marlborough, Sterling, Waterford, Hebron, Cromwell and Salem, Connecticut.
• Inventoried and monitored the hydrology of eleven vernal pools on a five-hundred and fifty acre parcel; East Haddam, Connecticut.
• Inventoried and monitored the hydrology on thirty-four vernal pools on eighteen-hundred acres owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.
• Provided technical assistance to the Towns of Old Saybrook and North Stonington on the impacts of golf course construction on vernal pools.
• Provided technical assistance related to vernal pool protection in the development of golf courses; Foxhopyard Golf Course, East Haddam and Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, North Stonington, Connecticut.
• Monitored the amphibians in the vernal pools during the excavation of a gravel bank to determine any impacts the gravel operation has on the amphibian population; Montville, Connecticut; four year study.
• Monitored the amphibians in thirteen vernal pools before and after the construction of a golf course to determine impacts the construction of the golf course has on the amphibian population; East Haddam, Connecticut; five year study.
• Eastern Box Turtle, Wood Turtle and Spotted Turtle survey on lands of Mashantucket Pequot Tribe; Mashantucket, Connecticut.
• Eastern Box Turtle Survey and Management Plan for Bartlett Hill Subdivision; Portland, Connecticut.
• Eastern Box Turtle Habitat Enhancement Plan; Marlborough, Connecticut.

Publications
“Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Pre-mine Soils and Post-mine Soil Mixtures in Illinois”, Soil Science Society of America Journal, Volume 45, July - August 1981.