Aquatic Specialist Services
Upstream Consulting is a specialist consultancy firm that focuses on ecological assessments and environmental applications, with a with a particular emphasis on aquatic biodiversity impact assessment and water use licensing. We provide expert advice and solutions to a range of clients including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies.
Debbie Fordham is the principal aquatic ecologist at Upstream. She is a SACNASP registered scientist with over 10 years’ experience in the field. Debbie holds a Master of Science degree, by thesis, which focused on the origin and collapse of a Palmiet wetland in the Western Cape.
Services
- Desktop screening/risk assessments to inform clients of the probability of aquatic constraints on proposed development and discuss legislative requirements.
- Water Use License Applications and Risk Matrix
- Ground truthing, infield identification, and delineation of rivers and wetlands
- Present Ecological State (PES), functional importance assessments and Ecological
- Importance and Sensitivity (EIS) assessments of freshwater ecosystems.
- Evaluating impacts to wetlands from proposed developments.
- Identifying mitigation measures to limit impacts and calculating wetland offsets if required
- Determining Resource Quality Objectives
- Defining buffer zones for wetland, rivers, and estuaries.
- Developing rehabilitation plans for wetlands
