02/02/2026
Happy World Wetlands Day!
In Hampton Roads and the Dismal Swamp region, wetlands play a major role in design decisions, permitting, schedules, and long-term project success. With one of the highest concentrations of wetlands in the Mid-Atlantic and a high flood risk, these systems are impossible to ignore.
The region’s flat landscape, shallow groundwater, tidal influence, and forested wetlands often overlap with building sites, roads, utilities, and campuses. In coastal plain areas, wetlands can also be difficult to spot; sometimes, only a few inches of elevation or subtle drainage changes determine whether an area is regulated. Accurate identification requires fieldwork, soil evaluation, and local hydrology expertise, not just maps.
For project teams, wetlands affect usable land, stormwater management, utility placement, and permitting timelines. Finding them late can lead to redesigns, added costs, and delays.
At MSA, wetlands are a fundamental part of how we approach projects, guided by Professional Wetland Delineator Brian Owen, PWD. On World Wetlands Day, we recognize wetlands not as obstacles, but as systems that—when understood early—support more resilient, successful infrastructure.