CHARLOTTE M. COGSWELL                                                                                                        SENIOR ECOLOGIST

CR Environmental, Inc., President/Owner 1994 to Present

Years with Other Firms: 15

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

•            Wetland Delineation/ Habitat Assessment, Replication & Restoration

•            Wetlands Permits and Impact Reports

•            Estuarine/Limnological Studies/ Eutrophication

•            Ecological Risk Assessment

•            Statistics

EDUCATION

1988                        OSHA 40-hr Health & Safety Training and annual refresher courses

1979-1993               M.A. Ecology, Ph.D. candidate Plant Ecology, University of Connecticut, minor Statistics

1987                        Habitat evaluation procedure course, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service        

1982                        Tropical biology course, Organization for Tropical Studies, Costa Rica

1978                        NAUI scuba diving certification

1977                        Marine chemistry course, Bridgewater State University

1976                        Marine ecology course audit, B.U. Marine Program, M.B.L., Woods Hole

1971-75                   B.A. Botany, University of Vermont

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES/AFFILIATIONS

American Institute of Biological Sciences                                         National Association of Underwater Instructors

Association of Massachusetts Wetlands Scientists                            New Hampshire Association of Wetland Scientists

Boston Risk Assessment Group                                                       New England Estuarine Research Society

Estuarine Research Federation                                                         Society for Ecological Restoration

Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissioners             Society of Wetland Scientists

Marine & Oceanographic Technology Network                              Soc. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

SUMMARY OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Ms. Cogswell is an ecologist with more than 20 years of experience in inland and coastal wetland ecosystems conducting studies involving plant population and community ecology, the potential environmental effects of nutrients, toxic contaminants, and physical habitat alterations; plant-herbivore interactions, restoration ecology; benthic and wildlife habitat analysis.  Her experience encompasses fieldwork, data reduction and statistical analysis, report preparation, environmental permit preparation, ecological risk assessment, program management and expert testimony.     

She is owner and president of CR Environmental, Inc., an ecological and oceanographic consulting firm certified as a WBE in MA and NY, and has held or holds professional positions with geotechnical, environmental, and landscape architect firms where she served or serves as a senior technical specialist/consultant in the areas of wetland assessment, permitting and ecological risk. She has prepared or managed the preparation of a number of  Environmental Assessments/Impact Evaluations, and Environmental Permit applications for federal, state, local and private organizations including the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Ft. Devens, MA; the Connecticut Department of Transportation; GTE Products, Salem, MA; the Cities of Medford, Auburn and Worcester, MA, and the Metropolitan District Commission, MA. Some MEPA filings have had joint review with the Cape Cod Commission including proposed work to improve the Barnstable Municipal Airport.

As a consultant to the New England Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers her projects, include wetland restoration monitoring and reporting at the Nyanza Superfund site in Ashland, MA; wetland assessment of proposed sites for the disposal of PCB-contaminated sediment within salt marsh of the New Bedford, MA, Inner Harbor; evaluation of 22 wetlands along a 12 mile proposed Central Connecticut Expressway in Bolton, Coventry, and Andover; a 401(b)(1) evaluation for a proposed dredging of the Winthrop, MA, Harbor; and other beach nourishment projects. More recently as a consultant to the New York District Army Corps of Engineers she has helped with CR’s report preparation for various geophysical surveys in the New York area.

She has served as project ecologist assessing sediment quality at the Cape Cod Disposal Site, mercury in fish at the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs, and preparing state and federal permits for a multi-use pathway along 5 miles of the Charles River in Massachusetts; performing a dive survey of nearshore epifauna and sediment characteristics in Narragansett Bay, RI; and conducting ecological characterizations and risk assessments at RCRA facilities, the former Chadwick Lead Mill in Salem Harbor, and a number of General Dynamics facilities in CT.

Additional professional experience includes a position as a ship scientist on a Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute cruise to the Sargasso Sea and as a research assistant with the Boston University Marine Program at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.  More recent oceanographic/limnologic work includes program management of a NOAA fishing industry grant to determine the impacts of trawling on soft bottom habitat, and vessel, equipment and benthic chemistry support for GZA GeoEnvironmental on a geophysical survey of seven reservoirs for the NY City Department of Environmental Protection. Members of the Woods Hole scientific community were or are currently participants in these projects.

Ms. Cogswell has also been a part-time faculty member at the Rhode Island School of Design, teaching Plant Ecology of New England; and a guest lecturer in Biology at the University of Connecticut.  She has authored or contributed to numerous technical publications and reports on wetland evaluation and ecological risk/effects assessments; and has lectured for the MA Association of Land Surveyors and Civil Engineers, and the Marine Biological Laboratory.

WORK HISTORY                              

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING

CR Environmental, Inc. WBE, Falmouth, MA   1994-present

President, managing and conducting freshwater and marine habitat assessments and restorations, water and sediment sampling, ecological risk assessments, wetland delineations and preparing environmental permits and impact reports. Responsible for final report preparation and editing.

EMCON/IT Corporation, Andover, MA  1994-2001

Part-time employee for ecological risk assessment and wetlands studies.  Evaluated the potential effects of groundwater drawdown for pump and treat on adjacent wetlands in Wilmington, MA along the Ipswich River and recently provided a planting plan for a created wetland used for water quality enhancement at a closed landfill in Berkley, MA.

CRJ Ecological Services, Cambridge, MA  1993-present

Part-time employee of a landscape architecture firm for wetlands investigations and environmental permitting.  Projects include ConnDOT EIE/EIR and EIS preparation;  EIR preparation for the City of Medford Schools and TeleCom City Phase I, permitting for the Federal Bureau of Prison's proposed Medical Complex at Fort Devens including input into the created pond and wetland series for stormwater renovation; characterization of the ecology of a five mile reach of river corridor along the Charles River from Newton to Watertown for use in pathway design and restoration efforts; and assisting with the design and development of planting plans for water quality enhancement areas and flood plain compensation areas along the Blackstone River some of which are presently contaminated.

Charlotte M. Cogswell WBE/DBE, Falmouth, MA   1993-1995

Freshwater and marine wetlands ecology, ecological risk assessment.

E.G.& G. W.A.S.C., Waltham, MA   1993-1994

Part-time employee conducting stream characterizations and ecological assessment for environmental permits and ecological monitoring on the Super Conducting Super Collider site in Texas.

GZA Geoenvironmental, Newton Upper Falls, MA   1988-1992

Group leader - senior technical specialist wetland delineation, replication and restoration, permits, functional assessment; and ecological risk assessment.

Sanford Ecological Services, Natick, MA   1985-1988

Project manager - inland and marine wetland ecology, EIRs, permits, New England ACOE projects.

Charles Menzie Associates, Chelmsford, MA   1984-1985

Consultant - New Bedford Harbor PCB study

TEACHING

Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI   1988

Part-time faculty-teaching Plant Ecology of New England, School of Landscape Architecture

University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT   1980-1984

Instructor Biology & Botany Lab; Guest lecturer for Intro Biology

SHIP SCIENTIST

Woods Hole Oceanographic, Woods Hole, MA  1977

Two week cruise to the Sargasso Sea collecting sediment cores

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

B.U. Marine Program, Woods Hole, MA   1975-1979

Salt marsh ecology, benthic sampling, salt marsh nutrient enrichment, plant population studies

INVITED LECTURES

1999/2000               Build Boston Architecture Society

                                World Trade Center, Boston, Massachusetts

                                “Understanding Site Development Permitting”

1990                        Massachusetts Association of Land Surveyors and Civil Engineers, Inc.,                                                                                                                   Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts

                                "Potential effects of development on the coastal zone."

1984                        Marine Biological Laboratory, Ecosystems Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts                                                                                                      "Herbivory in New England salt marshes"

1981-83                   Marine Biological Laboratory, B.U.M.P./W.H.O.I.,

                                Woods Hole, MA

                                "The effect of fertilization and herbivory on salt marsh vegetation"

                                "Interactions of a herbivorous beetle and salt marsh chenopods"

                                "Salt marsh plant populations"

CONTRIBUTED POSTERS

2002                USGS, NOAA, ASF and ESA Symposium on the Effects of Fishing Activities on Benthic Habitats: Linking Geology, Biology, Socioeconomics and Management, Tampa, FL  “Effects of Smooth Bottom Trawl Gear on Soft Bottom Habitat”. Cogswell, C., B. Hecker, A. Michael, F. Mirarchi, J. Ryther, Jr., D. Stevenson, R. Valente, and C. Wright 

2001                CZM Gulf of Maine Marine Habitat Conference  “Near Term Observations of the Effects of Smooth Bottom Net Trawling
                         on  the Seabed NOAA/NMFS Cooperative Research Project”. CR Environmental, Inc. and Boat Kathleen A. Mirarchi, Inc.                              Sebasco, ME

CONTRIBUTED PAPERS

1997.   Oceans 97, Halifax, Nova Scotia “The Conversion of Fishing Vessels and Training of Fishermen for Oceanographic Surveys, Research and Resource Assessment” 

1984.  Ecological Society of America/A.I.B.S., Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. "The influence of elevation, competition, and herbivory on the distribution of salt marsh chenopods"  

1983.   New England Estuarine Research Society, Portland, ME and Estuarine Research Federation, Virginia Beach, VA "The importance of herbivory and plant competition in structuring a New England salt marsh" 

1983.  Ecological Society of America/A.I.B.S., University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND "The influence of soil nitrogen, herbivory, and plant competition on secondary succession in a New England salt marsh.

1982.   Population Biologists of New England, W.H.O.I., Woods Hole, MA

1981.   Population Biologists of New England, Clark University, Worcester, MA "Interaction of the herbivore Erynephala maritima with salt marsh chenopods"

AWARDS

First Ketchum Award, New England Estuarine Research Society, 1983.

PUBLICATIONS

Valiela, I., J.M. Teal, C.M. Cogswell, J. Hartman, S. Allen, and R.Van Etten. 1985. "Some long-term consequences of sewage contamination in salt marsh ecosystems." In: Ecological considerations in wetlands treatment of municipal wastewaters. Eds. P.J. Godfrey, E.R. Kaynor, S. Pelczarski and J. Benforado. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, NY.

Schatz, G.E., G.B. Williamson, C.M. Cogswell, and A.C. Stam. 1985. "Stilt roots and growth of arboreal palms." Biotropica 17 (3).

Valiela, I., J.M. Teal, S.B. Volkmann, C.M. Cogswell, and R. Harrington. 1980. "On the measurement of tidal exchanges and groundwater flow in salt marshes." Limnology and Oceanography 25 (1): 187-92.              

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Ship Scientist, Restoration Investigation - Thames River, Connecticut  Collected surface water and sediment samples as part of a Remedial Investigation at the U.S. Naval Base on the Thames River. Sediment was collected for chemical, physical and biological characterization.

Estuarine Scientist/Risk Assessor – Former Chadwick Lead Mill, Salem/Marblehead Harbor, MA  Review of permit requirements and site characterization for vegetation, salt marsh invertebrates, intertidal shellfish, and benthic grabs for infauna and grain size, in a salt marsh, sand/rubble beach, and intertidal and subtidal area that has been contaminated with lead. Future work may include salt marsh removal/restoration, and some tidal flat dredging adjacent to the former site.

Plant Ecologist, Proposed Treatment Facility, Mashpee River, Mashpee, MA.  Proposed 200,000 gallon per day subregional treatment facility located 1/2 mile from the Mashpee River.  Impact assessment to determine the potential water quality impacts on the river and downgradient estuary due to nitrogen-rich groundwater.

Project Ecologist, Restoration Investigation - Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

Conducted a dive survey of nearshore epifauna and sediment characteristics off the U.S. Naval Education and Training Center McAllister Point landfill and other subtidal areas near landfills and reference sites in southern Narragansett Bay for a Restoration Investigation. Summarized findings for submission to EPA.

Project Ecologist, Acushnet River Estuary, New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site, MA. 

Conducted environmental study for the New England Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to investigate the potential effects of PCB and heavy metal pollution on the inner harbor salt marsh ecosystem.  Northern portions of the salt marsh were proposed sites for the disposal of contaminated harbor sediment.  Work involved assessment of the condition of the salt marsh, including written and video documentation.  Salt marsh plants, invertebrates, small mammals and waterfowl were collected and analyzed for PCBs to investigate contaminant levels in the salt marsh biota and their transfer through the food chain.  Recommendations were made regarding remedial alternatives proposed by NUS.

Chief Scientist, Mercury Study - Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs, MA

Part of a GZA project team conducting a study of the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs triggered by the elevated levels of mercury detected in larger fish. Provided advice concerning the parameters to sample at various sediment sample locations. Gathered data on reservoir fisheries and the levels of mercury in their tissue. Helped coordinate and reviewed an assessment of the potential risk to ecological communities in the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs due to mercury, and other metals and organic compounds of concern.

Project Manager, Ecological Risk Assessement, Merrimack River, Nashua, New Hampshire

Conducted an ERA for a RCRA facility on the Merrimack River for submission to EPA. Contaminants of concern included cyanide, formaldehyde and ammonia.

Project Manger, First Year Monitoring of the MADEM Cape Cod Bay Disposal Site, Cape Cod Bay, MA  Project manager and responsible for final report preparation for CR Environmental on the first year monitoring in 1996 of the CCDS. 

Project Ecologist, Nyanza Superfund Site, Ashland, MA  Subcontractor to Stone & Webster managing supervision of the wetland restoration effort and conducting monitoring of 6 acres of restored wetland at the Nyanza Superfund Site.

Project Ecologist, Brownfields Site of TeleCom City, Malden River, Medford and Everett, MA   Part of a project team with CRJA providing wetland assessment, permitting and wetland mitigation assistance for the proposed TeleCom City and Malden River Park development.

Wetland Ecologist, Malden River Wetland Restoration, Everett, MA  Wetland restoration design, construction and monitoring of wet meadow habitat along the Malden River using fiber rolls and plant plugs to compensate for filled wetland.

Ecologist, Upper Charles River Reservation Restoration, MA  Part of a project team with CRJA developing pathways and green corridor along a portion of the Upper Charles River Reservation from Auburndale to Watertown Square.  Responsible for plant and wildlife community evaluation, wetland delineation and permits, and a wildlife habitat management plan. The pathway in Watertown and Newton was recently completed along with exotic/nuisance species reduction, wetland replication and floodplain upland restoration.

Project Ecologist, Peters Pond, Sharpsville, IN.  Conducted a post-remediation ecological risk assessment for a site with low levels of VOCs, SVOCs and PHCs remaining in site media.  Study focused on PHCs in Mud Creek sediment which borders the site and the potential effect of these remaining petroleum constituents on riparian vegetation and biota.

Project Ecologist, Ipswich River Wetlands, Wilmington, Reading, North Reading, MA.  Wetland assessment and ecological risk assessment to evaluate the potential effects of VOC-laden groundwater on the biota of Ipswich River wetlands.  The risk assessment included a characterization of surface water hydrology, soils, vegetative cover types, habitat features, and signs of wildlife upgradient and downgradient of the contaminant source.  Risk to the environment was assessed based on a comparison of the contaminant levels in various media to water quality criteria and the toxicological literature on the chemicals of concern.

Project Ecologist, Olympia Avenue, Wells G&H Superfund Site, Woburn, MA.  Conducted a Phase II environmental risk assessment under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan to evaluate the potential effect of petroleum hydrocarbon constituents and VOCs on the Aberjona River and its wetlands.  Contaminants have been measured in site soil, groundwater, and the sediment and surface water of the Aberjona River that flows through the site.  Dilution calculations were made to estimate the contribution of contaminants in the site groundwater to contaminant levels in the Aberjona River surface water.  Existing and projected exposure point concentrations were compared to toxicological criteria and ecological effects benchmarks.

Project Ecologist, Super Conducting Super Collider, Texas  Surveyed ecological characteristics of streams draining the West Complex and Northern Arc of the SSC.  Prepared a stream characterization report for the West Complex for submission with NPDES and Texas Water Commission permits.

Ecologist/Risk Assessor, Lockheed Martin Facilities, Wilmington and Burlington, Massachusetts  Wetland delineation, permit preparation, and habitat evaluation for two former Lockheed Martin Facilities being investigated by EMCON. Conducted a stream invertebrate survey at a metal contaminated site to evaluate the potential effect of sediment contaminant levels on the stream community at the Burlington site.

Project Manager/Ecorisk Assessor, Electric Boat, Connecticut  Manager of a team evaluating sampling needs and conducting ecological risk assessments at three Electric Boat facilities in Groton, Connecticut for US EPA RCRA and CT DEP review. Sites on the Thames River, Poquonock River, Mumford Cove, and Birch Plain Creek, have metals, SVOCs and VOC contaminant issues. Discharges of contaminated groundwater are entering freshwater as well as tidal systems. Work includes evaluation of the habitats and species of concern, sediment, surface water and sampling of biota to look at contaminant concentrations, as well as, toxicity testing.

Ecologist, Plainville Landfill and Lake Mirimichi Site Characterization  Characterization of the environs surrounding the Plainville Landfill for assessment of potential risk from organics in a groundwater plume. Work included fish and invertebrate sampling in Lake Mirimichi and a description of cover types and wildlife characteristics of the surrounding wetlands.