projects & profiles

See below a collection of the native habitats & landscapes we've designed & restored over the years - 1st section being our MUNICIPAL HABITAT RESTORATIONS. Click Contact Us for our SOQ for a full list & descriptions, and visit our services subpages for related ecological consulting service descriptions. We can get your project off the ground, and restore biodiversity to sites in creative and cost-effective ways!

habitat restoration experience

Below we describe in detail the “top 5” public habitat restorations NCS has led (and photos of even more ecological projects we’re leading) - summarizing our firm’s experience with services related to the requirements of biologically diverse, and logistically complex projects! Please see photos below!

City of Detroit

Aquatic, Shoreline & Buffer Ecological Assessments & Design for Maheras-Gentry Park

Habitat Restoration Design-Build-Maintain for Eliza Howell Park

Detroit, MI

Points of Contact- Ryan Johnson (734)545-0589, ryan@sidewalkdetroit.com

Point of Contact- Arianna Zanetti (313) 628-4307 zannettia@detroitmi.gov

NCS worked with city planning to restore aquatic, wetland, and upland habitat including the use of GIS mapping, MDEQ permitting, biological assessment, fish and herpetofauna detailed studies, substrate sampling and analysis, hydrologic and resiliency planning, invasive species management, habitat structure and native vegetation design. We are using ecologically adaptive design approaches using flow patterns, native vegetation, erosion control and wildlife habitat management best practices, log habitat anchoring techniques to minimize washout, enhance habitat for fish and wildlife, minimize flooding and erosion through a number of planning, monitoring, and restoration practices.  For benthos management, NCS is determining usable and stable substrate components, including muck, cobble, large woody debris (LWD) obstructions to kayaking, what was workable and permittable to remove, and how and where it is likely to get trapped and accumulate; its role in aquatic ecology and fluvial geomorphology, and how to assess and manage the features.  NCS contributed to full engineering and ecological design. 

NCS led the site biological assessments, ecological data analysis, wildlife structure planting plans, installation and maintenance for an urban riparian wetland habitat restoration: 22 structures planned, and 8 acres of wildlife habitat were evaluated in a conceptual design process as part of a park master plan and design-build grant submittal to reconnect Rouge River hydrology and habitat connectivity to low-lying disturbed park areas.  2 acres of wetlands, a half-acre bioswale, 6 acres of upland prairies, 20 log and brush habitat structures, 2 sand nesting mounds, a vernal pool and other habitat types will be constructed from design plans to create habitat for birds, reptiles, amphibians and pollinators, and enhance existing Rouge River habitats for fish, macroinvertebrates and other fully aquatic species through water quality improvement. This provides critical connected, safe habitat for nesting and breeding species like snapping turtle, which have been negatively affected by invasive species and road impacts.  NCS also led invasive species management, interpretive signage and native landscape maintenance, for an additional 8.25 acres of restoration planning, including cut-stump treatments of woody exotics whose biomass will be reused on-site as habitat, and contributed to full engineering plans, while composing detailed ecological restoration specifications.

Wayne County Parks

Elizabeth Park Shoreline Restoration

Nankin Lake Habitat Restoration

Alliance of Rouge River Communities – Wetland Restorations (3 Parks)

Livonia and Southward, MI

Point of Contact- John Gundry (734) 261-9861 jgundry@waynecounty.com

Natural Community Services continues to work with Wayne County to restore forest, wetland, and shoreline habitats on over 100 acres. Through site inventory, analysis, GIS mapping, permitting, prescribed burning, designed woody debris management, monitoring and maintenance, and riparian landscape restoration, we have worked with diverse teams to compose management plans and implement erosion/invasive species control and revegetation services. NCS is currently working on a 40-acre aquatic, wetland and riparian forest improvement project- restoring Nankin Lake area forests, lake’s littoral zone with 20,000 aquatic plugs and wildlife fencing.  We used live staking and soil lifts, both clean and open methods as well as the habitat anchoring techniques to stabilize the shores of the canal, enhance habitat for fish and wildlife, minimize flooding and erosion through several planning, monitoring, and restoration practices.   For woody debris management, NCS identified obstructions to kayaking, CWD workable and permittable to remove; its role in river ecology and fluvial geomorphology, and how to manage the LWD. 

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Sterling State Park - Natural areas inventories, invasive species management, and resource mapping

Belle Isle Flatwoods Monitoring - Natural areas inventories, assessment, and resource mapping;

Flatwoods & GI Design - Habitat & Bioswale Restoration Design, Construction Oversight

Milliken State Park (and others) – Wildlife habitat restoration

Point of Contact- Robert Clancy (517) 202-6751.gov, clancyr@michigan.gov

Description of Work- NCS has worked on over 10 DNR projects! Project Manager of wet-mesic prairie portions of GLRI project encompassing vegetation mapping, and invasive species control. NCS coordinated the invasive species monitoring and control project item for the River Raisin Ecological Restoration which coordinated the efforts of many BUI removal items. NCS served as the GPS data collector and GIS analyst who fed DNR project management teams standardized metadata and mapping of invasive species populations and control information. His specific projects, purple loosestrife and phragmites control, incorporated attributes of ecosystem types, land cover data, created a GIS depiction of before and after population sizes, control efficacy, and retreatment prioritization.  NCS was responsible for botanical survey, data collection, and mapping activities at Sterling State Park, as part of an invasive plant control AOC project in the River Raisin delta area. Investigation activities included the identification of all invasive plants, documentation of their areal extents, population densities, and expression on data sheet, GIS, and maps.  NCS assisted in wildlife habitat restoration and native landscape design, installation and management at Detroit’s Milliken State Park, in 3 different areas.  NCS performed biological assessments of plant, insect, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, and tree pathogenic fungi for the Flatwoods design, and is currently leading contractor oversight for the hydrologic restoration in the Flatwoods, focused on protection of endangered species. NCS also worked as a design-build consultant to DTMB’s contract lead to assess and implement BMP solutions to site watershed plan, survey, geotechnical assessment, stormwater pollution runoff, native planting plan, green credit submittals, stakeholder landscape aesthetic and maintenance planning, landscape architectural design, permitting, construction, establishment maintenance and monitoring of bioretention.  NCS has assisted with the planning, design, construction and maintenance of several bioswales, and assessing plants, soils, hydrology and wildlife in wetlands for BIC/FOG, to improve water quality and wildlife habitat for DNR and partner NGO’s on Belle Isle.

City of Royal Oak

Normandy Oaks – Savanna Restoration Habitat Assessment and Design

All Nature Parks - Invasive Species Management

Point of Contact- John Fedele 248-398-0195, JohnF@romi.gov

Description of Work: NCS led the site biological assessments, ecological data analysis, wildlife structure, grading, hydrology and planting plans for an urban oak savanna and wetland habitat restoration. NCS is facilitating migrant bird recovery, oak canopy protection and expansion, wet-mesic flatwoods development and 20 pollinator gardens, and designing environmental interpretive signage.  NCS assessed 10 acres of wildlife habitat and completed a savanna and wetland design, integrated with park master plan and design-build grant submittals and coordination and assistance with north park bioretention design and construction to reconnect hydrology and habitat corridors to recreational park areas.  2 acres of wetlands, a half-acre bioswale, 6 acres of savanna, forested wetland edges with 25 log and brush habitat structures, 2 sand nesting mounds, a vernal pool and other habitat types will be constructed from design plans to create habitat for birds, reptiles, amphibians and pollinators, and enhance existing macroinvertebrates and other fully aquatic species through water quality improvement. This provides critical connected, safe habitat for nesting and breeding species like snapping turtle, which have been negatively affected by invasive species and urbanization.  NCS also led invasive species management planning, for an additional 20 acres of restoration planning, including cut-stump treatments of woody exotics whose biomass will be reused on-site as habitat. NCS also manages all 3 of the city’s nature parks, performing ecological assessments, planning & invasive species control.

City of Farmington Hills

Heritage Park Nature Trail Design

Green Infrastructure Maintenance

Point of Contact- Ashlie Smith 248-417-3256, asmith@fhillsgov.com

Description of Work: Designer responsible for survey, wetland delineation and biological assessment, native planting and erosion control plans, trail, pond and native landscape design, habitat restoration, construction oversight, and interpretation for wildlife structures, native vegetation, GIS/mapping and soil erosion control activities at the Heritage Park located within city of Farmington Hills. NCS also designed, and supervised construction of, natural playscape features, bench and perch logs, interpretive water cycle, geology, and botany outdoor recreation along the trail.  Construction management activities include existing species assessment, wildlife browse study, native plant layouts, planting and establishment specifications, wildlife habitat and erosion control design, vegetation, habitat structure, and environmental features data and GIS map composition, technical drawing and submittals, support of design changes during construction and vegetation establishment activities to ensure completion according to design plans. NCS continues to play an advisory role to the City and Nature Center on environmental play, nature interpretation, urban ecological restoration, prescribed burn planning, grant-writing & invasive species prioritization.

habitat improvements VAN BUREN TWP., mi

NCS assessed, designed, and implemented invasive species control, biomass removal, shoreline and forest ecological restoration, lawn conversion to prairie, butterfly garden groundcover planting, restored food, shelter, and water resources for wildlife through natural planting scheme focused on erosion control for water quality, habitat value and productivity of park forest, savanna and prairie. For Van Buren Park, Riggs Park, and cemeteries, NCS surveyed invasive species cover, soils, and park layouts to compose native revegetation plans for water quality, wildlife, and improved user recreational and aesthetic enjoyment.  NCS wrote and obtained NFWF habitat restoration grant for Riggs Park, monitored biota pre and post-construction, designed ecological restoration practices, implemented and maintained them. NCS provided greenway design and landscape architectural services for the design and connections planning for the Iron Belle Trail, near the Belleville connection. NCS performed GPS-based topographical survey, development of preliminary plans, develop specifications and special provisions and development of estimates of cost for the project. NCS is assisting the township with implementing this, and several other, habitat restoration projects. NCS provided greenway design and landscape architectural services for the design and connections planning for the Iron Belle Trail, near the Belleville connection. NCS is assisting the township with implementing this, and several other, habitat restoration projects, too!

Stony, CELERON & SUGAR IslandS, Detroit River

We restored herpetofauna, avian, and fish habitats in coastal wetlands on Detroit River Islands, near Lake Erie. The projects involved restoring and monitoring native plant communities, and creating shoals, woody habitat and hibernaculum. This benefits the island's fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds, including the herons roosting above. 

AUDUBON BIRD HABITAT DESIGN & RESTORATION; MILFORD, MI

We worked with Michigan Audubon to design and install restored herpetofauna, avian, and fish habitats in abandoned farm fields, and use the project as a template for composing Audubon’s Michigan Native Landscape Design Guide. The project involved restoring native plant communities, and creating woody habitat and hibernaculum. This benefits amphibians, reptiles and birds, including the herons roosting above. 

Read about our design on the Michigan Audubon webpage:

https://www.michiganaudubon.org/bfc/bird-friendly-plants/

Stream Restoration, FARMINGTON HILLS

In this residential project, we consulted the client, designed, permitted, & implemented a project to stop further erosion of the property. Native plants, habitat logs, rock vanes, coir fiber bioengineering and a floral color-based wetland wildflower design were used to stabilize and restore the bank. 

BIORETENTION DESIGN, WEST BLOOMFIELD

NCS composed an ecological design plan with township environmental features setback permit requirements, and used bioswales to keep erosive stormwater out of wetlands & woodlands.

Alliance of Rouge Communities

LTU/Riverview Habitat Restorations

Point of Contact- Charles Humphriss

From rain gardens to constructed wetlands, NCS is your source for sustainable habitat landscapes; native plant-based green infrastructure assessment, design, construction, monitoring, & maintenance. We can integrate ecological components from all scales and environmental and green infrastructure goals, wildlife & value-engineer options right for you. If you're looking for vegetated solutions, we do them all, in harmony with Michigan's natural heritage. CONTACT US FOR WINTER DISCOUNTS!

https://www.naturalcommunityservices.com/take-action/ to schedule a site assessment today!

WINTER DISCOUNTS! NCS offers 20% off Design, Invasive brush control, volume & winter site assessment, grants, forestry consulting, live staking/bioengineering, native seed sowing, Phragmites brush-hogging, woody invasive species control & related work done in winter! CONTACT US now - info@naturalcommunityservices.com or 248-513-1909