Tim Twohig, Environmental Specialist at DiPrete Engineering, sees firsthand that environmental fieldwork is truly a year-round effort – rain, heat, cold, and snow included. Rather than stopping when conditions change, the Environmental Services team adapts to them.
In cold conditions, extra layers such as thermals, heated vests, electronic hand warmers, and warm drinks keep crews working safely and efficiently. In hot weather, the focus shifts to hydration, and even simple things like fruit help the team stay energized in the heat. When rain moves in, big umbrellas come out to protect work like percolation tests so the accuracy of results isn’t affected. These same weather considerations apply across field services, including DiPrete’s surveying team.
Each season brings its own benefits and challenges, but the work continues. Winter offers fewer bugs, no spider webs, better visibility of the landscape without leaves, and higher water tables that make hydrology easier to observe. Bad weather days are also great for writing wetland permit submissions, like Notices of Intent (NOIs). At the same time, shorter days, frozen soils, and limited plant identification can make tasks more difficult. In summer, abundant vegetation and flowering plants support data collection, wetlands are often drier and easier to access, and longer daylight hours allow for extended field time. At the same time, heat exhaustion, reduced visibility in dense foliage, and plenty of mosquitoes become part of the equation.
Despite these seasonal contrasts, field investigations and regulatory work move forward. Earlier this season, Tim visited Westerly, RI, flagging an isolated wetland dominated by Phragmites along the edge of an existing house lot. Although the wetland isn’t connected to the coast, it is still regulated by the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). Tim also traveled to Chicopee, MA to collect data for an NOI submission related to an Enforcement Order. Last week, Tim was in Plymouth, MA completing soil profiles ahead of the incoming blizzard.
Through all of it, Tim’s message is simple: while the forecast may change, the work in the field continues. To stay connected with Tim’s latest field insights, follow him on LinkedIn!
