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Ecology Photo of the Month

Endangered Burke’s goldfields

This picture shows fruits of federally Endangered Burke’s goldfields (Lasthenia burkei), an annual species of the Sunflower family. It is identified by its one long pappus bristle and several short bristles. During surveys in 2010, Nomad Ecology botanists recorded a single population of this species within Lake Mendocino, which is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Burke’s goldfields had not been seen in Mendocino County since 1886, when this species was first discovered by J.H. Burke.

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    Biology Services

    Nomad assists clients with a variety of special-status plant and animal services that range from conducting habitat assessments and focused species surveys to field mapping sensitive biological resources, preparing technical reports, and implementing mitigation and monitoring programs

    We rely on the latest scientific information and agency-approved survey techniques to document presence/absence, assess habitat quality, and prepare documentation.

     

     

     

    Biological Research Studies

    Nomad biologists have assisted in a variety of recent and on-going scientific research projects that range from natural history of local herpetofauna, to field-reconnaissance and GIS-mapping of rare plant populations, to conducting baseline population studies of snow leopards in the Himalaya. Nomad assists clients and non-profit organizations in designing, implementing, and managing a variety of scientific studies both as the principal investigator and technical consultants.

     

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    A biological resource assessment is a comprehensive analysis of sensitive biological resources including special-status plant and animal species and regulated habitats such as wetlands, riparian corridors, and coastal dunes. Such assessments meet the CEQA/NEPA requirements and are used by lead agencies and project proponents in preparing Initial Studies, Environmental Impact Reports/Statements (EIR/EIS), and regulatory permit applications. Biological resource assessments also provide detailed impact avoidance, minimization and mitigation measures to facilitate project planning and implementation.

     

    Biological Reconnaissance, Due Diligence and Peer Review

    Cursory studies of various levels of analysis that outline the key biological constraints of a given property. Most often used by property owners, prospective land developers, and municipalities to assist in assessing the potential value of a property for specific purposes including development, rezoning, easement and mitigation planning to name a few. Such assessments may also incorporate peer reviewing of documentation to validate findings or interpretations of survey results, field data, or assessment findings.

     

    Wild FlowersFocused Species Surveys and Floristic Studies

    Focused surveys provide a higher level of detail and evaluation than a biological assessment. Survey protocols, endorsed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish and Game, and California Native Plant Society are used to locate and census many special-status plant or animal species that may be present within a given study area. Such surveys range from a single visit during the appropriate blooming or breeding period when the species is most visible to comprehensive multi-year surveys that may cover large portions of the state.

     

    Wetland Delineations

    A wetland delineation provides an assessment and preliminary determination of potentially jurisdictional state or federal wetlands and waters as defined by Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, Sections 401 & 404 of the Clean Water Act, Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act, California Coastal Act, and the California Department of Fish and Game Code. Typically required for CEQA and NEPA related projects and regulatory permit acquisition, in particular U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide or Individual permits.