Biology and Wetlands



	LSA HOME ABOUT LSA Locations Principals Clients Employment ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Environmental Analysis Biology and Wetlands Habitat Restoration Water Quality Air Quality Noise Cultural Resources and Paleontology GIS/GPS PLANNING Community and Land Use Planning Resource Planning and Management Transportation DESIGN Urban Design
				LSA offers unusual depth of experience in biological and wetlands consulting, plus broad technical expertise in wetland science, wildlife biology, botany, entomology, soil science, and native plant horticulture. LSA specializes in permitting for projects with impacts on wetlands and endangered species, and LSA has earned credibility and a reputation for professionalism with resource agencies. LSA provides high-quality, objective technical reports that focus on our clients’ needs—whether that means assessing the impacts of a project, developing feasible and cost-effective mitigation measures, or modifying a project to minimize impacts. LSA's projects range from housing developments, utility transmission lines, transportation projects, and General Plans to resource management plans, mitigation banks, and parks. LSA's studies can be tailored to the client’s needs and budget. Through each stage of a project, LSA scientists work on multidisciplinary teams with planners and engineers to develop plans that work for clients. Many clients ask LSA to provide “due diligence” evaluations for properties in escrow. LSA also helps clients plan to minimize impacts and streamline the permit process, avoiding costly delays. SERVICES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: Surveys for rare, threatened, and endangered species: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, fairy shrimp, other invertebrates, and plants (LSA holds state and federal permits required for surveys of many of these species.) Natural resource inventories, vegetation mapping, and habitat evaluations Analysis of biological opportunities and constraints at a reconnaissance level or in depth Assessing biological impacts and developing feasible mitigation measures (for Environmental Impact Reports [EIRs] and Environmental Impact Statements [EISs]) Developing habitat restoration and mitigation plans (For more information, see the overview of Habitat Restoration services.) Biological monitoring during construction and after completion of a mitigation or restoration plan Wetland permitting: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) (Section 10 and Section 404) and California Regional Water Quality Control Board (Section 401 certifications) Delineating (mapping) jurisdictional wetlands Analyzing alternatives under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Section 404(b)(1) guidelines alternatives Endangered Species Act consultation, under state and federal law Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) Permitting for coastal development Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements Developing permitting strategies
				REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS:
				Geysers Recharge Pipeline Monitoring Project City of Santa Rosa, Utilities Department Sonoma County, California LSA is providing environmental consulting services for botany, wildlife, and wetlands for this pipeline project... continued

				San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Span Biological Monitoring Project Services Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. Alameda and San Francisco Counties LSA is part of a six-year team effort to provide biological monitoring during the construction of the east span of the Bay Bridge and the dismantling of the existing east span, as well as post construction monitoring of selected mitigation sites. Caltrans is the Lead Agency. As the task leader for bird monitoring, LSA is responsible for developing protocols and conducting the monitoring of various bird species, including shorebirds (high tide roosts), least terns, brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, western gulls, peregrine falcons, and land birds that may nest on Yerba Buena Island. The western project limit is the eastern portal of the Yerba Buena Island tunnel, within the City and County of San Francisco; the eastern project limit is near the toll plaza, within the City of Oakland. The project study area includes San Francisco Bay waters adjacent to the existing bridge and north of the bridge, where the new east span is under construction.
				Antelope-Pardee 500 kV Transmission Line Project and Antelope Transmission Project Burns & McDonnel (Owner's Agent for Southern California Edison) Los Angeles and Kern Counties LSA conducted preconstruction floral and faunal surveys for a new 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line totaling approximately 80 linear miles. The three-segment line will pass through public, national forest, and private lands in Los Angeles and Kern Counties. LSA prepared technical reports consistent with the EIR/EIS mitigation requirements for CEQA and NEPA. Primary biological issues associated with the three segments include focused surveys for sensitive plants and animals such as short-joint beavertail, San Gabriel oak, California red-legged frog, arroyo toad, desert tortoise, burrowing owl, Swainson’s hawk, willow flycatcher, least Bell’s vireo, California gnatcatcher, and American badger. All biological data were collected using 2-5 meter accuracy GPS units. The GPS information was then quality-checked using geographic information system (GIS) mapping and aerial photography.
				San Francisco International Airport Master Plan San Francisco International Airport San Francisco, California The $2.8-billion San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Master Plan included redevelopment and expansion of the landside facilities at SFO, including a new international terminal, redevelopment of portions of the existing domestic terminals, a new airport access roadway system, a new on-airport Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station, a new on-airport people mover system, expanded cargo facilities, and associated improvements. LSA’s role on the project involved managing the environmental approvals for the SFO Master Plan. Key environmental approvals included the following: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Approval of the SFO Master Plan project by the Federal Aviation Administration Section 404 Permit Approvals Section 7 Consultation
				City of San Diego On-Call Environmental Services City of San Diego San Diego, California LSA was contracted by the Water and Sewer Design Division (formerly Wastewater Facilities and Engineering) and Capital Project Department of the City of San Diego to provide environmental consulting services. The services requested and provided for multiple Water & Sewer Design projects included biological resources assessment and GPS/GIS mapping; interpretation of federal, State, and local environmental regulations; and construction monitoring. Additionally, LSA is currently teaming with City of San Diego staff and consultants to provide mapping, impacts analysis, and recommendations for compliance with City Guidelines. The project team assisted the City in developing standards for GIS data collection and vegetation mapping.
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