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Representative Projects
red sand verbena
From the extraordinary to the common, the habitats of California and the western states have provided the settings for EcoSystems West projects. Reflecting the integration of human, wildlife, and botanical resources, the following examples intend to provide a broad overview of our company's expereince and expertise with these issues.
U.S. Forest Service Botanical Surveys
Between 2000 and 2007, EcoSystems West conducted a total of 11 botany surveys for the U.S. Forest Service in northern California, 10 on the Plumas National Forest and one on the Modoc National Forest. The survey areas ranged in size from 1,300 to 9,400 acres. The objectives of the surveys were to locate, identify, mark, and map occurrences of Forest Sensitive and Special Interest plant species, noxious weeds, and special habitats, as well as to generate a complete floristic checklist for each survey area. These surveys were conducted in remote, rugged areas, requiring the field crews to have excellent backcountry and navigation skills. During these surveys, EcoSystems West botanists documented occurrences of 44 special-status plant species and 10 noxious weed species. In one survey, a federally Threatened species, Layne's ragwort (Senecio layneae) was documented on the Plumas National Forest for the first time. In the course of these surveys, EcoSystems West also documented numerous special habitats, including areas of serpentine substrate, springs, seeps, ponds, meadows, aspen stands, a fen, and, in one survey, unique volcanic tablelands supporting a distinctive vegetation assemblage.
Special-status plant species and noxious weeds occurrences and special habitats encountered during these surveys were mapped as point or polygon features using resource-grade, differentially corrected GPS with a Forest Service-supplied data dictionary. Occurrences of these botanical resources were marked in the field with flagging according to Forest Service specifications. Survey products submitted to the Forest Service for each survey included a technical botany survey report, including a list of all vascular plant species encountered in the survey; GIS shapefiles generated from the GPS data; and Forest Service occurrence forms and accompanying maps for all special-status species and noxious weed occurrences.
Monterey County Bridges Natural Environment Studies
EcoSystems West, in collaboration with Denise Duffy Associates, conducted nine Natural Environment Studies for bridge replacement or seismic retrofit projects, following Caltrans standards, for the County of Monterey, California. EcoSystems West conducted botany and wildlife surveys for each study. Botanical surveys involved thorough surveys of the mapped Area of Potential Impacts (API) of each site for special-status plant species and sensitive habitats; characterization and mapping of all habitat types occurring within each API; and compilation of a complete list of all vascular plant species observed within each API. Wildlife studies involved literature and database review to determine which special-status wildlife species had potential to occur in each API and assessment-level field surveys to characterize wildlife habitats within each API, to assess potential of each API to support special-status wildlife species, and to record incidental wildlife observations. In some cases, focused surveys for amphibians and roosting bats were also conducted. For each project, EcoSystems West assessed potential project impacts to botanical and wildlife resources and proposed mitigation measures. For each survey, EcoSystems West prepared a Natural Environment Study technical document following a standard outline specified by Caltrans.
Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area Botany
EcoSystems West botanists conducted a botanical survey for the California Department of Parks and Recreation on over 2,000 acres of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, located near Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California. The survey area consisted almost entirely of sensitive coastal sand dune habitat that supports a high concentration of special-status plant species, and also contains two large natural lakes. EcoSystems West botanists surveyed the area thoroughly for special-status plant species and characterized all habitat types occurring within the survey area. Special-status plant species occurrences were mapped using differentially corrected GPS (except for two species that were very widespread). Habitat types were mapped onto high-resolution color satellite images. EcoSystems West botanists also generated a complete floristic list of all vascular plant species observed in the survey area. Occurrences of 11 special-status plant species, some of them quite extensive, were observed and mapped. Eight native habitat types were recognized and mapped. Products of the survey included a technical report, GIS shapefiles of special-status plant locations generated from the GPS data, and detailed maps of habitat types within the survey area.
Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area Botany
EcoSystems West conducted a botanical survey of approximately 4,900 acres on the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area, west of Tracy in the inner south coast ranges of Alameda and San Joaqauin counties, California, including an existing off-road vehicle riding area and recently acquired lands. EcoSystems West botanists surveyed the study area for special-status plants and characterized all habitat types occurring within the area. Special-status plant species occurrences were mapped using differentially corrected GPS, and habitat types were mapped onto aerial photographs. Floristic lists of all species observed within the existing riding area and the recently acquired lands were generated. Occurrences of seven special-status plant species were located and mapped. In addition, EcoSystems West botanists observed a fritillary (Fritillaria sp.) at two locations that could not be satisfactorily identified, and which may be an undescribed taxon. EcoSystems West botanists recognized and mapped 15 native habitat types in the survey area, including four habitat types recognized as sensitive by the CDFG. Products of the survey included a technical report, GIS shapefiles of special-status plant locations generated from the GPS data, and an aerial photo-map of habitat types within the survey area.
Fallon Naval Air Station Botany
EcoSystems West conducted a baseline vegetation study for the U.S. Navy on lands of the Fallon Naval Air Station (NAS Fallon) in Churchill County, Nevada. The total area of all lands included in the survey was approximately 100,000 acres. The emphasis of this study was to classify and map the vegetation of the surveyed lands. EcoSystems West botanists obtained quantitative data on vegetation composition using relevé (plotless) sampling and quadrat and line intercept sampling along transects placed within representative vegetation throughout all of the survey areas. The data was analyzed using cluster (UPGMA) analysis to group similar stands of vegetation into distinct vegetation types. These types were then described with reference to a standardized Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) vegetation classification scheme for the region. As a result of this analysis, 20 major upland habitat types were recognized on NAS Fallon lands, with two very widespread habitat types having several intergrading subtypes. EcoSystems West botanists also generated floristic lists of all vascular plant species observed in each of the separate areas included in the study. Products of the survey included a technical report with complete descriptions of each recognized habitat type and a vegetation map of the areas included in the study.
Lemoore Naval Air Station Botany
EcoSystems West conducted a baseline botanical survey for the U.S. Navy on undeveloped portions of the Lemoore Naval Air Station (NAS Lemoore), encompassing several thousand acres of undeveloped land. The study included compilation of a complete floristic inventory for the areas studied and a survey for special-status plants and noxious weeds. EcoSystems West botanists used quadrat sampling along line transects randomly placed within representative areas of upland vegetation to obtain quantitative data on species composition and structure of the vegetation. Relevé (plotless) sampling was used to obtain data on composition of pocket wetlands and drainage ditches, habitats of more limited extent on NAS Lemoore lands. Occurrences of two special-status plant species and 20 noxious weeds were documented in the areas studied. The predominant upland vegetation of undeveloped portions of NAS Lemoore lands is annual grassland dominated by non-native grasses and both nartive and non-native herb species; EcoSystems West's sampling provided data on variation in species composition within this vegetation type. Products of the survey included a technical report and a vegetation map.
Pebble Beach Yadon's Piperia Study
EcoSystems West, in collaboration with ecologist Jodi McGraw, is conducting a multi-year ecological study of the federal endangered orchid Yadon's piperia (Piperia yadonii) in the vicinity of Pebble Beach, Monterey County, California, for the County of Monterey Planning and Building Inspection Department. The purpose of this study is inform management decisions for this orchid and to aid in the development of mitigation measures for future development projects in Pebble Beach. During the first year of the study (2005), microhabitat preferences for Yadon's piperia were investigated by recording biotic (species composition, tree canopy cover) and abiotic (e.g. litter depth, slope, aspect, and soil characteristics) data in 131 10×10 m. randomly placed plots in Monterey pine forest, with the plots divided between areas supporting the orchid and areas where the orchid was absent. Statistical analyses of these data allowed detailed characterization of microsites supporting Yadon's piperia and development of lists of indicator species positively and negatively correlated with occurrences of the orchid. Demographic data (e.g. numbers of reproductive vs. vegetative plants, numbers of diseased or browsed plants, fruit production of flowering individuals) was also recorded for Yadon's piperia within the 10×10 m. plots containing the orchid, and the relationship between demographic performance and environmental variables was analyzed.
During the second year of the study (2006), data from the previous year's habitat characterization study were used to identify and map areas potentially suitable for transplantation of Yadon's piperia or enhancement of its habitat. Also in 2006, manipulative experiments were initiated within blocks of permanently marked sample plots to investigate the effects of exotic plant removal, litter removal, and sowing of Yadon's piperia seed in enhancing habitat for the orchid, and also to investigate the effects of herbivory on the orchid. Experiments investigating Yadon's piperia tuber handling and storage, translocation of tubers by moving tuber-containing soil using a tree spade, and seed collection, handling, and storage were also initiated. Population and demographic data for Yadon's piperia in the 10×10 m plots was also recorded in 2006, and was compared to the previous year's results. During the third and fourth years of the study, results of the habitat enhancement and tuber storage experiments were monitored, and some habitat enhancement experiments were repeated. Yadon's piperia population and demographic data were also recorded in the third and fourth years, and the relationship between these variables and rainfall amounts for the current and preceding years over the course of the multi-year study was investigated statistically.
Lucerne-Big Bear Transmission Line Biotic Surveys
EcoSystems West conducted botanical and wildlife surveys for Southern California Edison and Bear Valley Electric Company of proposed power line corridors and associated facilities extending from the floor of the Mojave Desert southeast of Lucerne Valley to the vicinity of Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. Surveys were conducted over a period of several years due to changes in the proposed power line routing and siting of ancillary facilities. The survey areas spanned an elevation range of approximately 4,000 feet, with a diverse assemblage of habitat types, and included two distinct areas of specialized substrate types supporting high concentrations of special-status plants: limestone at lower elevations and unusual clay/quartzite pebble soils, known as "pebble (pavement) plains" at higher elevations. Proposed and existing facilities included in the survey included several alternative proposed power line corridors; alternative proposed substation sites; existing unimproved roads proposed for construction access; and three existing pole lines proposed for removal.
Botanical surveys included detailed, small-scale mapping of special-status plant occurrences in all areas potentially subject to disturbance by the proposed project, as well as characterization and mapping of all habitat types occurring in the survey areas. Wildlife studies included assessment-level surveys of all survey areas to characterize wildlife habitats and evaluate suitability of these areas to support special-status wildlife species. Focused surveys for raptors, other bird species, and desert tortoise were also conducted. During the botanical surveys, 25 special-status plant species, including 11 federally listed species, were documented in areas subject to potential direct or indirect impacts of the proposed project, and five habitat types occurring in project areas were identified as sensitive by the CDFG. EcoSystems West botanist Roy Buck also conducted construction monitoring on a temporary underbuild (upgrade) to an existing power line that was constructed as an adjunct to the proposed power line project, in order to ensure avoidance of impacts to special-status plants. Wildlife surveys identified at least 13 special-status wildlife species potentially impacted by the proposed project, including one butterfly species, three reptile species, six bird species, and three mammal species. Several other special-status wildlife species associated with a large wetland complex at the base of the mountains were also identified as potentially sustaining impacts from the proposed project. For both botany and wildlife, EcoSystems West biologists identified potential direct and indirect project impacts to sensitive resources and developed mitigation measures.
Products of the surveys included a detailed technical report, a biological resources section for a combined EIS/EIR document, a Mitigation and Monitoring Plan for botanical and wildlife resources, and a construction monitoring report for the temporary underbuild project. EcoSystems West also provided detailed maps of special-status plant occurrences in all areas subject to potential project impacts and a map of special-status wildlife observations in the project vicinity.
San Clemente Dam Biotic Study
EcoSystems West conducted botanical and wildlife surveys for the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District and Cal-Am Water Company for a proposed seismic retrofit project to the existing San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River in Monterey County, California. Areas surveyed included sizable floodplain areas along the Carmel River and Tularcitos Creek and upland areas both upstream and downstream of the dam that could sustain impacts from the seismic retrofit project itself, construction of new roads and widening of existing roads for access, and construction of other project-related improvements such as a cement batch plant.
EcoSystems West botanists developed a habitat classification scheme for the vegetation of the survey area that recognized 13 habitat types, with two shrub types divided into several intergrading subtypes. Eight habitat types were recognized as sensitive. Habitat types were mapped onto aerial photographs, and the mapping was then transferred to a base map. All survey areas were thoroughly surveyed for special-status plant species, with one special-status species observed. EcoSystems West wildlife biologists conducted assessment-level surveys for wildlife species and habitats, and also conducted species-specific focused surveys for seven special-status amphibian, reptile, and mammal species as well as focused surveys for nesting special-status bird species. Special-status wildlife species observed in survey areas included California red-legged frog southwestern pond turtle Cooper's hawk (breeding) yellow warbler (presumed to be breeding), osprey, and Monterey dusky-footed wood rat, and suitable habitat for several other special-status species was judged to be present. EcoSystems West biologists analyzed potential project impacts to sensitive botanical and wildlife resources and developed a series of mitigation measures. Products of the surveys included a technical report, a biological resources EIR section, and maps of habitat types and sensitive wildlife resources.
