Biological Resources
EEC's team of wildlife biologists, botanists, hydrologists, cultural resource specialists, and land use planners can provide a biological resource analysis that includes the many facets of a project that must be considered in today's regulatory environment. Our experience and familiarity with natural resources throughout the Southwest allows us to make defensible habitat assessments and to determine the appropriate level of analysis required to analyze potential effects related to specific projects without spending unnecessary time and resources.
Service Areas Include:
- Wildlife Surveys
- Biological Evaluations (BE)
- Biological Assessments (BA)
- Jurisdictional Wetland Determinations and Delineations
- Rare Plant and Noxious Weed Surveys
- Endangered Species Management Plans (ESMP)
- NEPA Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Statement Documentation
Project Experience:
Craycroft Road Expansion BE and EAMR, Pima County, Arizona
EEC surveyed natural resources within the project area, completed a BE and biological resource portions of an EAMR, and conducted the jurisdictional delineation for this roadway widening project. The BE will be used to facilitate ESA Section 7 compliance as part of anticipated 404 permit requirements.
Arivaca Endangered Species Survey and BA, Pima County, Arizona
EEC completed a BA in compliance with Section 7 of the ESA for a proposed 3.6 mile sewer relief pipeline. EEC performed Pima pineapple cactus and cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl surveys within the project site. We inventoried and mapped plants protected by Arizona Native Plant Law and Pima County Native Plant Preservation Ordinance throughout the site.
55 Priority Vulnerable Species Habitat Assessment Guidelines, Pima County, Arizona
EEC prepared draft habitat analysis protocol guidelines to be used in conjunction with the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP) of Pima County. This protocol allows for the evaluation of habitat and its potential to support any of the 55 Priority Vulnerable Species listed under the SDCP.
Endangered and Sensitive Species Surveys and Management Plans, Fort Huachuca, Arizona
Since 2000 , EEC has conducted inventory and monitoring surveys for the Mexican spotted owl, southwestern willow flycatcher, yellow-billed cuckoo, peregrine falcon, northern goshawk, and Huachuca water umbel. Additionally, EEC assisted Fort Huachuca in the development of an ESMP for the Mexican spotted owl.
On-Call Services, Pima County Wastewater Management Department, Pima County, Arizona
EEC evaluated proposed project sites in terms of the ability of subject lands to support federally listed endangered and threatened species and provided suggestions regarding potential mitigation for adverse effects. EEC developed a five-year plan to forecast potential endangered species compliance issues within numerous Pima County wastewater facility properties. Additionally, EEC performed endangered species surveys on 12 of 36 PCWWM project sites.
