Bio
Mr. Ben Pearl is a senior wildlife ecologist and consulting ecologist in Integral’s San Francisco Bay Area office. He has more than a dozen years of experience working in tidal marshes, managed wetlands, and uplands habitats of San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay. His expertise is in general avian ecology, with a specialty in shorebird and seabird ecology and a strong background in survey methods.
Mr. Pearl’s masters research assessed the winter foraging habitat selection of western snowy plovers in South San Francisco Bay managed ponds. As a recognized western snowy plover expert, he performed snowy plover surveys for federal, state, and local agencies throughout the San Francisco Bay Area for 10 years, and continues to contribute his expertise to the management and recovery of this federally threatened species. Mr. Pearl has also performed surveys, monitoring, and reporting for additional Bay Area special-status species, including the California least tern and burrowing owl. He contributes his expertise in marsh and wetland bird ecology and special-status species to a variety of environmental documents and projects.
Prior to joining Integral Consulting, Mr. Pearl was a senior wildlife ecologist and project manager at H. T. Harvey & Associates where he worked for 3 years.
Relevant Experience
CEQA/NEPA
Valley Water, Pond A4 Resilient Habitat Restoration Project, Sunnyvale, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a biological assessment for the project to beneficially reuse soil from Valley Water’s Steam Maintenance Program for construction of a shallow foraging mudflat bench in Pond A4. Contributed to Ecological Assessment Report that led to project CEQA exemption through California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) cutting the green tape initiative.
Valley Water Canal Maintenance Program, throughout Santa Clara County, California — Serves as project manager for H. T. Harvey’s assessment of biological resources issues for the program, which includes over 25 miles of conveyance canals for water delivery in Santa Clara County. Duties include surveying all canals, conducting background research on biological resources in the project region, and preparing the biological resources chapter of the Environmental Impact Report.
Pacific Gas and Electric Newark to Trimble Substation 115 kV Transmission Line Reconductoring Project, Fremont, Santa Clara, and San Jose, California — Served as project manager for a CEQA assessment for a Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) reconductoring project through numerous sensitive habitats. Duties included characterizing existing biological conditions across the study area, assessing impacts to sensitive species and habitats due to proposed project activities, and identifying appropriate avoidance and minimization measures from project permits issued by CDFW, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California State Water Resources Control Board, and the PG&E Bay Area habitat conservation plan. Special status species assessed include the salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, California black rail, and western snowy plover.
US 101/SR 25/Santa Teresa Extension Project, Gilroy, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a natural environmental study to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Also serves as project manager for commitment record compliance assistance for biological surveys on this project.
Shoreline Area Irrigation Main Replacement, Mountain View, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation for irrigation system replacement at Shoreline Park.
Strategy to Advance Flood Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation along the Bay, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, California — Serves as project manager for several tasks for the project, including a biological resources report and draft environmental impact report. The project integrates coastal flood protection with ~1000 acres of tidal marsh restoration/pond enhancement and sea level rise adaptation for ~7 miles of the South San Francisco Bay shoreline integrated with the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Provides managed pond and tidal marsh wildlife species expertise for the project’s restoration design, balancing trade-offs between managed pond enhancements for the western snowy plover and tidal salt marsh restoration for the salt marsh harvest mouse and California Ridgway’s rail.
Port of Redwood City Ferry Terminal Project EIR, Redwood City, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Suitable habitat for numerous sensitive species is present in the project area, including salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, California black rail, and western snowy plover.
Redwood Life Project EIR for the Precise Plan, Redwood City, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Suitable habitat for numerous sensitive species is present adjacent to the project area, including salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, and California black rail.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Beneficial Reuse of BART Silicon Valley Phase II Tunnel Excavated Material, Bayside Cities and Unincorporated Areas in Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties — Serves as project manager for the wildlife ecology aspects of the project. Duties include preparing a biological existing conditions report, biological constraints report, and impact assessment under CEQA/NEPA for managed pond and marsh species such as the western snowy plover, California Ridgway’s rail, and salt marsh harvest mouse.
Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area, Unincorporated Santa Clara County, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biotic resource assessment and biological monitoring for geotechnical boring, and contributes to the basis of design for conceptual alternative restoration and enhancement designs. The project entails considering the opportunities and constraints associated with managed ponds and tidal marsh alternatives.
FESA/CESA
Valley Water, Pond A4 Resilient Habitat Restoration Project, Sunnyvale, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a biological assessment for the project to beneficially reuse soil from Valley Water’s Steam Maintenance Program for construction of a shallow foraging mudflat bench in Pond A4. Contributed to Ecological Assessment Report that led to project CEQA exemption through California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) cutting the green tape initiative.
Valley Water Canal Maintenance Program, throughout Santa Clara County, California — Serves as project manager for H. T. Harvey’s assessment of biological resources issues for the program, which includes over 25 miles of conveyance canals for water delivery in Santa Clara County. Duties include surveying all canals, conducting background research on biological resources in the project region, and preparing the biological resources chapter of the Environmental Impact Report.
Pacific Gas and Electric Newark to Trimble Substation 115 kV Transmission Line Reconductoring Project, Fremont, Santa Clara, and San Jose, California — Served as project manager for a CEQA assessment for a Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) reconductoring project through numerous sensitive habitats. Duties included characterizing existing biological conditions across the study area, assessing impacts to sensitive species and habitats due to proposed project activities, and identifying appropriate avoidance and minimization measures from project permits issued by CDFW, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California State Water Resources Control Board, and the PG&E Bay Area habitat conservation plan. Special status species assessed include the salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, California black rail, and western snowy plover.
US 101/SR 25/Santa Teresa Extension Project, Gilroy, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a natural environmental study to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Also serves as project manager for commitment record compliance assistance for biological surveys on this project.
Shoreline Area Irrigation Main Replacement, Mountain View, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation for irrigation system replacement at Shoreline Park.
Habitat Enhancement, Community Engagement, and Use of Motus to Support Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern Recovery at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, Hayward, California — Led project design and participated in USFWS Traditional Section 6 grant funded project to setup Motus node array and tag western snowy plovers at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve. This project identified how snowy plovers utilize habitat during the breeding season to guide future habitat enhancement efforts.
Strategy to Advance Flood Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation along the Bay, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, California — Serves as project manager for several tasks for the project, including a biological resources report and draft environmental impact report. The project integrates coastal flood protection with ~1000 acres of tidal marsh restoration/pond enhancement and sea level rise adaptation for ~7 miles of the South San Francisco Bay shoreline integrated with the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Provides managed pond and tidal marsh wildlife species expertise for the project’s restoration design, balancing trade-offs between managed pond enhancements for the western snowy plover and tidal salt marsh restoration for the salt marsh harvest mouse and California Ridgway’s rail.
Port of Redwood City Ferry Terminal Project EIR, Redwood City, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Suitable habitat for numerous sensitive species is present in the project area, including salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, California black rail, and western snowy plover.
Redwood Life Project EIR for the Precise Plan, Redwood City, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Suitable habitat for numerous sensitive species is present adjacent to the project area, including salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, and California black rail.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Beneficial Reuse of BART Silicon Valley Phase II Tunnel Excavated Material, Bayside Cities and Unincorporated Areas in Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties — Serves as project manager for the wildlife ecology aspects of the project. Duties include preparing a biological existing conditions report, biological constraints report, and impact assessment under CEQA/NEPA for managed pond and marsh species such as the western snowy plover, California Ridgway’s rail, and salt marsh harvest mouse.
City of Alameda, On-Call Biological Consulting, Alameda, California — Assisted the City of Alameda in obtaining USFWS approval for drone use by law enforcement at Alameda Point by identifying avoidance and minimization measures that would avoid impacts on nesting California least terns.
Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area, Unincorporated Santa Clara County, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biotic resource assessment and biological monitoring for geotechnical boring, and contributes to the basis of design for conceptual alternative restoration and enhancement designs. The project entails considering the opportunities and constraints associated with managed ponds and tidal marsh alternatives.
Western Snowy Plover Monitoring in Northern California, San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay Areas, California — While working at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, conducted hundreds of surveys for breeding and wintering western snowy plovers in San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay. Permitted to conduct surveys, nest monitoring, egg floating, and color banding of adults and chicks. Coordinated with USFWS to co-lead western snowy plover Recovery Unit 3, which includes all bayside portions of the San Francisco Bay estuary.
California Least Tern Monitoring in the San Francisco Bay, San Francisco Bay Area, California — While working at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, conducted hundreds of surveys for breeding California least terns in the San Francisco Bay. Permitted to conduct surveys, nest monitoring, and egg floating. For five years, managed California least tern breeding colony located at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, including conducting habitat enhancements.
Estuarine Species
Valley Water, Pond A4 Resilient Habitat Restoration Project, Sunnyvale, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a biological assessment for the project to beneficially reuse soil from Valley Water’s Steam Maintenance Program for construction of a shallow foraging mudflat bench in Pond A4. Contributed to Ecological Assessment Report that led to project CEQA exemption through California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) cutting the green tape initiative.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project, San Jose, California — Served as project manager for biological resources issues during the construction phase of the project, which included pre-activity surveys and construction monitoring for salt marsh harvest mice, California Ridgway’s rails, California least terns, western snowy plovers, and other nesting birds and providing solution-oriented recommendations and agency coordination, such as rescuing the eggs of an abandoned snowy plover nest, to support ongoing project work in the vicinity of listed wildlife species.
Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project, Palo Alto, California — Served as project manager for biological resources issues during the construction phase of the project, which included monitoring for salt marsh harvest mice, California Ridgway’s rails, and special-status fish species during construction adjacent to tidal salt marsh and open water.
Palo Alto Baylands Boardwalk Repairs, Palo Alto, California — Served as project manager for biological resources issues during repair of the Palo Alto Baylands Boardwalk, which included monitoring for salt marsh harvest mice and California Ridgway’s rails during work within tidal salt marsh.
Pacific Gas and Electric Newark to Trimble Substation 115 kV Transmission Line Reconductoring Project, Fremont, Santa Clara, and San Jose, California — Served as project manager for a CEQA assessment for a Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) reconductoring project through numerous sensitive habitats. Duties included characterizing existing biological conditions across the study area, assessing impacts to sensitive species and habitats due to proposed project activities, and identifying appropriate avoidance and minimization measures from project permits issued by CDFW, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California State Water Resources Control Board, and the PG&E Bay Area habitat conservation plan. Special status species assessed include the salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, California black rail, and western snowy plover.
De-Pave Park Project, Alameda, California — Serves as wildlife ecologist for the design phase of the park. The project involved creation of 17.8 acres of subtidal and tidal habitats for shorebirds, waterbirds, and seabirds and upland habitat for terrestrial habitat, while ensuring no impacts to the California least tern colony on adjacent property at Alameda Point.
Shoreline Area Irrigation Main Replacement, Mountain View, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation for irrigation system replacement at Shoreline Park.
Habitat Enhancement, Community Engagement, and Use of Motus to Support Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern Recovery at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, Hayward, California — Led project design and participated in USFWS Traditional Section 6 grant funded project to setup Motus node array and tag western snowy plovers at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve. This project identified how snowy plovers utilize habitat during the breeding season to guide future habitat enhancement efforts.
Strategy to Advance Flood Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation along the Bay, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, California — Serves as project manager for several tasks for the project, including a biological resources report and draft environmental impact report. The project integrates coastal flood protection with ~1000 acres of tidal marsh restoration/pond enhancement and sea level rise adaptation for ~7 miles of the South San Francisco Bay shoreline integrated with the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Provides managed pond and tidal marsh wildlife species expertise for the project’s restoration design, balancing trade-offs between managed pond enhancements for the western snowy plover and tidal salt marsh restoration for the salt marsh harvest mouse and California Ridgway’s rail.
Port of Redwood City Ferry Terminal Project EIR, Redwood City, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Suitable habitat for numerous sensitive species is present in the project area, including salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, California black rail, and western snowy plover.
Redwood Life Project EIR for the Precise Plan, Redwood City, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Suitable habitat for numerous sensitive species is present adjacent to the project area, including salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, and California black rail.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Beneficial Reuse of BART Silicon Valley Phase II Tunnel Excavated Material, Bayside Cities and Unincorporated Areas in Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties — Serves as project manager for the wildlife ecology aspects of the project. Duties include preparing a biological existing conditions report, biological constraints report, and impact assessment under CEQA/NEPA for managed pond and marsh species such as the western snowy plover, California Ridgway’s rail, and salt marsh harvest mouse.
City of Alameda, On-Call Biological Consulting, Alameda, California — Assisted the City of Alameda in obtaining USFWS approval for drone use by law enforcement at Alameda Point by identifying avoidance and minimization measures that would avoid impacts on nesting California least terns.
Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area, Unincorporated Santa Clara County, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biotic resource assessment and biological monitoring for geotechnical boring, and contributes to the basis of design for conceptual alternative restoration and enhancement designs. The project entails considering the opportunities and constraints associated with managed ponds and tidal marsh alternatives.
Permitting
Valley Water, Pond A4 Resilient Habitat Restoration Project, Sunnyvale, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a biological assessment for the project to beneficially reuse soil from Valley Water’s Steam Maintenance Program for construction of a shallow foraging mudflat bench in Pond A4. Contributed to Ecological Assessment Report that led to project CEQA exemption through California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW).
Strategy to Advance Flood Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation along the Bay, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, California — Serves as project manager for several tasks for the project, including a biological resources report and draft environmental impact report. The project integrates coastal flood protection with ~1000 acres of tidal marsh restoration/pond enhancement and sea level rise adaptation for ~7 miles of the South San Francisco Bay shoreline integrated with the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Provides managed pond and tidal marsh wildlife species expertise for the project’s restoration design, balancing trade-offs between managed pond enhancements for the western snowy plover and tidal salt marsh restoration for the salt marsh harvest mouse and California Ridgway’s rail.
Wildlife Surveys
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project, San Jose, California — Served as project manager for biological resources issues during the construction phase of the project, which included pre-activity surveys and construction monitoring for salt marsh harvest mice, California Ridgway’s rails, California least terns, western snowy plovers, and other nesting birds and providing solution-oriented recommendations and agency coordination, such as rescuing the eggs of an abandoned snowy plover nest, to support ongoing project work in the vicinity of listed wildlife species.
Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project, Palo Alto, California — Served as project manager for biological resources issues during the construction phase of the project, which included monitoring for salt marsh harvest mice, California Ridgway’s rails, and special-status fish species during construction adjacent to tidal salt marsh and open water.
Palo Alto Baylands Boardwalk Repairs, Palo Alto, California — Served as project manager for biological resources issues during repair of the Palo Alto Baylands Boardwalk, which included monitoring for salt marsh harvest mice and California Ridgway’s rails during work within tidal salt marsh.
Valley Water Canal Maintenance Program, throughout Santa Clara County, California — Serves as project manager for H. T. Harvey’s assessment of biological resources issues for the program, which includes over 25 miles of conveyance canals for water delivery in Santa Clara County. Duties include surveying all canals, conducting background research on biological resources in the project region, and preparing the biological resources chapter of the Environmental Impact Report.
Pacific Gas and Electric Newark to Trimble Substation 115 kV Transmission Line Reconductoring Project, Fremont, Santa Clara, and San Jose, California — Served as project manager for a CEQA assessment for a Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) reconductoring project through numerous sensitive habitats. Duties included characterizing existing biological conditions across the study area, assessing impacts to sensitive species and habitats due to proposed project activities, and identifying appropriate avoidance and minimization measures from project permits issued by CDFW, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California State Water Resources Control Board, and the PG&E Bay Area habitat conservation plan. Special status species assessed include the salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, California black rail, and western snowy plover.
US 101/SR 25/Santa Teresa Extension Project, Gilroy, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a natural environmental study to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Also serves as project manager for commitment record compliance assistance for biological surveys on this project.
Habitat Enhancement, Community Engagement, and Use of Motus to Support Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern Recovery at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, Hayward, California — Led project design and participated in USFWS Traditional Section 6 grant funded project to setup Motus node array and tag western snowy plovers at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve. This project identified how snowy plovers utilize habitat during the breeding season to guide future habitat enhancement efforts.
Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area, Unincorporated Santa Clara County, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biotic resource assessment and biological monitoring for geotechnical boring, and contributes to the basis of design for conceptual alternative restoration and enhancement designs. The project entails considering the opportunities and constraints associated with managed ponds and tidal marsh alternatives.
Western Snowy Plover Monitoring in Northern California, San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay Areas, California — While working at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, conducted hundreds of surveys for breeding and wintering western snowy plovers in San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay. Permitted to conduct surveys, nest monitoring, egg floating, and color banding of adults and chicks. Coordinated with USFWS to co-lead western snowy plover Recovery Unit 3, which includes all bayside portions of the San Francisco Bay estuary.
California Least Tern Monitoring in the San Francisco Bay, San Francisco Bay Area, California — While working at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, conducted hundreds of surveys for breeding California least terns in the San Francisco Bay. Permitted to conduct surveys, nest monitoring, and egg floating. For five years, managed California least tern breeding colony located at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, including conducting habitat enhancements.
Compliance Monitoring
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project, San Jose, California — Served as project manager for biological resources issues during the construction phase of the project, which included pre-activity surveys and construction monitoring for salt marsh harvest mice, California Ridgway’s rails, California least terns, western snowy plovers, and other nesting birds and providing solution-oriented recommendations and agency coordination, such as rescuing the eggs of an abandoned snowy plover nest, to support ongoing project work in the vicinity of listed wildlife species.
Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project, Palo Alto, California — Served as project manager for biological resources issues during the construction phase of the project, which included monitoring for salt marsh harvest mice, California Ridgway’s rails, and special-status fish species during construction adjacent to tidal salt marsh and open water.
Palo Alto Baylands Boardwalk Repairs, Palo Alto, California — Served as project manager for biological resources issues during repair of the Palo Alto Baylands Boardwalk, which included monitoring for salt marsh harvest mice and California Ridgway’s rails during work within tidal salt marsh.
Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area, Unincorporated Santa Clara County, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biotic resource assessment and biological monitoring for geotechnical boring, and contributes to the basis of design for conceptual alternative restoration and enhancement designs. The project entails considering the opportunities and constraints associated with managed ponds and tidal marsh alternatives.
Freshwater Species
Valley Water Canal Maintenance Program, throughout Santa Clara County, California — Serves as project manager for H. T. Harvey’s assessment of biological resources issues for the program, which includes over 25 miles of conveyance canals for water delivery in Santa Clara County. Duties include surveying all canals, conducting background research on biological resources in the project region, and preparing the biological resources chapter of the Environmental Impact Report.
Pacific Gas and Electric Newark to Trimble Substation 115 kV Transmission Line Reconductoring Project, Fremont, Santa Clara, and San Jose, California — Served as project manager for a CEQA assessment for a Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) reconductoring project through numerous sensitive habitats. Duties included characterizing existing biological conditions across the study area, assessing impacts to sensitive species and habitats due to proposed project activities, and identifying appropriate avoidance and minimization measures from project permits issued by CDFW, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California State Water Resources Control Board, and the PG&E Bay Area habitat conservation plan. Special status species assessed include the salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, California black rail, and western snowy plover.
US 101/SR 25/Santa Teresa Extension Project, Gilroy, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a natural environmental study to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Also serves as project manager for commitment record compliance assistance for biological surveys on this project.
Shoreline Area Irrigation Main Replacement, Mountain View, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation for irrigation system replacement at Shoreline Park.
Peninsula Open Space Trust Wildlife Compatible Land Use Literature Review, Los Gatos, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a literature review of light, noise, and human disturbance impacts on mammals and amphibians for Peninsula Open Space Trust. Conducted extensive research of published scientific literature, synthesized the results into key points, and provided best management practices for local agencies to utilize.
Botanical Surveys
US 101/SR 25/Santa Teresa Extension Project, Gilroy, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a natural environmental study to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Also serves as project manager for commitment record compliance assistance for biological surveys on this project.
Shoreline Area Irrigation Main Replacement, Mountain View, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation for irrigation system replacement at Shoreline Park.
Strategy to Advance Flood Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation along the Bay, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, California — Serves as project manager for several tasks for the project, including a biological resources report and draft environmental impact report. The project integrates coastal flood protection with ~1000 acres of tidal marsh restoration/pond enhancement and sea level rise adaptation for ~7 miles of the South San Francisco Bay shoreline integrated with the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Provides managed pond and tidal marsh wildlife species expertise for the project’s restoration design, balancing trade-offs between managed pond enhancements for the western snowy plover and tidal salt marsh restoration for the salt marsh harvest mouse and California Ridgway’s rail.
Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area, Unincorporated Santa Clara County, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biotic resource assessment and biological monitoring for geotechnical boring, and contributes to the basis of design for conceptual alternative restoration and enhancement designs. The project entails considering the opportunities and constraints associated with managed ponds and tidal marsh alternatives.
Bird Safe Design
Port of Redwood City Ferry Terminal Project EIR, Redwood City, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Suitable habitat for numerous sensitive species is present in the project area, including salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, California black rail, and western snowy plover.
Redwood Life Project EIR for the Precise Plan, Redwood City, California — Serves as project manager for the preparation of a biological resources report to facilitate CEQA evaluation. Suitable habitat for numerous sensitive species is present adjacent to the project area, including salt marsh harvest mouse, California Ridgway’s rail, and California black rail.
Habitat Conservation Planning
Peninsula Open Space Trust Wildlife Compatible Land Use Literature Review, Los Gatos, California — Served as project manager for the preparation of a literature review of light, noise, and human disturbance impacts on mammals and amphibians for Peninsula Open Space Trust. Conducted extensive research of published scientific literature, synthesized the results into key points, and provided best management practices for local agencies to utilize.
Western Snowy Plover Monitoring in Northern California, San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay Areas, California — While working at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, conducted hundreds of surveys for breeding and wintering western snowy plovers in San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay. Permitted to conduct surveys, nest monitoring, egg floating, and color banding of adults and chicks. Coordinated with USFWS to co-lead western snowy plover Recovery Unit 3, which includes all bayside portions of the San Francisco Bay estuary.
California Least Tern Monitoring in the San Francisco Bay, San Francisco Bay Area, California — While working at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, conducted hundreds of surveys for breeding California least terns in the San Francisco Bay. Permitted to conduct surveys, nest monitoring, and egg floating. For five years, managed California least tern breeding colony located at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, including conducting habitat enhancements.
Education & Credentials
Highlights
More than 12 years of experience
Avian ecology
Salt marsh ecology and restoration
Endangered species conservation
Western snowy plover and California least tern expert
Education & Credentials
M.S., Environmental Studies, San Jose State University, San Jose, California, 2015
B.S., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, California, 2009
Permit
California Department of Fish and Wildlife scientific collecting permit and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 10(a)(1)(A) for western snowy plover and California least tern
Professional Experience
Senior ecologist 2, H. T. Harvey & Associates, 2023–July 2026
Biological monitor, Vernadero Inc., 2016–2017
Plover and tern program director, San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, 2013–2023