Bio
Dr. Sharon Kramer is a senior fish and aquatic ecologist and senior consulting ecologist with more than 30 years of experience. Based in California’s north coast in Humboldt County, she works locally and statewide, throughout the United States, and internationally.
She is at the forefront of efforts to research, assess and mitigate ecological effects associated with marine renewable energy and associated terrestrial infrastructure. and associated environmental permitting, including consultations and monitoring for most of the west coast marine renewable energy and associated transmission and port development projects. With a reputation as a strong collaborator and scientific expert, Sharon has an extensive professional network in the Redwood Coast region of California and in the U. S. West coast offshore renewable energy community. She also has been planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating all aspects of habitat conservation plans since the early 1990s.
Prior to joining Integral Consulting, Dr. Kramer worked at H. T. Harvey & Associates for nearly two decades.
Relevant Experience
Ecological Risk Assessment
Hawai‘i Interagency Biosecurity Plan, Hawai‘i — Served as principal-in-charge for the aquatic and marine biosecurity aspects of Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture’s (HDOA) comprehensive, statewide biosecurity plan, a 5–10-year roadmap for implementing the infrastructure and capacity needed to support biosecurity programs at multiple agencies, including HDOA.
Wind Energy
Seabird Distribution and Risk at Wind Turbines, California — Served as principal investigator for California Energy Commission-funded project to develop a model of Seabird 3D Distribution and Relative Risk from California Offshore Wind Turbines.
Sea Space Analysis for Wave and Tidal Energy, California — Served as lead marine ecologist for the California Energy Commission-funded “sea space” assessment for wave and tidal energy off California, in response to SB 605.
Integrated, Real-Time, Multi-Scale System for Monitoring Seabird Interactions with Floating Offshore Wind Technologies Project, California — Served as principal marine ecologist for California Energy Commission-funded project to develop sensors to monitor macro, meso and micro scale seabird and bat interactions with offshore wind turbines.
Redwood Heavy Lift Marine Terminal, Eureka, California — Serves as lead marine resource ecologist providing technical and permitting support to Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District for redevelopment of Redwood Marine Terminal 1 to support Offshore Wind development. Focused on eelgrass and habitat areas of particular concern, and listed fish including salmonids, longfin smelt, and other sensitive species interactions. Analysis of dredging and large wharf construction will evaluate impacts to aquaculture (e.g., oysters, marine algae, eelgrass) and identifying potential mitigation.
CADEMO Floating Wind Project, California — Served as supervisory scientist/marine ecologist for the project located off the Central California coast. Conducted a background review of all sources of information regarding potential marine, terrestrial, and aquatic biological resources that may be present in the project area and in the vicinity, and evaluating data gaps.
Next-Generation Wind Energy, California — Served as principal investigator for California Energy Commission-funded project to develop environmental use cases and monitoring priorities for development of a digital foundation, or digital twin, of a floating offshore wind installation in order to enable continuous improvements in production optimization, lower levelized cost of energy, and a better understanding of the environmental impacts, and effective mitigation strategies, for offshore wind projects.
Shell Wind Power HCP, Humboldt County, California — Served as project manager for a habitat conservation plan for a proposed wind power project in Humboldt County. Developed the HCP, attended regulatory agency meetings, and directed analytical and scientific approaches needed to satisfy permitting requirements. The HCP addressed the endangered marbled murrelet as well as listed salmonids.
Wave and Tidal Energy
Marine and Hydrokinetic Device Interactions, U.S. West Coast — Served as principal investigator for a DOE- and BOEM-funded project Evaluating the Potential for Marine and Hydrokinetic Devices to Act as Artificial Reefs or Fish Aggregating Devices Based on Analysis of Surrogates in Tropical, Subtropical, and Temperate U.S. West Coast and Hawaiian Coastal Waters.
American Tidal Energy Project, Cook Inlet, Alaska — Served as technical lead for preparation of FERC Exhibit E document for Ocean Renewable Power Company’s Federal Energy Commission Draft Pilot License Application. Conducted environmental analysis that included a detailed description of the marine and terrestrial environmental setting, as well as relevant background information on listed and non-listed species that occur in the area, and how the species could interact with tidal energy devices.
PacWave South Wave Energy Test Site, Oregon — Served as senior marine ecologist developing the FERC license/BOEM lease, involving identification of potential project effects and uncertainties, development and negotiation of monitoring and adaptive management plans, and preparation of biological assessments, NEPA documents and other permits for both offshore and land-based infrastructure for Oregon State University’s PacWave South Wave Energy Test Site.
Sea Space Analysis for Wave and Tidal Energy, California — Served as lead marine ecologist for the California Energy Commission-funded “sea space” assessment for wave and tidal energy off California, in response to SB 605.
Water Districts
Lopez Water Project, San Luis Obispo County, California — Serves as principal-in-charge and lead ecologist for development of the habitat conservation plan (HCP) for the project. Focused on ESA-listed steelhead, California red-legged frogs, and proposed western pond turtles in Arroyo Grande Creek.
Mad River Water Right Permitting Services, Humboldt County, California — Served as the lead ecologist for the project for the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. Key impacted species included listed salmonids and freshwater mussels. Developed the 1707 application, and all associated permit documents including a major amendment to the District’s existing Habitat Conservation Plan. Closely collaborated with the District, Water Board, NMFS, USFS, and CDFW to develop an appropriate instream dedication.
Fish Ecology
Department of Water Resources Fish and Vegetation Monitoring, Sacramento, Sutter, and Yolo Counties, California — Served as lead fish ecologist on a 3-year fish monitoring project for the Department of Water Resources to evaluate levee repair project mitigations on the Sacramento River and Delta. Used acoustic telemetry to evaluate Chinook salmon and steelhead habitat use.
Santa Clara River Estuary Phase 3 Study, Santa Clara County, California — Served as the fish ecologist on the Santa Clara River Estuary Phase 3 Study Scientific Review Panel, a 3-person Science Review Panel to evaluate the amount of discharge from the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility is needed to protect and sustain the native and endangered species known to use the Santa Clara River Estuary, and/or how much discharge could be eliminated to protect these species and sustain additional priority beneficial uses.
Eel River Estuary and Centerville Slough Enhancement Project, Humboldt County, California — Served as lead fish ecologist. Assisted the project team with planning, design, and permitting for the project, focusing on minimizing and mitigating impacts, and restoring estuary habitat for aquatic species including listed coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead, longfin smelt, and tidewater goby.
Hawaiian Fisheries Project, Hawaii — Served as principal-in-charge on a project for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center that involved identifying Hawaiian fisheries that require federal conservation and management, and analyzing fishery, ecological, economic, and survey data for the pertinent bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, and coral reef ecosystem management unit species. Provided analyses and recommendations regarding which stocks require conservation and management and which should be considered for conservation and management, treated as ecosystem component species, or removed from protection under the Hawai‘i Fishery Ecosystem Plan.
Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor (South) Improvements, Island of Hawaii — Served as principal-in-charge of the ESA Section 7 and essential fish habitat consultation for proposed boating facility improvements, including construction of a new 45-foot-wide boat launch ramp and pile-supported loading docks.
Integrated Monitoring and Mitigation Approach to Reduce Entanglement Hazards for Floating Offshore Wind Developments, California — Serves as principal marine ecologist for California Energy Commission-funded project. Provides expertise on marine mammal ecology and oversight for characterization of debris that may result in entanglement with moorings and marine mammals.
Nordic Aquafarm, Eureka, California — Served as principal-in-charge and senior marine ecologist. Evaluated effects of an intake from Humboldt Bay to the aquafarm located on the north spit of Humboldt Bay and effects of the offshore outfall on marine listed species and species of concern. Prepared the BA for ESA consultation for listed salmonids, green sturgeon, and proposed sunflower sea star, and Incidental take permit application for state-listed longfin smelt.
Education & Credentials
Highlights
30+ years of experience
Comprehensive knowledge of habitats, species, and stakeholders in the region
Well-versed in EPA/CEQA/ESA/CESA processes and requirements
Involved with marine renewable energy and supporting infrastructure projects in the region since 2010
Manages a team of ecological experts in avian, fish and aquatic, and wildlife ecology
Former NMFS, USFW, and USFWS biologist
Education & Credentials
Ph.D., Marine Biology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, California, 1990
M.S., Zoology, University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa, Hawaii, 1983
B.A., Aquatic Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 1979
Professional Experience
Principal, H. T. Harvey & Associates, 2007–2026
Senior aquatic ecologist and principal, Stillwater Sciences, 2000–2007
Regional science coordinator, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1997–2000
Resource specialist, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 1996
Fish/wildlife biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1994–95