Bio
Ms. Valary Bloom is a plant and wildlife biologist with more than 30 years of experience working across public and private sectors. She served more than 24 years as a regulatory and ecosystem recovery planning specialist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Delta field offices. She served on the Bay Restoration Regulatory Integration Team (BRRIT) as a USFWS regulator.
During her time at USFWS, Ms. Bloom authorized—using streamlining project permitting tools, where feasible—various multi-benefit restoration projects under Sections 7 and 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) involving improvements to flood protection, water quality and public recreation, and habitat restoration and enhancement actions for multiple federal- and state-listed species. Her role as author of the Recovery Plan for Tidal Marsh Ecosystems of Northern and Central California makes her uniquely qualified to guide project design, aiming to restore estuaries and baylands using a climate resilient approach. She also served on the Technical Advisory Committee of the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program, providing guidance related to the development of pre- and post-project monitoring frameworks.
Ms. Bloom is an experienced project manager and communicates effectively with a diverse array of stakeholders. Her extensive experience in the regulatory realm positions her to advise and support clients in navigating state and federal mandates while achieving their project goals.
Relevant Experience
Planning and Permitting
Malibu Surfrider Beach Living Shoreline Project, Malibu, California — Assisted in coordination with resource agencies on federal permit applications on behalf of California State Parks and Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors on a multi-benefit living shoreline and habitat restoration project to address ongoing shoreline erosion threats to beach habitat and historic cultural resources. The proposed project reduces shoreline erosion and restores beach sediments and habitats through a geomorphic and historical ecology-informed, nature-based approach. The design utilizes large trees salvaged from a local wildfire, along with boulders, which are carefully placed into an engineered log jam to deflect wave energy away from the shoreline.
Mitigation Credit Agreements, The Nature Conservancy, Bay Area, California — Facilitated the establishment of mitigation credit agreements (MCAs) in Sonoma (Resilient SR 37 MCA Framework) and Santa Clara (Highway 17 Wildlife Crossing MCA Project) counties. Ongoing work includes outreach to stakeholders to introduce the regional conservation investment strategies and use of MCAs under the program. It also includes coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on developing program guidelines and drafting initial framework and individual project site components.
San Francisco Marina Improvement and Remediation Project, San Francisco, California — Performed permitting for a remediation project on the San Francisco waterfront that also involves marina renovation. Advised on incorporating living shorelines principles into habitat design and assisted in development of permit applications.
OneShoreline On-call Stream Maintenance Program, San Mateo County — Team was awarded a contract that includes on-call environmental permitting support to OneShoreline—San Mateo County’s cutting-edge sea level rise and flood protection agency—to efficiently permit infrastructure maintenance and capital projects. The scope of work includes biological and environmental monitoring, cultural resources monitoring, environmental permitting, Regional Conservation Investment Strategy Advance Mitigation Planning, as well as mitigation design and long-term monitoring.
San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority’s (SFCJPA) Strategy to Advance Flood Protection, Ecosystems and Recreation (SAFER Bay), Menlo Park and Palo Alto, California — Provided pre-application technical guidance on the BRRIT. Work included reviews of draft design sets; avoidance and minimization measures; and adaptive management, maintenance, and monitoring approaches related to Section 7 of the ESA. The project aimed to protect critical infrastructure, protect and restore critical habitat, provide community resilience (to current tidal flooding and projected sea level rise), and improve recreational access via engineered structures and nature-based flood protection. The project incorporated substantial habitat creation, enhancement, and management offsets to state and federal threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Led coordination between SFCJPA and the USFWS Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge regarding proposed mitigation at the Ravenswood Pond complex.
Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water), Pond A4 Resilient Habitat Restoration Project, Sunnyvale, California — On the BRRIT, provided pre-application technical guidance. Work included reviews of draft design sets; avoidance and minimization measures; and adaptive management, maintenance, and monitoring approaches related to Section 7 of the ESA. The work concerned a beneficial reuse project using sediment from Valley Water’s Stream Maintenance Program. The project proposed to create mudflat habitat to benefit shoreline birds along Pond A4’s southern shoreline.
Deer Island Basin Complex Tidal Wetlands Restoration Project, Marin County, California — On the BRRIT, as a USFWS regulator, issued a programmatic permit under Section 7 of the ESA for a project that contributed to long-term flood control goals and sea level rise resiliency for the lower Novato Creek Baylands. The project aimed to restore ecologically valuable tidal wetlands for endangered species and improve tidal connectivity to the diked areas along Novato Creek. The objective was to protect critical infrastructure within and adjacent to the project area by maintaining or increasing current levels of flood protection.
Contra Costa County Lower Walnut Creek Restoration/Pacheco Marsh Public Access Project, Martinez, California — Provided authorizations, pursuant to Section 7 of the ESA, for the enhancement and restoration of wetlands and riparian habitat along 4 miles of Walnut Creek to provide vital wildlife habitat and sustainable flood protection as well as to allow opportunities for public access and recreation.
City of Alameda’s De-Pave Park, Alameda, California — Provided pre-application technical guidance—including a review of draft design sets and adaptive management, maintenance, and monitoring plans—related to Section 7 of the ESA for a proposed 12-acre ecological park involving removal of concrete to create a range of habitats (from subtidal and tidal to upland) and provide public access amenities. The park will be designed for habitats to evolve as sea level rises to create additional tidal wetlands with continued public access from a raised boardwalk and connection to adjacent restored wetlands.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, Union City, California — Provided pre-application technical guidance—including a review of draft design sets and adaptive management, maintenance, and monitoring plans—related to Section 7 of the ESA for 1) the restoration of more than 1,375 acres of tidal wetlands between Old Alameda Creek and the Alameda Creek Flood Control Channel, 2) the possible addition of 400 acres of enhanced pond habitat, 3) the construction of innovative flood protection elements, and 4) around 4 miles of new Bay Trail.
East Bay Regional Park District’s Restore Hayward Marsh Project, Hayward, California — Provided pre-application technical guidance—including a review of draft design sets and adaptive management, maintenance, and monitoring plans—related to Section 7 of the ESA for a multifaceted project aimed at conserving and enhancing the ecological benefits of Hayward Marsh. To ensure the marsh’s resilience to climate change, the project focuses on shoreline adaptation, levee improvements, upland habitat creation, wildlife habitat enhancement (including planning for shorebird habitat, which accommodates sea level rise over time), the addition of public access/wildlife viewing, and community engagement.
McInnis Marsh Beneficial Dredge Sediment Reuse and Tidal Wetlands Restoration Project, San Rafael, California — Provided pre-application technical guidance—including a review of draft design sets and adaptive management, maintenance, and monitoring plans—related to Section 7 of the ESA for a project to restore up to 30 acres of diked wetlands and reverse subsidence across 140 acres of marsh. The project will involve the use of approximately 110,000 yd3 of clean dredge sediments from Gallinas Creek to support future tidal marsh habitat restoration and improve resilience to future sea level rise.
City of Palo Alto’s Palo Alto Horizontal Levee Pilot Project, Palo Alto, California — Provided authorizations pursuant to Section 7 of the ESA for a project to create a roughly 300-linear-foot horizontal levee to serve multiple purposes, including habitat restoration, wastewater treatment, public access, and flood protection. Designed a pilot study to gather data for future flood protection projects and to demonstrate the effectiveness of horizontal levees in nature-based solutions. The project utilized USFWS’s then-new streamlined permitting tool—the Programmatic Biological and Conference Opinion—for the California Statewide Restoration Programmatic Consultation, greatly reducing permit processing times.
East Bay Dischargers Authority’s First Mile Project, Hayward, California — Provided pre-application technical guidance—including a review of draft design sets and adaptive management, maintenance, and monitoring plans—related to Section 7 of the ESA for a full-scale horizontal levee intended as a demonstration site for other projects. The project builds on the concept developed at the Oro Loma Horizontal Levee demonstration site.
Regulatory Compliance
Permitting Compliance for Piers 39-43 ½ Sediment Remediation Project, San Francisco, California — Led permit compliance monitoring related to permitting for a project involving multiple pier areas along the San Francisco waterfront. The project includes dredging and capping PAH-contaminated sediment with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) as the lead agency for the California Environmental Quality Act. Permitting agencies include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Water Board, and Bay Conservation and Development Commission, with consultations on essential fish habitat and endangered species with CDFW, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Marine Fisheries Service, and USFWS.
Finley Ranch Easement Area, San Ramon, California — Prepared interim management plan, long-term management plan and mitigation, and maintenance and monitoring plan for compensatory mitigation site east of the City of San Ramon. The project involved seasonal wetland, pond, and swale creation for the site, which ultimately will be managed by East Bay Regional Park District. Duties also included calculation of necessary endowment costs to fund short- and long-term management.
NRDA For Oil Spills
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Florida — Assisted with oiled bird monitoring under the USFWS’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration program.
Education & Credentials
B.A., Biology, California State University, Sacramento, California, 1995
Continuing Education
OSHA 10-Hour General Industry
First Aid/CPR/AED Certified
USFWS National Conservation Center Trainings: Planning for a Changing Climate, Endangered Spp. Recovery Planning and Implementation, Field Techniques for Invasive Plant Management, Structured Decision-Making, Habitat Conservation Planning, Contracting Basics, and Managing by Network (Partnership and Community Collaboration Academy)