Sequoia is leading a team of multidisciplinary scientists in preliminary studies to support the planning and permitting process of this multi-year effort to restore meadow ecosystem function to a section of the Stanislaus River below Relief Reservoir.
Sequoia is conducting multiple site assessments across a wide range of disciplines, including a wetland delineation to mitigate impacts to these sensitive resources, as well as rare plant surveys, noxious weed surveys, a tree inventory, and wildlife surveys (including raptor surveys and nesting bird surveys). Prior to these studies, Sequoia also conducted multiple surveys in the area in support of this hydroelectric project, including protocol surveys for Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, channel cross-section surveys, and a grazing impacts study.
Sequoia, with Cardno, is also providing project permitting and regulatory support with development of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and has also been tasked to assist in acquisition of the necessary project permits and certifications, including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 404 Nationwide Permit, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Section 1602 Permit, State Water Board Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Water Quality Certification, California General Construction Permit, and permit registration documents to be filed with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board 5S (CVRWQCB) that include a Notice of Intent (NOI) and a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).
Sequoia’s staff is authoring multiple impact analysis sections of the IS/MND to determine potential significance of project impacts and assisting in the development of Avoidance and Minimization Measures (AMMs) and Best Management Practices (BMPs) to mitigate these potential impacts. Sequoia’s leadership and planning on this effort has saved resources by scheduling survey tasks together and kept the client’s schedule on-track with clear and consistent deliverables.
SERVICES PROVIDED
Biological Services
Environmental Planning & Compliance
Storm Water Services
Habitat Restoration
GIS