Assessments & Surveys

Assessments & Surveys

BioMaAS offers a full array of assessment and surveys including:

  • Biological Assessments;
  • Special Status Species Habitat Assessments;
  • Special Status Species Surveys;
  • Nesting Bird Surveys;
  • Wetland Delineations.

BioMaAS possesses the resources and expertise necessary to provide our clients with full biological services.

BioMaAS offers a full range of field assessments, from reconnaissance level surveys that assist clients with an early evaluation of potential biological constraints, to detailed biological assessments of properties which identify all biological resources present as well as make recommendations for further field work. Our professionals have experience conducting thorough biological surveys, assessing project impacts on biological resources. Data collected from regional and local references and site-specific field studies are analyzed to determine potential environmental issues and identify feasible mitigation measures.  Our staff works with the project designers and regulatory agencies to provide practical, environmentally sensitive solutions to facilitate project implementation.  Our wildlife biologists conduct wildlife species inventories, population/density analysis, migration and corridor studies, and wildlife habitat characterizations. We can provide vegetative mapping and habitat characterization studies, quantitative vegetation sampling and statistical analysis, tree inventories, taxonomic studies, and plant species inventories.  Our impact and avoidance mitigation plans are based on sound conservation biology principals.

Special Status Species Habitat Assessments and Surveys

BioMaAS holds Federal Section 10(a)1(A) Recovery Permits for Federally Threatened California red-legged frog, Federally and State Endangered San Francisco garter snake, Federally and State Endangered salt marsh harvest mouse, and Federally Threatened California tiger salamander, and has experience in conducting habitat assessments and protocol-level surveys for a full spectrum of special-status species throughout the state of California. Our special-status species experience includes reptiles and amphibians (California red-legged frog, foothill yellow-legged frog, California tiger salamander, blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila), silvery-legless lizard, San Francisco garter snake, Alameda whipsnake, giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas), western pond turtle, and desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)), mammals (San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), salt marsh harvest mouse, San Joaquin pocket mouse (Perognathus inornatus), Giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens), and San Francisco dusky-footed woodrat), birds (nesting bird surveys, western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), Aleutian cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii leucoparia), use and abundance surveys, and wind turbine raptor studies), and fish (steelhead, salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp), delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris), and exotic species) surveys.

Our team of professionals provides comprehensive compliance services for special-status species.  We have extensive experience conducting studies and coordinating projects under the federal and California Endangered Species Acts.  Our team has considerable experience and expertise in conducting habitat-based and protocol-level surveys for federal and state-listed species, preparing biological assessments, and conducting formal and informal consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Services, and California Department of Fish and Game under Sections 7 and 10 of the federal Endangered Species Act, and Section 2081 of the California Endangered Species Act.

Wetland Delineation/Waters Regulatory Services

BioMaAS provides a complete array of wetland regulatory services for our clients.  Our staff are thoroughly versed in regulatory processes associated with obtaining permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the River and Harbor Act of 1899; Water Quality Certifications under Section 401 and Waste Discharge Requirements under the Porter-Cologne Act; and Section 1600 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements with the California Department of Fish and Game.  Using approved methodologies, BioMaAS biologists have conducted wetland delineations in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 1600 of the California Fish and Game Code, and can assist clients in identifying wetland issues and obtaining verified delineations of jurisdictional wetlands.