California has approved a comprehensive plan to protect the western Joshua Tree, which is increasingly threatened by climate change and development pressures. The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan, announced on August 16, 2025, marks the first time the state has adopted a species-specific strategy under its new biodiversity law. This plan, developed by the California
On-call contracts are more than procurement mechanisms; they’re strategic tools that enable agencies and developers to unlock agility, capacity, innovation, and specialized resources to support project delivery. Amid evolving regulations, budget constraints, and urgent socioeconomic needs, the opportunity lies not just in having an on-call contract but in leveraging that contract to its fullest potential to meet these challenges. This
[…] and effective communication, we can remain nimble and resilient, adapting to new regulations and continuing to drive innovation in a complex and ever-changing regulatory landscape. What the Administration’s 2025 Energy Orders Mean for Project Developers, Agencies, and Environmental Partners In a shift from previous climate-focused policies, the administration issued a series of executive orders in […]
Computerized hydrology modeling software utilizes sophisticated numeric models to analyze water runoff within a watershed area over a specific time period and rainfall intensity. This advanced technology revolutionizes the assessment of water resources and their impact on project planning. By integrating existing topography, soil types, and vegetation cover, hydrology models can accurately predict water surface
On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court of the U.S. (SCOTUS) issued a ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case, stating only wetlands with a continuous surface connection to large rivers, lakes, and streams are eligible for federal protection. On August 29, 2023, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended the 2023 Clean Water Rule
The operation of wind energy facilities can potentially harm bats, but the true extent of this danger is not fully understood. In some US regions, a significant challenge to developing wind energy is finding ways to lower the number of bats that collide with wind turbines while maintaining high power production levels. When developing or
Noticing is sometimes seen as the easy part of CEQA, but the CEQA public noticing process is an alphabet soup of categories and acronyms that isn’t clearly laid out in a single resource. In addition, it’s helpful to be familiar with case law that provides guidance on legally defensible notification, as well as with other
Construction delays, tied-up bonding capacity, and extraneous years of site mitigation, monitoring, and maintenance are just a few of the consequences of poorly considered and negotiated permit conditions. Conversely, a thorough, thoughtful permitting strategy can save you time and money. Dudek Habitat Restoration Practice Director Mike Sweesy offers five tips on how to tailor a
What is thermal runaway? As more renewable energy projects are developed and come online, there is an increasing need for large-scale energy storage development. A battery energy storage system (BESS) is able to store excess electricity generated by certain renewable energy sources (such as solar and wind) and when needed, quickly inject that electricity back
Consumer buying patterns, overseas manufacturing centers, and freight/goods transit modes have changed rapidly in recent years, bringing tremendous growth in the numbers (and sizes) of warehouses and distribution centers. Additionally, the coronavirus pandemic has only helped stoke the demand for online shopping and home delivery of products, which relies on a robust and growing storage
