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
Every spring biology survey is slightly different. While some species—plants and butterflies to name two—have variable survey seasons, others have well-established or federally mandated survey seasons. Missing a survey window can adversely impact a project’s schedule. Working closely with project biologists can help identify biological constraints early in the process, helping a project stay on
Throughout California, riparian habitat and water resources are threatened by the effects of climate change and continued population growth. Buena Vista Creek in Oceanside, California is one such place. The creek has been highly fragmented due to development and contains engineered creek segments, which has degraded native habitat, decreased native riparian and freshwater wetlands, and
On December 28, 2021, the USFWS published a proposed rule in the Federal Register listing four of six Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) of the foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) under the Endangered Species Act. This follows the 2020 listing by the California Fish and Game Commission of five of six clades of the foothill yellow-legged
On December 21, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officially published the final listing rule for the Hermes copper butterfly (Lycaena [Hermelycaena] hermes), designating it as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As the species is endemic to San Diego County and northern Baja California, Mexico, the final rule designates
The AICP certification exam is held twice a year and tests planners critical thinking skills and ability to foresee consequences and mitigate issues in the context of planning throughout the United States. The test covers five topics areas, including Fundamental Planning Knowledge; Plan Making and Implementation; Areas of Practice; Leadership, Administration, and Management; and AICP
Invasive shothole borer (ISHB) is a group of two species of ambrosia beetles that are native to Southwest Asia. Suspected to have first arrived in Southern California in 2003, the beetles were previously misidentified as a less aggressive pest until approximately 2012. Since then, thousands of trees in forests, cities, and residential areas have become
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
As mitigation related to the former operation of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), Southern California Edison (SCE) sought to expand the existing 174-acre Wheeler North Reef, a manmade rocky reef, off the coast of San Clemente, California by an additional 202 acres. Dudek environmental planners, archaeologists, and marine biologists assisted California State Lands
With stay-at-home orders in place, people are increasingly turning to online technology to meet virtually. For projects with a requirement to conduct public outreach or with a need to hold public board meetings or presentations, technologies like Zoom are critical. However, swift, widespread adoption of the technology also revealed vulnerabilities and weaknesses of the Zoom
