Biological Surveys + Research

A group of people hiking in a desert landscape under a clear blue sky, with sparse vegetation and distant mountains.

Biological resource mitigation can be influential in project schedules, and at times can even suggest design constraints that could impact construction costs. Permit approvals and associated mitigation measures are informed by the results of field surveys that characterize potential habitat and identify the presence/absence of sensitive and listed plant and animal species as well as the distribution, density, and abundance of such species.

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Each project has unique technical complexities, but many survey protocols and sampling techniques used in the environmental consulting industry have been standardized and codified through collaboration and professional consensus among biologists working in the private sector, research universities, non-profits and government conservation organizations.

Our personnel come to the job with years of experience in agency protocol surveys, an appreciation for the survey context in terms of regional ecology, and a professional knowledge of the industry-specific factors likely to influence project success in meeting permit mitigation measures. In this way they are distinguished in their ability to deliver value and efficiently complete the work that underpins the professional products required for review by government agencies.

Planning & Permitting

At Wilder we work closely with clients and agency contacts to understand project plans and permit measures so that surveys and mitigation actions can be implemented most efficiently, while still generating the depth of quality data needed to inform best decisions.

    • NEPA- and CEQA-compliant general Biological Assessments and other baseline studies

    • Habitat mapping and characterization, including wetland delineation and US Army Corps Engineers (USACE) waterways identification

    • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) nesting bird surveys and point count presence/absence

    • Botanical surveys using California Native Plants Society (CNPS) protocol guidance to assess plant community structure

    • California rare (CNPS and CDFW) and listed (CDFW ) plants

    • Western Joshua Tree Census (CDFW)

    • Mojave desert tortoise (USFWS protocol presence/absence and site clearance)

    • Western Burrowing Owl (CDFW protocol presence/absence)

    • Raptor surveys (USFWS and CDFW counts)

A woman in outdoor clothing holding a small, fluffy owl on a rocky desert landscape with mountains in the background.

We maintain a robust network of career-level field biologists and subject matter experts to bring on to larger and more complex projects. In this way we can quickly scale and meet the needs of each individual project.

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See More Services

  • Close-up of a person's hand holding a black pen and writing on a sheet of paper filled with rows and columns of handwritten numbers and words, possibly a ledger or a record sheet.

    Permit Compliance: Biological Assessments, Mitigation Plans, Reporting

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  • A person in a reflective vest and hat walking on a dirt road in a desert, with a bulldozer nearby and dry bushes on either side of the path under a clear blue sky.

    Construction Monitoring

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  • Two workers excavate a trench in a desert landscape, installing underground cables with shovels and equipment, with palm trees and mountain ranges in the background.

    Specialized Mitigation for Listed + Sensitive Species

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  • A green military truck parked on a dirt area with a large red and white radio tower and people in construction vests working nearby in the background. The sky is clear and blue.

    Biological Resources Support for Federal Lands + Department of Defense Infrastructure

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  • Desert landscape with Joshua trees, dry shrubs, distant mountains, and a colorful sunset sky.

    Permitting Support for Private Residential + Small Business

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