WAPA-SN Contracts with GeomorphIS to Provide Access Road Bio Support

The DOE Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), Sierra Nevada (SN) region issued GeomorphIS and partner Bargas Environmental a task order to provide biological resource services, including biological survey, monitoring, site preparation and clean up, and on-call biological resource services for the Path 15 2023 Access Road Grading Project in Fresno County, California. Biological surveys include reconnaissance surveys, pre-construction surveys, and may involve protocol-level species surveys for blunt-nosed leopard lizard, giant kangaroo rat, and/or San Joaquin kit fox. Other species of potential concern include burrowing owl and San Joaquin woolly-threads. The work will be completed by the end of 2023.

BLM-ID Tasks GeomorphIS Team to Conduct Downingia Species Surveys In Idaho

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Boise District, has tasked a GeomorphIS-Pyramid Botanical Consultants team to conduct surveys of Downingia insignis (Harlequin calicoflower) and Downingia bacigalupii (Bach’s calicoflower) in W Idaho during 2023.  There are a total of 42 element occurrences (EOs) on the Boise District with high potential for additional populations. Both species are threatened from livestock grazing and climate change/drought. Downingia sp are riparian obligates, often occurring in ephemeral pools or livestock ponds. Actions are necessary to assess the condition/health of the known EOs, identify potential habitat and inventory for new populations, and better understand the habitat requirements and distribution for these species. This project proposes to visit known EOs and collect plant and habitat information. This will be compared against baseline data to assess trend for each EO. Additionally, potential habitat would be surveyed for potential occupancy.

WAPA-DSW Tasks GeomorphIS to Provide Cultural Resources Services in Arizona

The Department of Energy (DOE), Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), Desert Southwest (DSW) Region has tasked a GeomorphIS-Harris Environmental team to conduct Cultural Resources Class I and Class III Inventory Support associated with the Evaluating Cultural Sites for WAPA’s facilities, outside of Navajo Reservation, Coconino County, Arizona. The cultural team will survey Transmission Lines Rights of Way (ROWs) and Access Roads in compliance with environmental laws and regulations, including the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), and applicable State Laws. The cultural survey task is anticipated to be completed in early 2024.

USFS Awards GeomorphIS First Task Order under LMIR BPA to Conduct Cultural Surveys in Arizona

The USDA Forest Service (USFS) issued a task order to a GeomorphIS-Harris Environmental team to conduct heritage/cultural resources surveys for the Rim Country-Wildcat, West Chevelon, and Sand Point (Phase I) project on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNFs), Arizona. This survey is part of the larger Rim Country NEPA area and forest restoration project. Work in the survey units consists of inventorying 7,000 acres within the Rim Country NEPA area, recording isolated occurrences and new sites, and monitoring or rerecording previously recorded sites within and adjacent to the survey area on the ASNFs. An inventory report, GIS data entry, and data entry into the Heritage NRM Database will be required for this survey. The purpose of the Rim Country project is to “restore and maintain the structure, pattern, health, function, and composition and diversity in forests and grasslands across the landscape” moving to the project area toward the desired conditions outlined in the land management plan. This is GeomorphIS’ first task order under the USFS Land Management Integrated Resource (LMIR) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), a nationwide BPA to provide professional services and stewardship capabilities to Forests in every region.