Conservation finance is a fascinating new way for landowners to earn revenue, but it can prove challenging to navigate on your own. If you’re curious about this emerging field, check out Paying for Stewardship, a free guide for landowners about conservation finance, co-authored by WRA’s Jane Rice in partnership with the Western Landowners Alliance, Conservation … Continue Reading »
Markets
The Benefits of Public-Private Collaboration for Land Preservation
The Tri-Valley area in Alameda County is a vibrant Bay Area suburb that encompasses the cities of Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton. The region, marked by rolling hills and sprawling residential developments, is experiencing rapid growth. The area’s open spaces and grazing lands support sensitive species and habitats, including federal and state-listed species, but currently lacks … Continue Reading »
Pathogen Poses Threat to Habitat Restoration and Open Space Projects in California
By Isaac Swanson, Tanner Harris, and Kari Dupler Phytophthora is a water-borne fungus transmitted through contact with infected soil, water, or leaves. Some Phytophthora species are relatively innocuous, but others–like Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of Sudden Oak Death–can be deadly to woody shrubs and trees and even to some grass and marsh species native to … Continue Reading »
2018 ACES Conference Features WRA Conservation Finance Expertise
Members of WRA’s conservation strategies team including Matt Richmond and Jane Rice will attend the 2018 ACES: A Community on Ecosystem Services conference December 3-6, 2018 in Washington, D.C. This year’s event will convene an international community of professionals, researchers, and policy experts in an open forum to share experiences, methods, and tools for assessing … Continue Reading »
Oak Knoll Groundbreaking September 12, 2018
On September 12, 2018, the Oak Knoll development project broke ground after nearly decades of planning. WRA’s Amanda McCarthy, Kari Dupler, and Susie Bennett attended the event as guests alongside our client SunCal, government officials including Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Oakland City Council President Larry Reid, and local community leaders. The site, formerly … Continue Reading »
WRA Participates in NAHB ESA Practitioner Panel
Through WRA’s involvement in the California Building Industry Association, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) invited Amanda McCarthy, PhD PWS, to join a panel of practitioners and to speak about WRA’s experiences working with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for consultation on impacts to listed species under the Federal Endangered Species … Continue Reading »
Silicon Valley Clean Water Project Wins AEP 2018 Outstanding Environmental Analysis Award
The Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) held their annual conference in Palm Springs March 25-28, 2018 in Rancho Mirage, California. The Silicon Valley Clean Water Wastewater Conveyance System and Treatment Plant Reliability Improvement Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was recognized with AEP’s top honor – the Outstanding Environmental Analysis Award. WRA wishes to congratulate our … Continue Reading »
Spring Environmental Checklist
RARE PLANT SURVEY Conducting a full season of rare plant surveys before designing your project can help you avoid last-minute redesigns and costly project delays. The first step is conducting a habitat assessment to determine whether rare plants have potential to occur on your site and whether surveys are needed. Because different rare plants bloom … Continue Reading »
WRA to Co-Present at the 2017 Land Use Law Conference
WRA, Inc. is honored to be part of the 2017 Land Use Law conference, hosted by CLE International. On September 18-19 in San Francisco, developers, planners, regulators, and attorneys will gather to discuss critical topics facing California land use law and policy. WRA President Geoff Smick will co-present a session on Monday, September 18th from 1:45-2:45 pm … Continue Reading »
Ecosystem Renewal, The Earth Partners, WRA, CIM successfully partner on Texas mitigation banks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 27, 2017 Harris County, Texas: Over the past year, Ecosystem Renewal (ER) and The Earth Partners (TEP) have successfully partnered to develop large-scale wetland mitigation solutions for the rapidly growing greater Houston area. They permitted and constructed one of the largest wetland banks in Texas slated to provide over 5,000 freshwater and … Continue Reading »
