Many habitat restoration project applicants, whether proposing voluntary or mitigation activities, need a federal permit or have federal grant funding for their projects, or both. By Erik Schmidt, WRA Regulatory Permitting Specialist The Endangered Species Act (ESA) states that all federal agencies are responsible for conserving threatened and endangered species and their habitat. Section 7 … Continue Reading »
Paying for Stewardship: A Guide to Conservation Finance
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 »
WRA is a Certified Small Business in Alameda County (2020 Update)
It has been a few years since we earned our certification as a Small Business with Alameda County’s Small, Local, Emerging Business (SLEB) Program. We have grown significantly in that time and wanted to share some updates. Services and Experience Our East Bay office team, located in Emeryville, offers a full suite of environmental consulting … Continue Reading »
WRA’s New Interns Are… Terrible
With California’s latest order to “shelter in place,” WRA has transitioned to a fully remote work environment. We asked our teammates to share photos of their home-office set ups for inspiration. That’s when we started noticing some unfamiliar characters. It appears we’ve acquired a new cohort of furry interns. And they don’t seem to be … Continue Reading »
A Message from WRA, Inc. Regarding COVID-19
Dear Clients, Project Partners, and Colleagues: With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic rapidly evolving, we want to inform you of our efforts to honor our commitments to meeting project deadlines and providing deliverables, while ensuring the health and safety of both our clients and staff. Our executive team is meeting daily to update our operations, project delivery, … Continue Reading »
WRA Celebrates International Women’s Day 2020
Did you know women comprise over 40% of WRA’s staff? As we continue to expand, that percentage is steadily growing! International Women’s Day is Sunday, March 8th, 2020. This year’s theme is #EachforEqual, with an emphasis on ‘collective individualism’ to create a gender equal world. “We are all parts of a whole. Our individual actions, … Continue Reading »
Migratory Bird Treaty Act Uncertainty Continues, Yet Status Quo Remains for California
By Jason Yakich and Patricia Valcarcel There are two pending updates in relation to the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and regulation of incidental take (unintentional capture or killing) of birds protected under the MBTA. Although these potential revisions may be contributing to uncertainty about protections elsewhere in the United States, California’s codes protecting … Continue Reading »
Sr. Geomorphologist, Virginia Mahacek to Present at 2020 River Restoration Northwest Symposium
WRA is a proud sponsor of the 2020 River Restoration Northwest annual Stream Restoration Symposium on February 3rd-7th in Stevenson, Washington. Virginia Mahacek, WRA Senior Geomorphologist and long time RRNW member (and past Board of Directors President) will be presenting a talk titled “Opportunities from the Ashes: Pursuing Multiple Benefit Community and Landscape Resilience to … Continue Reading »
Navigating Changes to Federal WOTUS Policy
By Justin Semion, WRA, Inc., Director of Technical Services On January 23, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) finalized the long-anticipated Navigable Waters Protection Rule that defines “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) and clarifies the limits of federal jurisdiction over wetlands, streams, and ditches under the Clean … Continue Reading »
Research Published on New Rare Jewelflower Discovered by WRA Plant Biologist
In 2011, while working on the former Corda Ranch in northern Marin County, Aaron Arthur came across an odd-looking Streptanthus sp. on a serpentine outcrop and was not able to identify the specimens with local and regional keys. In 2012, Doreen Smith of the CNPS Marin Chapter noted a unique population of Streptanthus sp. on the south … Continue Reading »