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Biological Resources
Businesses often have to work in harmony with our natural environment. A complex - and sometimes confusing - network of Local, State, and Federal regulations guide this relationship. AmaTerra's biological specialists know this process. We will keep your projects on track and the natural world intact at the same time.
Threatened and Endangered Species (T&E)
It is important to know how T&E species may affect a project (or vice-versa). Our staff routinely performs surveys for individual T&E species and/or their habitats to ensure there are no surprises along the way. We can help you find ways to achieve your project’s development and management goals while complying with all of the environmental laws that apply.
Floral Survey
Floral surveys and inventories help identify plant communities, rare species, and areas of high risk to development. By knowing the plant communities in your project area, we can assist in meeting permit requirements for specific locations and providing valid avoidance alternatives to keep your project moving forward.
Biological Assessments (BA)
A Biological Assessment (BA) may serve multiple purposes, but the primary role is to analyze and document actions that may affect protected resources. Our staff is experienced in determining whether proposed actions will have an effect on a species of concern or on critical habitat. The BA's conclusions, and the rationale to support those conclusions, regarding the effect of a proposed project on a protected resource.
Regulations in the State of Texas have called for increased effort to identify and preserve threatened and endangered riverine mussels from adverse impact during public development projects. AmaTerra is one of the few environmental teams in the region that includes certified divers who have experience with submerged mussel collection survey and relocation.
Aquatic Mussel Survey
Flora/Rare Plant Species Survey for Texas Army National Guard
Client: Texas Adjutant General's Office Location: Various Counties, Texas
Take Away: Installation-wide floral evaluation survey.
AmaTerra staff have conducted rare plant species surveys for the Texas Army National Guard at their Camp Bowie, Fort Wolters, Camp Swift, and Camp Maxey facilities. These surveys were conducted over a 14-month time period and documented state and federally-listed species, species of special concern, and species tracked by the Texas Nature Conservancy. Each species was identified to species or sub-species level and photographed. Other elements recorded included diagnostic characteristics, location, physical setting, associated plant species, and relevant habitat data. All information was combined into a GIS-based comprehensive taxon inventory. Additionally, suggestions for long-term management of each target species was developed.
Experience...
While our biological staff has evaluated and documented the condition and frequency of myriad biological resources across the region, here are a few noteworthy examples of our past work.
AmaTerra staff have conducted rare plant species surveys for the Texas Army National Guard at their Camp Bowie, Fort Wolters, Camp Swift, and Camp Maxey facilities. These surveys were conducted over a 14-month time period and documented state and federally-listed species, species of special concern, and species tracked by the Texas Nature Conservancy. Each species was identified to species or sub-species level and photographed. Other elements recorded included diagnostic characteristics, location, physical setting, associated plant species, and relevant habitat data. All information was combined into a GIS-based comprehensive taxon inventory. Additionally, suggestions for long-term management of each target species was developed.
Client: Texas Adjutant General's Office Location: Various Counties, Texas
Take Away: Installation-wide floral evaluation survey.
Flora/Rare Plant Species Survey for Texas Army National Guard
FM 485 Bridge Crossing at Little Brazos River Freshwater Mussel Relocation Survey
AmaTerra, fulfilling prime contractor responsibilities under its State-Wide Biological Services contract through the Texas Department of Transportation, conducted submerged freshwater mussel survey for a proposed bridge replacement/expansion project north of Bryan, Texas. Teaming with subconsultants from Freese and Nichols, Inc, AmaTerra divers pulled 485 live mussels, representing 10 species, from the river bottom and relocated them in a locale upstream that will not be impacted by construction. Species included (among others) yellow sandshell (Lampsilis teres), threeridge (Amblema plicata), smooth pimpleback (Quadrula houstonensis), and Texas Lilliput (Toxolasma texasiensis).
City of Austin Historic Cemeteries Tree Survey
Client: City of Austin
Location: Austin, Travis County, Texas
Take Away: Tree conditions assessment for some of Austin's most treasured historic landscapes.
AmaTerra biologists and Davey Tree Experts conducted a tree inventory and survey within each of the City of Austin’s five historic cemeteries currently included in the Master Plan effort. The survey included 100 percent of the cemeteries’ open areas (~157 acres) and roughly half of the cemeteries’ densely wooded peripheries (~9 acres; 166 acres total). During that survey, the crews, working closely with the City of Austin’s Urban Forestry Department, mapped the location and various observations associated with more than 4,000 individual trees and 900 dead trees/snags and stumps. The data are being used to assist in the City's Master Plan development process and in tree management planning overall.
Biological Surveys of Proposed Tower Sites and Associated Infrastructure along the U.S. - Mexico International Border
Client: U.S. Customs and Border Protection under subcontract to The Boeing Corporation
Location: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona
Take Away: Completed biological surveys across three States on a Congressionally high-profile project.
AmaTerra staff provided biological surveys in support of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed stationary surveillance tower equipment and associated roadways and channel crossings along the U.S. - Mexico International Border. The surveys included over 150 tower sites and 40,000 linear feet of access roadways along the border area. Each survey consisted of surveys, detailed field notes describing the general project area, vegetation, animals (actually sighted or evidence of their presence), and environmental disturbances. In addition, AmaTerra personnel participated in high-level meetings in Washington D.C. with USCBP Division leads. Staff also coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and prepared interagency coordination/project status reports for members of Congress and other interested legislative partners.
Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo Surveys
Client: Weston Solutions, Inc. for Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Cap Metro)
Location: Austin, Travis County, Texas
Take Away: Presence or Absence Survey for Federally-listed Endangered Species
AmaTerra staff conducted a presence or absence survey for two federally-listed endangered birds, the Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Black-capped Vireo. Prior to the field survey, staff reviewed both Travis County and City of Austin maps for areas of known habitat. Site visits were performed on five different occasions over a one month period in accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species protocol. The surveys involved transecting trails, perimeter roads and open areas to also identify potential habitat. Surveys were conducted for a minimum of three hours in the morning, completed within seven hours of sunrise, and carried out only under favorable weather and daylight conditions that permitted species identification with binoculars and by song recognition.
Expertise...
AmaTerra’s biological scientists include botanists, both aquatic and terrestrial biologists, and T&E species experts. Additionally, we have U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service avian recovery permitted staff. Our staff can perform Environmental Baseline Surveys (EBS), Habitat Evaluation Plans (HEP), Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) surveys, rare plant surveys, habitat assessments, mapping and monitoring T&E species and plant communities, tree surveys, water quality studies, along with nesting and migratory bird surveys.
Results...
