Shannon Martin, Ph.D.’s Post

#ESA Section 7 updates!

Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service introduced three important changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which were published in the Federal Register. These new rules, effective from May 6, include modifications to how agencies collaborate under the ESA, changes to the procedures for listing species and designating critical habitats, and the reinstatement of the "blanket rule." This update is crucial for the ongoing efforts to protect endangered species. Read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/gryg9XFi #EndangeredSpeciesAct #EnvironmentalProtection #WildlifeConservation

Although specific federal and state statutes protect threatened and endangered species, CEQA Guidelines Section 15380(b) provides that a species not listed on the federal or state list of protected species may be considered rare or endangered if the species can be shown to meet certain criteria. Whether a species is rare, threatened, or endangered can be legally significant because, under CEQA Guidelines Section 15065, an agency must find an impact to be significant if a project would “substantially reduce the number or restrict the range of an endangered, rare, or threatened species.” Thus, CEQA provides an agency with the ability to protect a species from a project’s potential impacts until the respective government agencies have an opportunity to designate the species as protected, if warranted. #environmentalplanning #ceqa #nepa #realestatedevelopment #landentitlements #landdevelopment #coxplanningsolutions #duediligence #wetlands #propertydevelopment #permitting #environmentalplanning #environmentalpermitting #environmentalplanner #environmentalconsulting #environmentalconsultant #projectplanning #wetlanddelineation #biologicalresources

Interested in a webinar on fire emergency management? Don't miss the next one from Pau Costa Foundation, Association for Fire Ecology and International Association of Wildland Fire! Here are the details!

Did you know that any project has the potential to impact threatened or endangered resources or their habitat? These should be reviewed. A review should take place for all on-the-ground projects (land and water management, development, restoration, utility, etc.). Even if a project is not state or federally conducted, funded or approved, it is still subject to state and federal endangered species law. We have included in the link below a few items to keep in mind. * Timing * Process * What is an Endangered Species REVIEW? * What information for planning is available to YOU? * Typical Outcomes of Threatened and Endangered Species REVIEW * How to adjust with project CHANGES? WE CAN HELP! Contact me or one of our R/M experts today! #ruekertmielke #environemntal #municipalities #utilities #engineering #endangeredspecies #funding

Final rules for the #endangeredspeciesact have been published, and Matthew Morrison, Ashleigh Myers and Cara MacDonald detail some of the substantial changes implemented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service. #environmentallaw

USA: $5 Million in Grants for Fish Research Projects The Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have announced a $5 million funding opportunity for research on key #fish species. The grants will support studies on Chinook #salmon, rainbow #trout, green #sturgeon, white sturgeon, and Delta smelt in the Central Valley and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. This funding, available in fiscal year 2025 (pending budget approval), aims to gather information that improves decision-making models for fish recovery strategies. Eligible projects include field and lab studies that focus on fish growth, survival rates, movement, and population size, among other factors. Researchers are encouraged to apply for these competitive grants, with applications being evaluated based on their potential to achieve specific research outcomes. For more details and application requirements, visit grants.gov and search for “Central Valley Project Fish Information Needs” or use opportunity number R24AS00329. https://lnkd.in/dPtGVpZm #aquaculture #fishfarming

How important is positioning accuracy for your survey equipment? Cornwall IFCA reached out to speak to us about upgrading their existing USBL system. With one of 10 Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities covering the coast of England, they were looking to minimise the impact of fishery activities to the environment through the use of our products. Having researched the Easytrak Alpha, Cornwall IFCA acquired the funds to purchase a system. Read the full case study here: https://lnkd.in/eUpARmsj #CaseStudy #USBL #EasytrackAlpha #Aquaculture #appliedacoustics #aaetechnologies

We close out our series this month, highlighting our aquatic ecologist teams expertise and experience with one final question; what is the role of a suitably qualified fish biologist within your waterway works project?   In this article, author Benjamin Cook explores how our involvement helps minimise risk to the developer and fisheries resources throughout the approvals and compliance stages. Read for full article via The role of Suitably Qualified Fish Biologists in your Waterway Barrier Works Project (slrconsulting.com).   To keep up to date on how our experts are offering comprehensive support for marine environmental projects, visit our website via Marine Science | SLR Consulting   #AquaticEcology #MakingSustainabilityHappen #OneTeam 

September is an exciting time for fisheries biologists as it marks the spawning season for Alberta’s Bull Trout. As the leaves turn, these trout begin their migrations along the province’s Eastern Slopes. Spawning pairs create gravel nests, called ‘Redds,’ for egg deposition and fertilization, with incubation lasting through the fall and winter. Alberta's provincial fish, the Bull Trout, is increasingly rare and classified as “Threatened” or of “Special Concern” under the Species At Risk Act. Factors such as habitat fragmentation, loss, competition, hybridization, and climate change are threatening Alberta’s remaining Bull Trout populations. Read more here: bit.ly/4bNicow #AJMEnvironmental #SustainableDevelopment #ResponsibleDevelopment #BullTrout