Mazama Pocket Gopher

The Mazama Pocket Gopher is a Washington State listed species that has been proposed for listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).  This species is found primarily in the South Puget Sound area. Its preferred habitat includes remnant patches of prairie habitat, as well as residential lawns, cattle pasture, and airport fields.  This species prefers western Washington prairie habitat, which was once maintained by native Americans through fire to produce conditions suitable for growing and harvesting camas as a food crop.  The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has afforded protections for this species and its habitat.  There protections include maintaining and restoring prairie habitat, planting native prairie vegetation, mowing every several years to eliminate invading trees and shrubs, infrequent plowing if soils are compacted, and as a very last resort relocating gophers to better habitat. Mazama pocket gopher study is required for land use projects where gopher occurrence is suspected. A Mazama pocket gopher Habitat Management Plan (HMP) is required for land use projects on a property where gophers have been identified. 

Raptor Management Plan

If your project is within one-half mile of a bald eagle nest or foraging area or if a raptor nest is located at or near the project site, a Raptor Management Plan may be required by the permit Agencies.  We have years of experience in preparing Raptor Management Plans applied to land use projects for successful approval by permit Agencies. 

Habitat Management Plans (HMPs), Habitat Protection Plans (HPPs), or Habitat Assessment Reports are required by local permit Agencies during the land use permit process when sensitive species or habitats are present.  These reports describe the existing wildlife habitat, use patterns, species presence, projects impacts, and mitigation or conservation measures.  We prepare these reports for local permit agencies, such as Thurston, Mason, King, Snohomish, and Skagit Counties and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). 

Biological Assessments (BAs)

Biological Assessments are required by Federal Agencies for projects that have the potential to affect Federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We prepare BAs as required under Section 7 of the ESA.  Lesser forms of this report are required under certain circumstances.  This report is a part of the ESA consultation process with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and NOAA Fisheries. 

Riparian Management Plan

Riparian Management Plans are required by Local Governmental Agencies and reviewed by the WDFW for land use projects that have the potential to impact riparian habitat adjacent to streams and rivers.  Riparian habitat is the interface between river and upland habitat.  Wetlands often occur in the riparian zone.  Many species utilize the riparian zone for habitat, such as the beaver, otter, American dipper, marsh wren, and others. 

EnviroVector
Environmental Consulting
Curtis Wambach, M.S.

360-790-1559

curtis@envirovector.com

www.envirovector.com