Lead permitting and natural resource survey consultation

Humboldt Wind

Prior to initiating work on a utility-scale wind energy project in Humboldt County, California, Terra-Gen, LLC needed to complete studies that would satisfy the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and provide valid, reliable results while remaining cost effective.

Stantec was engaged as the lead environmental consultant, engaging natural resources agencies to scope comprehensive natural resource, visual, and cultural surveys. We then conducted wildlife, cultural resources, visual, botanical, and aquatic resource assessments, and prepared corresponding technical reports. Wildlife assessments included two-year surveys for the marbled murrelet, nesting bald and golden eagles and raptors, ground-based eagle use and bird use count, as well as northern spotted owl protocol-level occupancy surveys, habitat assessments, bat acoustic detector monitoring, and RTE and Special Status species reviews and surveys. We also led local, county, state, and federal review and permitting efforts and worked closely with the Humboldt County Planning Department in their preparation of the Environmental Impact Report for the project’s CEQA review.

By injecting a common-sense level of study and securing agency buy-in, our team delivered survey results that would not be questioned. John Ford, the Humboldt County Planning Director, specifically commended Stantec during public hearings for the high quality of the technical studies.