
Who
We Are
TRA
Environmental Sciences (TRA) was founded in 1972 in response to
emerging state and federal environmental legislation. Our office is in
Menlo Park, California on the San Francisco peninsula and our primary
geographic service area is northern California.
The
firm comprises thirteen professionals who provide project management
over a wide range of projects and diverse technical disciplines. TRA
works with qualified contractors and consultants to augment our own
expertise to provide full-service for environmental documents.
Conversely, TRA frequently provides specialized subcontract services to
engineering, planning, and other environmental firms.
Senior
Management
-
Thomas
Reid, Principal
 Mr.
Reid has directed his firm and participated in much of its
technical work since its inception in 1972. He has managed
the performance of work on over 300 environmental impact
assessments and other technical studies. Mr. Reid has extensive
experience in public representation of TRA's work products.
He is especially skilled at communicating in meetings and
public hearings, and has a well-earned reputation for excellence
of communication in the public forum and for technical input
to conflict resolution.
Mr. Reid has particular skills to interface with project
applicants and their engineers, architects, and other professionals
to develop a full and accurate description of projects for
the purpose of impact evaluation. His understanding of the
interaction of many factors in causing environmental impacts
also contributes to his aptitude to develop practical, effective
and enforceable mitigation and performance standards for
many projects.
Mr. Reid is well versed in the technical aspects of environmental
impact modeling. His skills include aerial photo interpretation,
computerized mapping, and modeling of noise, air and water
quality. His skills in air quality impact assessment have
kept pace with the steady increase in sophistication in
the state-of-the-art analysis demanded by federal and state
regulatory agencies. His work in this discipline has earned
him the respect of air quality regulatory agencies at different
governmental levels, and he has a good working relationship
with these agencies.
Highlights
 Conducts
or oversees air quality
modeling studies from data collection to plume dispersion
analysis. Projects include Quail Hollow Quarry, Bonny
Doon Quarry, USS-POSCO Steel Mill, Aromas San Juan School
District, Guadalupe Valley Quarry, RMC Cement Plant Material
Storage Facility, Yuba Goldfields Operating Engineers
Training Center, and Hollister Sand Plant.
 Conducts
on-site noise impact
analyses using sound level meters as well as computer-modeling
traffic-related noise impacts with noise models recently
developed by Caltrans. Noise study projects include: Lowes
Facility, Yuba Goldfields Operating Engineers Training
Center, Andreini Brothers Property, Berryessa Road Materials
Recycling Plant, Hickey Boulevard Extension, Hollister
Motorcycle Classic Event, San Mateo Skateboard Park, San
Mateo Regency Plaza, and Sand Hill Road.
 Personally
directs the AutoCAD
staff in developing three-dimensional terrain grid models
useful in demonstrating impacts to viewshed from the perspective
of sensitive receptors and alternative project design
possibilities. Visual studies include: Serramonte Condominiums,
Burlingame Holiday Inn, RMC Cement Plant Material Storage
Facility, Burlingame Storage Facility, Crespi School Site,
Phillips-Brooks School Site, Sunshine Condominium Project,
Castlewood Tract 6130, and a private residence in Half
Moon Bay.
 Works
extensively with AutoCAD
to assess other environmental impacts such as loss of
vegetative communities, maintenance of wildlife corridors
and the graphic depiction of results gained from modeling
of air and noise impacts.
 Served
as the primary facilitator
working with the State Resources Agency and private participants
involved in the Headwaters Forest project, which is the
last privately held old-growth forest in Humboldt County,
California. Served as scientific advisor to review the
preparation of the Sustained Yield Plan, Habitat Conservation
Plan and EIR/EIS.
Educational
Background
Yale
University, New Haven, CT
Bachelors of Science,
Chemistry
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Graduate study in
Biology
National Science Foundation graduate fellowship
Professional
Societies
Member,
Association of Environmental Professionals
Member, American Chemical Society
Member, Air and Waste Management Association
State of California Qualified Applicator Licensee (pesticides)
-
Paula
Hartman, Esq., President
 Ms.
Hartman is a natural resources specialist and also a trained
environmental lawyer, with over 15 years of experience as
a resources planner, biologist, and attorney. Her skills
apply broadly to natural resources planning, environmental
impact documentation, permitting, and biological resource
assessment. She works closely with clients, TRA staff, local
government, and agencies to ensure timely production of
documents that thoroughly evaluate projects and provide
workable mitigation strategies.
Ms. Hartman utilizes her multi-disciplinary education and
experience to coordinate and complete complex projects.
Her specialty is the biological aspect of regulatory compliance,
which she applies to NEPA and CEQA documentation, endangered
species consultations, habitat conservation plans, mitigation
and monitoring plans, and resolving issues between clients
and agencies. Her environmental planning work has focused
on preparing and managing Initial Studies, EIRs, and HCPs.
She has also contributed extensively to natural environmental
studies for Caltrans, 404(b)(1) alternatives analyses for
wetlands permitting, preparation and review of NEPA documents,
and consultation under section 106 of the Natural Historic
Preservation Act.
Highlights
 Currently
managing preparation
of the San Luis Obispo Coast District and Oceano Dunes
State Vehicular Recreation Area HCP and the associated
EIS/EIR for the California Department of Parks and Recreation
(CDPR). Assists with extensive public outreach, permit
compliance, and coordination with California Coastal Commission
staff.
 Currently
program manager for
regulatory assistance to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle
Recreation Division of CDPR. Work includes preparing Initial
Studies and other CEQA support, grant program environmental
review, development of regulations, HCP development support,
and permitting assistance.
 Currently
assisting with the
Placer County Conservation Plan, an HCP/NCCP. The current
planning phase covers almost 270,000 acres in western
Placer County.
 Assisted
the Santa Clara Valley
Water District with finalizing its Stream Maintenance
Program. The project involved preparing an EIR and detailed
Best Management Practices and formulating methodology
to assess impacts from bank protection measures.
 Worked
on a programmatic EIR
for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for
expansion of the District's Boundary and Sphere of Influence
into 140,000 acres of unincorporated western San Mateo
County. The large, undeveloped nature of the area raised
a range of resource issues and required extensive coastal
community outreach.
 Other
projects have included
EIRs for the Terman Middle School Reopening and Serramonte
Condominiums and Hotel Projects, environmental documentation
for a watershed planning study/flood control project and
highway improvement projects in Santa Clara County, and
a draft HCP for a 575-acre residential golf project in
San Jose.
Educational
Background
University
of California, Davis
Juris Doctor, School
of
Law
California State University, Humboldt
B.S., Natural
Resources
Planning and Interpretation, magna cum laude
-
Victoria
Harris, Vice President
 Ms.
Harris is a
Program Director with TRA. Since joining the firm in 1981, she has
managed over 100 CEQA Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and Initial
Studies on diverse projects, including the construction of a recycled
water project, stream improvement projects, small and large residential
developments, office parks, road expansions, road bridges, landfill
expansions, quarry operations, and general plan amendments. For the
above studies she has acted as client liaison with the Lead Agency and
researched and prepared the impact analysis sections for the following
EIR or Initial Study disciplines: project description, plan
consistency, land use, biology, noise, aesthetics, public services,
socioeconomics, alternatives, and CEQA issues.
Ms. Harris also has expertise in preparing Habitat Conservation Plans
(HCPs) and Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs) for state and
federally listed threatened and endangered species. She has
participated in the preparation of several HCPs and HCP/NCCPs. The HCPs
have ranged from small single species HCPs to large multi-species
HCP/NCCPs covering several hundred acres and involving multiple
political jurisdictions.
In 2005, Ms. Harris was named Vice President of Conservation and
Biological Studies. Her primary duties for these studies include
project management and administration, attending task force meetings,
coordinating biological studies for the covered species, and drafting
HCPs. For most of these HCPs, Ms. Harris also directs the completion of
the NEPA documentation required by the USFWS and the CEQA documentation
required by land use agencies in California.
Highlights
 Contributed
to the preparation of the San Bruno Mountain HCP, which was the first
HCP adopted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1982 and was the
basis for the Incidental Take Permit provision (Section 10(a)(1)(B)) of
the federal Endangered Species Act.
 Prepared
numerous HCPs including: Placer County HCP/NCCP (vernal pool species),
San Luis Obispo State Parks (snowy plover, Morro shoulderband snail),
Kern Water Bank (San Joaquin kit fox and other species), Natomas Basin
and Metro Air Park (giant garter snake and Swainson's hawk),
Metropolitan Bakersfield (San Joaquin kit fox and other species),
Seascape Uplands and Tucker Pond (Santa Cruz long-toed salamander), San
Benito County (San Joaquin kit fox and other species), and Quail Hollow
Quarry (listed insects)
 Conducted
and overseen biotic surveys for four endangered butterflies in
California: Mission blue, San Bruno elfin, callippe silverspot, and
Smith's blue.
 Managed
preparation of CEQA documents for several transportation related
projects in the Bay Area including bridge replacements, highway
widenings, roadway extensions, and bike and pedestrian pathways.
 Assists
State Parks and Recreation Department with regulatory compliance at
Off-Highway Vehicles Areas; review of OHV fund grants for CEQA
compliance, reviews OHV fund grants for wildlife habitat management
plan compliance.
Educational
Background
University
of California, Berkeley
Bachelors of Science,
Conservation of Natural Resources
-
Christine
Schneider, Vice President
 Ms.
Schneider is a licensed Landscape Architect and an environmental
planner with over 20 years of professional experience. She
has over 15 years of project management experience with
CEQA analysis, habitat restoration projects, and multi-tasked
environmental planning projects. Her background as a landscape
architect includes experience in all phases of landscape
planning and analysis, design, and construction. In 2005
she was named Vice-President for Environmental Analysis
at TRA.
Since joining TRA in 1995, Ms. Schneider has used her management
and problem-solving skills on a variety of environmental
planning and natural resource projects. She has prepared
environmental documentation for trail projects, open space
studies, wetland and riparian maintenance operations, quarries
and mixed-use projects. She has also prepared analysis and
documentation for a wide variety of regulatory agencies,
including Individual and Nationwide Permits for the US Army
Corps of Engineers, Section 1602 permits for the California
Department of Fish and Game, and Regional Permits through
the California State and Regional Water Quality Control
Boards. She is familiar with the "CEQA Plus" process used
by the State Water Quality Control Board, which combines
both CEQA and NEPA analyses for projects with federal funding.
As a practicing landscape architect, Ms. Schneider specializes
in habitat restoration. She works with TRA's ecological
staff to design projects that minimize environmental impacts,
protect endangered species, and promote healthy plant growth
in native landscapes. She has worked on projects in the
following native communities: Freshwater Emergent Narsh;
Central Coast Riparian; Coastal Meadow/Prairie; Coastal
Bluff; Serpentine Bunchgrass Grassland; Serpentine Wetland;
and Northern Maritime Chaparral.
Highlights
 One
of the major authors of
the SCVWD's Steam Maintenance Program EIR. Assisted the
District on issues related to that project starting in
1995. Assisted the District's Environmental Planning Unit
on obtaining various US Army Corps of Engineers permits
for temporary maintenance work from 1995-1997.
 Project
Manager for the San
Francisquito Creek Levee Restoration and Floodwall Demolition
and Reconstruction Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration,
a joint venture between the District and the City of East
Palo Alto.
 Currently,
Project Manager for
the Stevens Creek Trail Corridor project, a joint venture
between the City of Cupertino and the District. Preparing
the biological studies for this park master plan that
includes a creek side trail, park facilities, environmental
education center, realignment and restoration of Stevens
Creek to its historic channel and extensive habitat restoration.
Working with the hydrological consultant to prepare the
creek restoration plan, and preparing the Initial Study/Mitigated
Negative Declaration on the entire park and restoration
project.
 Prepared
the habitat restoration
plan and implementation guidelines for an 8,000-acre working
ranch in Merced County, California, that presents a working
model for ranch staff to implement over the next five
years. Has also prepared restoration and revegetation
plans for many riparian projects within San Mateo County,
especially within the San Francisquito Creek watershed.
Educational
Background
California
State Polytechnic University, Pomona
B.S. Landscape
Architecture
Environmental Management, University of San Francisco
Master of Science (in
preparation)
Professional
Registration and Affiliation
Licensed
Landscape Architect, California registration
#3261 [1990]
Member, California Native Plant Society (CNPS)
Member, Society for Ecological Restoration - California
(SERCAL)
Open Space Committee Chair, San Francisco Tomorrow, 1993-1996
Member, Park and Open Space Citizen's Advisory Commission,
San Francisco, 1992-1996
-
Barbara
Beard,
Senior Project Manager, Personnel Manager
 Ms.
Beard is a TRA Senior Associate and Project Manager. She
has been Project Manager or a contributing author for environmental
documents on a variety of projects including mixed commercial
developments, residential developments, recreational trail
projects, waste transfer stations, landfills and yard waste
composting facilities, habitat conservation plans and endangered
species studies. She has been a contributing author to a
variety of CEQA documents, including EIRs, Initial Studies,
and Negative Declarations. She is also experienced in the
preparation of conservation planning documents, having contributed
sections to Habitat Conservation Plans and Preservation
Studies.
She has up-to-date working knowledge of federal and state
regulations and permit requirements, resulting in legally
"bulletproof" CEQA documents in the face of controversy
and strong public opposition. She collaborates with lead
agencies, project staff, clients, and subcontractors to
produce documents that represent a project's potential impacts
to the public. She has been a contibuting author to EIRs
and other CEQA documents on a variety of residential and
commercial projects in the Bay Area, having researched and
prepared the impact analysis for disciplines such as land
use, aesthetics, project conformance with federal, state
and local policies, public services, public health and safety,
noise, traffic, and air quality.
Highlights
 Contributing
author to several
EIRs on various municipal waste handling facilities, including
the Zanker Road Material Processing Facility EIR (City
of San Jose), Greenwaste Recovery Facility Initial Study
(City of San Jose), Guadalupe Disposal Site Expansion
EIR (City of San Jose), the Guadalupe Property Supplemental
EIR (City of San Jose), research and documentation for
Guadalupe Landfill for a materials processing building,
Kirby Canyon Landfill Revegetation Plan (City of San Jose),
CEQA documentation for permit renewals for the Guadalupe
Landfill, and the Sunnyvale Materials Recovery and Transfer
Station EIR (City of Sunnyvale).
 Project
Manager for the constraints
analysis and detailed Initial Study for the City of San
Jose portion of the San Francisco Bay Trail. Directed
the preparation of a constraints analysis designed to
flesh out the project proposal of where the trail would
go and what the potential environmental impacts would
be so that the public and local, regional and federal
agencies whose lands the trail would cross would be able
to understand the details of the project and identify
any potential land use or environmental conflicts that
might arise. Directed the preparation of a comprehensive
Initial Study on the project, once the trail route was
developed. Contributing author on other trail projects
including several reaches of the Stevens Creek Trail in
the City of Cupertino, the reach of the Stevens Creek
Trail in the City of Santa Clara, and a Class II bike
lane project along San Juan Highway in San Benito County.
 Authored
sections of several
projects involving endangered species including the Metropolitan
Bakersfield Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), the Kirby
Canyon Conservation Plan, and the Southern San Joaquin
Valley Habitat Preservation Study.
 Currently
working on two projects
for the State Department of Parks and Recreation, Division
of Off-Highway Vehicles. One project is an EIS/EIR for
the State Parks San Luis Obispo Coast District and Oceano
Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area Habitat Conservation
Plan for endangered and threatened species found in the
six coastal state parks in San Luis Obispo County. The
second project consists of reviewing numerous annual off-highway
vehicle grants for CEQA and Grant Regulation compliance.
Educational
Background
University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Bachelors of Science,
Natural
Resource Policy & Management
-
Taylor
Peterson,
Senior Project Manager
 Ms. Peterson is a Program
Director who
has been with the firm since 1980. Ms. Peterson applies her technical
expertise and management skills in assessing the impacts of a wide
range of projects including sanitary landfills, materials recovery and
transfer stations, quarries, housing developments, wastewater treatment
plant expansion, water well development, and high-voltage transmission
line alignments.
In her capacity as Program Director, Ms. Peterson directs TRA staff in
the technical analysis and preparation of environmental documents,
prepares her own technical sections, and maintains contact with the
client, project engineers, and the lead agency. As such, she is
familiar with every aspect of the preparation of environmental
documents that must comply with CEQA. Several of the projects that she
has managed have been controversial in nature, and she has extensive
experience in responding to public concerns and comment.
Ms. Peterson has a background in biology and has been a long-time
observer of California's natural history. She is experienced in
identification of plant and animal species, in mapping plant
communities, in mark/release/recapture work with butterflies, and in
survey methods for the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. She is familiar
with special habitats such as vernal pools, serpentine grassland, and
riparian zones, and she is a trained wetland delineator. She has had
much practice in the use of biological data sources such as the
California Natural Diversity Database, the California Native Plant
Society, agency and local contacts, and numerous field guides and
floras.
Highlights
 Managed
numerous projects, most recently including the Stanford University HCP
EIS, an initial study on the Woodside Priory School Master Plan,
initial studies on the Arastradero Preserve Trails Management Plan and
the Foothills Park Trail Management Plan, and various studies in
support of an Amended Reclamation Plan for the Hanson Quarry.
 Provides
technical expertise on a variety of work products and has prepared
constraints analyses, biological assessments, initial studies,
environmental assessments, environmental impact reports, mitigation
monitoring plans, US Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of
Fish and Game and Regional Water Quality Control Board permit
applications, and revegetation plans.
 Contributing
author of the Habitat Conservation Plan for San Bruno Mountain, in
which she applied the principles of the Plan in order to develop the
specific activities required for each administrative parcel on the
mountain.
 Principal
author of the Kirby Canyon Landfill Bay Checkerspot Butterfly
Conservation Plan, and the Revegetation Plan for serpentine grassland
at the project site.
Educational
Background
Stanford
University, Stanford, CA
A.B. Human Biology
-
Kate
Werner,
Senior Project Manager
 Ms.
Werner is a
Senior Associate and project manager with expertise in CEQA analysis,
planning and land use issues. She joined TRA in 1986. As a case
manager, Ms. Werner maintains day-to-day communication among the
project team and lead agency staff, manages the case budget, prepares
technical sections, and reviews the work of others.
Ms. Werner has managed CEQA documents on an array of land use projects
including quarries, schools, residential and commercial developments,
and recreational uses. The projects have been located throughout the
greater Bay Area including Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara
and San Benito Counties, and the projects have varied in size and
complexity. Many projects involve the review and incorporation of
technical documents from outside contractors (e.g. geotechnical
feasibility studies, transportation studies, special status species
reports).
Highlights
 EIRs
for quarry projects including: Hollister Sand Plant, Lapis Sand Plant,
Brigantino Overburden (Wilson Quarry), Guadalupe Valley Quarry, Bonny
Doon Quarries, Quail Hollow Quarry, and RMC Cement Plant. Impact
assessments include noise, dust, aesthetics, sensitive biological
resources, and water quality.
 EIRs
for residential projects including: Sunset Vista, Rancho Mai, Rajkovich
Property, Scenic Southside Estates, and San Juan Vista Estates,
Connemara Project Supplemental EIRs. Impact assessments addressed loss
of agricultural land, growth inducement of urban services expansion,
adequacy of community services and utilities, viewshed impacts caused
by projects in hillside locations, and conformance with local planning
policies.
 Initial
Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for a Class II bike lane project
along San Juan Highway in San Benito County. Project constraints
included an adjacent drainage channel with wetland vegetation providing
potential refuge habitat to California red-legged frog, a 100-year
flood zone, and the San Andreas Fault. Directed technical studies for
Caltrans.
 Initial
Study for the Stream Flow Augmentation Project for the experimental
release of recycled water into the Upper Silver Creek/Coyote Creek
watershed in San Jose. The primary issues of concern were impacts to
water quality and biotic species within the riparian corridor.
 Access
Feasibility Study for Pajaro Valley Unified School District in
Watsonville. Study assessed the feasibility of an alternate access road
required by the California Coastal Commission as a condition of
approving a new high school campus in the coastal zone. Several
feasibility factors were assessed including acquisition of easements,
regulatory approval process, environmental constraints, costs, and
timing constraints.
 Sphere
of Influence Study for Alameda County LAFCO involving a disputed area
between Cities of Livermore and Dublin. The study assessed whether
existing sphere boundaries should be modified and the likely
environmental impact associated with the sphere change.
 Mitigation
Monitor for the Guadalupe Valley Quarry in San Mateo County since 1996.
Conducts both scheduled and unannounced site visits to inspect
conditions at the quarry and assess compliance with county permit
conditions. The primary issues include adequate controls of dust
emissions, surface water runoff, water quality, import of recycled
material, and noise from night haul truck traffic.
Educational
Background
University
of California, Davis
Bachelors of Science,
Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning
Technical
Team
-
Kevin
Coleman, Controller
Kevin Coleman is TRA’s controller. He has worked in a variety
of accounting and finance roles in Silicon Valley and Southern
California. He is responsible for all finance and contract functions at
TRA. Kevin’s experience includes finance planning and
reporting, cost accounting, general accounting and contract management.
He began his career after college with IBM in Southern California,
before going back to school to earn his MBA at UCLA. After UCLA he
worked in audit and tax at Price Waterhouse where he received his CPA
license. Kevin worked at HP and Agilent for 25 years in a variety of
finance management roles.
Educational
Background
University
of California, Los Angeles
Master of Business
Administration, Finance/Accounting
University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Arts,
History
-
Aaron
Gabbe,
Ph.D., Biologist
 Aaron
Gabbe is an Associate Biologist with a PhD in Environmental Studies
from the University of California, Santa Cruz with an emphasis in
conservation biology. Aaron’s Masters and PhD work provided
him
with over 7 years experience conducting ecological research focused on
ecological and evolutionary interactions between plants and birds and
applying science to conservation, restoration, and policy. Since
joining TRA in 2008, Aaron has been working on developing habitat
conservation plans at the regional and project level. His work has
focused primarily on developing a conservation strategy for the Placer
County Conservation Plan, a regional HCP/NCCP designed to conserve
habitat for threatened, endangered, and special status species while
allowing for long-term development and population growth. Aaron has
also helped develop conservation strategies for threatened and
endangered species at California State Recreation Areas and has
monitored numerous projects in the Bay Area, surveying for birds,
butterflies, and amphibians.
Prior
to joining TRA, Aaron has researched
birds throughout the U.S. and in Panama. For his dissertation research,
Aaron studied the ecology, conservation, and evolution of a hummingbird
pollination system in the Sierra Nevada of eastern California. His
research focused on the feeding preferences of rufous hummingbirds and
how those preferences affected the reproductive success of the scarlet
gilia, a montane plant. For his master’s research, Aaron
worked
on the Cache River Restoration project, a large scale floodplain forest
restoration effort in southern Illinois. He studied the foraging
preferences of breeding and migrating songbirds to help guide land
managers on how to best restore songbird habitat. In addition to his
academic experience, Aaron has worked on numerous research projects
studying bird populations. Prior to graduate school, Aaron was a Crew
Leader with the Sustainable Ecosystems Institute in Boise, Idaho where
he managed the activities of research assistants on a project that
analyzed the effects of timber harvest and forest habitat on avian
communities. He collaborated with teams of natural resource
professionals to develop and implement monitoring protocol. Having
conducted field research in California, Aaron has an excellent
knowledge of California ecosystems, flora, and fauna.
Educational
Background
University
of California, Santa Cruz
Ph.D. in
Environmental Studies, December,
2007
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
M.S. in Natural
Resources and
Environmental Sciences, December 1999
University of Wisconsin, Madison
B.S. in Wildlife
Ecology, December 1992
-
Sandy
Ho, Support Staff
 Sandy Ho is an
Associate at TRA with a variety of experience in graphic design,
project scheduling, and administrative support. She has worked on
graphics for projects such as Habitat Conservation Plans, Environmental
Impact Reports and Studies, and Biological Assessments. Another of Ms.
Ho's areas of expertise is project scheduling. She has completed
several presentation ready schedules for various projects.
Ms. Ho is proficient with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, CorelDraw,
AutoCAD, and ArcView. She is experienced in using Arcview GIS for
mapping and data analysis. Ms. Ho has prepared a series of GIS-based
maps for the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan Activities
Report. This project involved digitizing invasive species control
areas, and Callippe Silverspot and Mission Blue butterfly observations
on San Bruno Mountain. Recently, Ms. Ho has assisted with preparation
of a Riparian Restoration Planting Plan Detail map using AutoCAD. She
is specialized in project location and aerial maps.
Furthermore, Ms. Ho formats and produces many of TRA's publications.
For example, she has participated in the preparation of several HCPs.
These HCPs include: Placer County HCP/NCCP (vernal pool species), San
Bruno Mountain HCP, and Stanford University EIS/HCP.
At TRA, Ms. Ho's work also includes coordinating and organizing office
archives, keeping track of office supplies and maintaining inventory,
backing up files, and other assigned projects. She performs a variety
of administrative and staff support duties.
Highlights
 Assisted
with the preparation of graphics for San Luis Obispo Coast District and
Oceano Dunes SVRA HCP DEIS/DEIR, Stevens Creek Corridor CEQA project,
and San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Five Year Plan.
 Completed
dam location graphics for the Dam Instrumentation Project Phase 1B and
II IS (Santa Clara Valley Water District).
 Formatted
and produced the San Mateo Coastal Annexation DEIR, San Carlos Airport
DEIR, Stevens Creek Trail Study Area A IS/MND, Sharp Park Dog Park DIS,
and Juvenile Justice Center DIS/MND.
 Prepared
the project schedule for the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation
Plan, City of Millbrae Cogeneration Plant Impact Evaluation, and
Operating Engineers Yuba Goldfields JATA Project.
 GIS
mapping for the Rare Plant Mitigation/Juvenile Justice Facility Project
(Results of Crystal Spring Lessingia Monitoring Efforts 04-05).
Educational
Background
San
Jose State University, California.
Bachelor of Science,
Business Administration
-
Sara
Krier,
Biologist/Analyst
 Ms.
Krier is an Associate Biologist at TRA with a background in
environmental policy, ecology, and watershed science. She is an
experienced project manager with skills in formulating project
approach, and in training and directing field crews. She has supervised
field crew in data collection, species identification and data
reporting on various biological elements such as wildlife, vegetation,
and water quality.
One of Ms. Krier's areas of expertise is in watershed analysis. Her
responsibilities in this area have included lake water quality
sampling, shoreline assessments, and biological data collection. In her
studies on watersheds, she has used Geographic Information Systems,
Geographic Positioning Systems, and aerial photo interpretation in data
analysis and in the production of figures for scientific reports.
Highlights
 As
a field technician, Ms. Krier assessed the quantity of Arctic Grayling
contained in Montana's Big Hole Watershed irrigation ditches.
 As
part of an assessment of the Total Maximum Daily Load of pollutants in
the Shields River watershed, Ms. Krier used GPS and aerial photo
interpretation extensively to survey road erosion.
 Ms.
Krier researched and compiled a model Off-Road Vehicle monitoring
report, which was used as a basis for forming monitoring programs for
public lands.
 Ms.
Krier also has experience monitoring avian behavior during incubation
and nestling periods using video recordings. Parental behavior was
documented and interpreted through observation of feeding patterns and
offspring interactions.
 For
the University of Montana's Watershed Health Clinic, Ms. Krier
collected field data and prepared riparian stream assessments focusing
on streams in the Deer Lodge Valley of Western Montana.
Educational
Background
University
of Montana
Masters of
Environmental Studies
University of Colorado
Bachelor of Science,
Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology
Bachelor of Arts,
English Literature
-
Christina
Lau, Project Manager
 Ms.
Lau joined TRA
in 2005 and has experience writing and reviewing various types of CEQA
and NEPA environmental documents. She has managed and written several
CEQA and NEPA projects, ranging from categorical exemptions to
EIS/EIRs, including managing the subconsultants that brought expertise
to each project.
Currently, she is assisting with the EIS/EIR for the Habitat
Conservation Plan for a number of Off-Highway Vehicular parks in San
Luis Obispo, for the State Parks Department of Off-Highway Motor
Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division and the EIS for a Habitat
Conservation Plan for Stanford University. She is also assisting with
another project for the State Parks Department which involves the
review of numerous grant applications for compliance with CEQA. The
grants would fund a variety of trail projects throughout federal parks
in California, and are being reviewed for potential significant
environmental impacts under CEQA because the funding would come from
the State.
Christina also has previous experience in the preparation of joint
NEPA/CEQA documents for transportation projects while working as an
environmental planner for Caltrans.
Highlights
 Currently
assisting with an EIR for a small housing development in Pacifica,
California. The development will incorporate many "green" construction
practices including grey water reuse, wind, and solar energy. She is
also assisting with sections for an EIS for Stanford University's
Habitat Conservation Plan and preparing an IS/ND for a solar panel
installation for Alza Corporation in Vacaville.
 Currently
assisting with projects for the State Department of Parks and
Recreation, Division of Off-Highway Vehicles including an EIS/EIR for
the Habitat Conservation Plan for OHV parks in San Luis Obispo County,
other IS/MNDs for OHV parks, and the review of numerous grant
applications for compliance with CEQA. The grants fund a variety of
trail projects throughout federal lands in California, and are being
reviewed for potentially significant environmental impacts under CEQA
because the funding would come from the State.
 Principal
author of IS/NDs for a drainage project at Hollister Hills State
Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA)(2005) and a fence replacement project at
Oceano Dunes SVRA (2006).
 Previous
experience as principal author for the IS/EA, ND/FONSI for the I-238
Widening Project (2004). This 80 million dollar project will widen
I-238 between I-580 and I-880 in San Leandro from four to six lanes.
Educational
Background
University
of the Pacific, California
Bachelors of Arts,
Environmental Studies and Economics, Biology Minor
California State University, San Jose
M.S. related
coursework, Environmental Studies
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Autumn
Meisel, Senior Biologist
 Autumn
Meisel is an ecologist specialized in habitat assessment and
management. She earned a Master's degree in conservation ecology from
San Francisco State University in 2002, and joined TRA as a staff
biologist in 2005. She is competent in overall site and habitat
assessment, biological monitoring, and landscape level planning and
management. In the field, Mrs. Meisel has experience in plant and
wildlife identification, nesting bird surveys and burrowing owl focused
surveys, butterfly monitoring, construction monitoring, red-legged frog
surveys, reconnaissance-level site surveys, wetland delineations,
hydrologic monitoring, and vegetation and wildlife monitoring. She has
worked in both conservation and land development settings and is
familiar with on-the-ground conditions and/or concerns that may arise.
At
TRA, Autumn aids in the management of the San Bruno Mountain Habitat
Conservation Plan. Tasks include grassland and coastal scrub
management, invasive plant control, endangered butterfly monitoring,
education, and reporting to lead and regulatory agencies. While at TRA,
Mrs. Meisel has also worked on numerous CEQA documents, and has
prepared Categorical Exemptions, Initial Studies, and Mitigated
Negative Declarations for a variety of projects. She has also completed
numerous biological assessments, restoration monitoring, and has worked
on the preparation of Habitat Conservation Plans.
Prior to joining TRA, Mrs. Meisel worked as an environmental analyst,
providing start to finish consultation services related to Clean Water
Act Section 401 and California Department of Fish and Game 1602
permits. She has performed numerous biological assessments and has
experience in analyzing the potential for occurrence of special-status
species in a variety of habitats. She has written numerous mitigation
and monitoring plans for the creation and/or enhancement of wetland,
riparian, and grassland habitats, and has provided monitoring and
year-end reporting services for mitigation plans, applying adaptive
management when needed to ensure that sites meet their performance
standards.
Mrs. Meisel also has expertise in habitat restoration at degraded sites
and has overseen invasive weed control efforts, native out-planting,
and plant establishment maintenance. She has led volunteer groups in
restoration work and provided education to others about ecology and
resource management. Mrs. Meisel has aided in prioritizing restoration
needs when resources were limited and has designed experimental
vegetation management methods to better understand how to best meet
desired goals so that resources may be put to the greatest use.
Highlights
 Manager
for the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan. Tasks include
grassland and coastal scrub management, invasive plant control,
endangered butterfly monitoring, education, and reporting to lead and
regulatory agencies.
 Contributing
author on numerous CEQA documents, and has prepared
Categorical Exemptions, Initial Studies, and Mitigated Negative
Declarations for a variety of projects.
 Has
completed numerous biological assessments, restoration monitoring,
and has worked on the preparation of Habitat Conservation Plans.
 Worked
as an environmental analyst, providing start to finish consultation
services related to Clean Water Act Section 401 and California
Department of Fish and Game 1602 permits.
 Performed
numerous biological assessments in a variety of habitats and has
compiled lists of potentially-occurring special-status species. She has
written numerous mitigation and monitoring plans for the creation
and/or enhancement of wetland, riparian, and grassland habitats, and
has provided monitoring and year-end reporting services for mitigation
plans, applying adaptive management when needed to ensure that sites
meet their performance standards.
 Experienced
in plant, butterfly, and bird identification, nesting bird surveys and
burrowing owl focused surveys, construction monitoring,
reconnaissance-level site surveys, wetland delineations, hydrologic
monitoring, and vegetation monitoring.
 Expertise
in habitat restoration at degraded sites and has overseen invasive weed
control efforts, native out-planting, and plant establishment
maintenance. She has lead volunteer groups in restoration work and
provided education to others about ecology and resource management.
Mrs. Meisel has aided in prioritizing restoration needs when resources
were limited and has designed experimental vegetation management
methods to better understand how to best meet desired goals so that
resources may be put to the greatest use.
Educational
Background
San
Francisco State University
M.A. Conservation
Ecology
U.C. San Diego
B.S. Ecology
Darla
Sadler,
GIS Analyst
Ms. Sadler recently joined TRA as a GIS specialist with expertise in
GIS
mapping, spatial analysis and habitat suitability mapping. Ms. Sadler
has extensive experience with ArcMap, including spatial analyst, model
builder and python scripting. Additionally, Ms. Sadler is proficient
with Google Earth and KML, as well as remote sensing software. Another
area of expertise for Ms Sadler is database design and data analysis.
She performs data analysis, creates maps and prepares graphics for
projects with a GIS components.
For data collection, Ms. Sadler
has experience with multiple GPS devices, as well as ArcPad and data
dictionaries for comprehensive and efficient data collection in the
field.
Highlights
 Conducted GIS mapping
for a wetland delineation at Carnegie State Vehicle Recreation Area.
This involved digitizing features, calculating drainage lengths, and
calculating pond and wetland areas.
 Worked on a project
for the Big Sur Land Trust involving monitoring invasive and sensitive
species at Martin Dunes Property. This project involved creating a data
dictionary for GPS data collection, determining “photo monitoring
points” using spatial analysis and performing differential correction
using Pathfinder Office.
 Designed a wildlife
tracking database for Connectivity for Wildlife, LLC used for
collecting and analyzing wildlife tracks, scat and infrared camera
images. Additionally, she created KML displaying wildlife infrared
camera images in Google Earth for marketing and presentation purposes.
 Created custom
geoprocessing controls, using Visual Basic
and ArcObjects within ArcMap, to automate spatial analysis functions
for wilderness resource management within the USDA Forest Service.
 Studied land use
change over time in Coyote Valley area of Santa Clara County,
California using remote sensing techniques and satellite imagery.
Educational
Background
Golden
Gate University, San Francisco, CA.
M.S, Information
Systems
University of California at Berkeley
B.A.
Applied Mathematics
Professional
Training
Certificate
in Geographic Information Systems, Foothill Community College, CA,
December 2007
ESRI Courses: Learning ArcGIS 9, Learning ArcGIS 9 Spatial Analyst,
Cartographic Design Using ArcGIS 9
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Jessica
Wade Shors, Biologist/Analyst
 Recently
joining TRA in August 2009, Miss Shors is an Associate Biologist with
more than nine years experience in the fields of ecology and
conservation biology. Jessica’s PhD research at Stanford
University focused on the ecology, evolution, and conservation of
common and rare lycaenid butterflies in California. Specifically, she
studied the interactions among lycaenid larvae, larval host plants,
native ants that protect the larvae from predators and parasitoids, and
invasive ants that displace the native ants. She also studied how
rainfall facilitates the spread of the invasive ant, Linepithema
humile. In addition, she developed best management practices that
restoration managers can adopt to help limit the spread of invasive
ants into newly restored habitat. Having conducted field research
throughout southern and central California, Miss Shors has an excellent
knowledge of California ecosystems, flora, and fauna.
Prior to joining TRA, Jessica worked as a biologist for the National
Park Service in Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There, she
managed the Fort Baker Natural Resources Program during the transfer of
Fort Baker from the US Army to the National Park Service. She was
responsible for overseeing restoration and volunteer programs;
designing and implementing research and monitoring programs for
endangered species, rare plants, marine birds and marine mammals;
fundraising; and providing expertise and support on compliance issues.
She completed botanical surveys, mapped vegetative communities,
supported the mapping of aquatic resources, and monitored construction
projects in sensitive habitat areas. In Spring of 2009, Jessica updated
her project management and compliance experience through professional
courses focusing on the preparation of impact analyses for CEQA and
NEPA documents, as well as the delineation of wetlands.
Highlights
 Assisting
with the biological components of an HCP/NCCP in Placer County.
Educational
Background
Stanford
University
Ph.D. in Biology
(Ecology and Evolution), 2009
University of California, Berkeley
B.A. in Integrative
Biology (Animal Behavior), 2000
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Rebecca
Sloan, Biologist/Analyst
Mrs.
Sloan is an Associate Biologist with a background in marine and aquatic
sciences, coastal ecology and resource management. Prior to joining TRA
she managed projects requiring skills in multiple-stakeholder
facilitation, experimental design and field crew management. She has
supervised field crews in data collection, species identification and
data reporting on various biological elements such as wildlife,
vegetation, and water quality.
One
of Mrs. Sloan’s areas of expertise is the monitoring and
habitat assessment of aquatic ecosystems in Coastal California,
specifically in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. Her responsibilities
in this area have included: Discreet and continuous water quality
monitoring; Biological surveys for steelhead trout, California
red-legged frogs, San Francisco garter snakes and tidewater gobies;
Aquatic habitat assessment for non-point source pollution,
eutrophication and sediment toxicity; Hydrologic assessments; Chemical
and manual weed eradication in coastal dune, scrub and chaparral
habitats; and Management of invasive bull frog populations. She has
extensive experience collecting, managing, analyzing and presenting
continuous and discreet water quality data, including: dissolved
oxygen, temperature, pH, salinity, turbidity, carbon, nitrogen,
phosphorus, chlorophyll, biological oxygen demand, sediment grain size
and chemical pollutants and toxins. As a coastal ecologist, she has
used ArcGIS, GPS, aerial photos and LiDAR data as interpretive tools
for resource management and information dissemination.
Since joining TRA in the fall of 2008, Mrs. Sloan has worked on small
and medium CEQA compliance documents, including Biological Assessments
and Initial Studies. She has contributed to the aquatic species
assessments of several Habitat Conservation Plans, and synthesized the
conservation strategy and species impact assessments for a medium-sized
Habitat Conservation Plan.
Highlights
 Western
Placer County Habitat Conservation Plan: Synthesized the conservation
strategy, community-level impact assessment, and adaptive management
plan for riverine and riparian habitat; Edited and updated species
accounts for riverine aquatic species; Developed a conservation
strategy and adaptive management plan for riverine covered species.
 Assisted
in the preparation of monitoring protocols for water quality on a
restored ephemeral stream in Lake County.
 Prepared
the biology section of an Initial Study for the building of a visitors
center adjacent to a wetland (California Department of Parks and
Recreation, Division of Off-Highway Motor Vehicles).
 Co-authored
initial studies for the re-shaping of the coastline at Coyote Point
Park in San Mateo County, the creation of a dog park at Sanchez Arts
Center in Pacifica, and the creation of 0.9-mile, multi-use trail along
side Crystal Reservoir in San Mateo County.
 Wrote
the Biological Report and Initial Study biology section for an
underground pipeline project in North San Jose.
Permits
Held: ESA Section 10(a)(1)(A)
scientific research permit for the collection of adult and juvenile
steelhead and coho in San Gregorio, Pomponio, and Pescadero Creek and
Lagoon habitats (permit #10017 expires 11/2012).
Educational
Background
San
Jose State University
M.S. Environmental
Studies
Eckerd College
B.S. Marine Science -
Biology concentration and Chemistry minor
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