San Joaquin County, California
Client: Private Special
Status Species: Swainson’s Hawk
Sunset was engaged to support CEQA review and conduct environmental permitting for the repair of a boat landing ramp and strengthening of an adjacent levee in unincorporated San Joaquin County. Sunset’s scope included coordinating with the CEQA lead agency to determine the appropriate level of review, conducting a field survey to delineate jurisdictional wetlands and waters, and assessing the site for special-status species, including giant garter snake, nesting birds, northwestern pond turtle, green sturgeon, steelhead, Chinook salmon, delta smelt, longfin smelt, Swainson’s hawk, and other biological resources. Sunset prepared a Biological Resources Assessment, prepared all required Federal and State Permit applications.
Sunset prepared permit applications to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board with consultations to National Marine Fisheries Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service for special-status species. Sunset worked directly with the client’s engineering team and landowners throughout the process to ensure permit applications reflected accurate project design and jurisdictional limits, supporting the project’s path toward construction authorization while avoiding impacts to special-status wildlife species.
Sunset conducted protocol-level Swainson’s hawk surveys and is in the process of working with CDFW to establish work windows and buffers around active nest sites. Sunset will also conduct environmental training and daily wildlife pre construction surveys throughout construction.