Services
Consulting and Contracting Services
Project Planning and Biological Monitoring
Sierra Nevada Wilds assists clients with ecological monitoring to ensure
compliance with federal, state, county, and city permit requirements. Staff
and associates provide a broad base of ecological knowledge, including
botanical, wildlife, and entomological monitoring.
Project Implementation and Management
Sierra Nevada Wilds is a premier ecological restoration corporation which
implements and manages restoration plans, vegetation management plans, and
habitat conservation plans. We oversee sight preparation, soil and plant
salvage, exotic pest plant removal, mowing, site specific seed collection,
plant propagation, and planting operations. We also schedule and oversee
long-term maintenance operations in order to insure the success of the
restoration project. Our experience ranges from the central to north
coast of California, the Sierra Nevada/Lake Tahoe Basin and the Rocky
Mountains.
General Botanical Assessments
Sierra Nevada Wilds conducts surveys and habitat assessments to assist clients
in meeting federal, state and local environmental guidelines. We use
standard methodologies including grid surveys, point-quarter and random
transect analysis of populations and multivariate community analysis to gather
vegetation information. We assess ecological impacts on projects and
propose measures to mitigate for project impacts on native species and
habitat.
Rare and Endangered Plant Surveys
Sierra Nevada Wilds conducts focused botanical surveys for state and federally
listed species, candidate species, and species of special concern. We
utilize currently accepted methodologies endorsed by the California Department
of Fish and Game, the California Native Plant Society, and the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service to identify the presence of sensitive species.
We complete impact assessments and design species-specific mitigation plans to
mitigate for project impacts.
Rare and Endangered Wildlife and Insect Surveys
Sierra Nevada Wilds maintains affiliations with qualified Wildlife Biologists,
Ornithologists, Herpetologists and Entomologists who provide expertise in
surveying for state and federally listed species, candidate species, and
species of special concern.
Wetland Delineation
Sierra Nevada Wilds performs wetland delineations in accordance with Army
Corps of Engineer requirements. We utilize the most up to date methodologies
in order to determine the soils, hydrology, and botanical resources on a site
in order to provide a comprehensive view of wetland habitat. Surveys performed
by Sierra Nevada Wilds can be used to satisfy the requirements of the Clean
Water Act Section 404 permitting.
Erosion Control Services
Biotechnical Slope Stabilization
Sierra Nevada Wilds designs biotechnical erosion control systems for slopes
and stream banks. Biotechnical erosion control combines vegetated and
structural strategies utilizing techniques including straw rolls, willow
wattles, brush layering and vegetated rip-rap, gabions and rock walls.
Biotechnical systems provide cost effective solutions to erosion control
problems that enhance habitat without compromising the structural integrity of
public works projects.
Horticultural Services
Site Specific Seed Collection
Sierra Nevada Wilds designs and implements site specific seed collection
programs for revegetation, habitat enhancement and restoration projects.
We assure accurate species identification, low impact collection techniques
and seed purity.
Seed Increase
Sierra Nevada Wilds designs and manages seed increase programs for large scale
restoration projects. We maintain a ten acre seed production farm in the
Santa Cruz Mountains. Also we contract seed drilling, harvesting and cleaning
equipment for large scale seed increase projects.
Contract Growing
Sierra Nevada Wilds operates a two acre nursery and propagation
facility. On a contract basis we grow native plants for restoration,
revegetation, agricultural and landscape applications. We have expertise
in propagation plant species from coastal bluff, grassland, riparian and
woodland habitats. All of our native seeds and plants are produced in
accordance with the Organic Foods Act of 1990. We are currently
expanding our nursery operations into our four regions to expand our
contract growing capabilities.
Landscape Design
Sierra Nevada Wilds designs innovative native landscapes for residential,
commercial and institutional clients. Our landscape designs feature
native perennial plants that are site selected to be drought tolerant, low
maintenance, colorful and to provide habitat for birds and butterflies.
Agricultural Services
Windbreak and Hedgerow Design
Sierra Nevada Wilds designs agricultural windbreaks and hedgerows utilizing
native plant species to: 1) create beneficial insect and wildlife habitat in
and around the farm 2) add income to the farm by reducing dependence on
agrochemical inputs.
Buffer Strip Design
Agriculture buffer strips utilizing native plants have applications in; 1)
filtration of irrigation water runoff to protect adjacent riparian and wetland
areas; and 2) buffering adjacent properties from agricultural dusts and noise.
Research
Sierra Nevada Wilds supports ongoing scholarly research in the areas of restoration ecology, agroecology, ethnobotany and community economic development. We sponsor students from the University of California Santa Cruz, San Jose State University, Monterey Bay State University and Cabrillo Community College. Our research efforts focus on:
Native plant population ecology : in conjunction with the California Native Plant Society and the California Native Grass Association we are working to develop a data base of information on the genetic diversity of native plant populations in order to provide ecologist with new tools for planning restoration projects.
Invasive non-native plant control: in support of the California Exotic Pest Plant Council we are researching non-chemical techniques for eradicating exotic pest plants from local ecosystems.
Integration of native plants into agroecosystems: working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Community Alliance with Family Farmers we are developing applications of native plants in windbreaks hedge rows and critical areas within agroecosystems.
Medicinal qualities of native plants: in cooperation with professional
herbalists we are developing educational material on the affects and
sustainable use of native plants species.
Professional Affiliations
California Native Grass Association
California Exotic Pest Plant Management Council
Salmonid Restoration Federation
Society for Ecological Restoration
Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Organic Farming Research Foundation