Hanson Environmental consultants are primarily applied scientists with an emphasis in aquatic and wildlife biology and quantitative science. Our areas of expertise are:
- Endangered species Section 7 consultations, biological opinions, and habitat conservation planning including participation in evaluating data used for species listings and development of species recovery plans and monitoring programs;
- Fisheries and aquatic biology in marine, estuarine and freshwater environments;
- Water quality;
- Instream flow and stream habitat restoration;
- Riparian and wetland resource management and restoration;
- Design, management, statistical analysis, and interpretation of environmental monitoring programs;
- Regulatory compliance and permitting;
- Expert witness testimony in public hearings and litigation.
Our professional staff has been involved in water quality and biological monitoring programs, water rights and NPDES permitting, and compliance programs in California since 1975. Over these years we have established our professional credentials and reputation in working on behalf of municipal and industrial clients with key regulators in State and Federal agencies. We have experience working with a broad range of clients including electric power utilities, municipal water districts, various manufacturing industries, agricultural industries, aquaculture industries, the petroleum industry, mining industries, and private developers.
The breadth of experience in dealing with environmental and regulatory issues includes:
- The effects of acid-mine drainage on fisheries populations and aquatic communities inhabiting large river and reservoir systems;
- The effects of agricultural drainage discharges, including elevated concentrations of selenium, on aquatic organisms, wetland vegetation, and waterfowl health and reproduction;
- The effects of elevated water temperature exposure associated with point-source thermal discharges, reservoir and impoundment operations, and instream flow conditions on growth, survival, reproductive success, and health of fish and invertebrates;
- Stream habitat characterization and evaluation of instream flow requirements;
- Wetland characterization, management, mitigation, and U.S. Army Corps and State permitting issues;
- Intake screening, entrainment, and water diversion impact assessment associated with NPDES permitting and mitigation obligations;
- Streambed alteration agreements and mitigation for wetland and riparian vegetation impacts;
- Water quality and point-source discharge investigations.
The majority of our professional activities are in response to the need for compliance with many of the major State and Federal regulations including:
- Corps of Engineers Section 10 and 404 permitting;
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA);
- Section 7 Endangered Species Consultation, and Section 10 Habitat Conservation Planning;
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
- State Water Resources Control Board water rights decisions and water quality control plans;
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) permitting and monitoring;
- Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA); and
- Regional Water Quality Control Board basin planning, NPDES monitoring and compliance, and Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR).
