Kathy Buescher Simon has over 25 years of experience as a wildlife biologist and environmental analyst. She has successfully managed and conducted fieldwork for projects ranging in size and scope from approximately 5 to 500,000 acres and has extensive experience in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts of California, southern California mountain and foothill habitats, and varying habitats throughout the state of California. She has managed and written over 150 biological and environmental reports including Biological Technical Reports, Biological Assessments, Natural Environment Studies, Initial Studies, and Environmental Impact Reports/Statements. Mrs. Simon has expertise with environmental laws and policies governing natural resources, including the State and Federal Endangered Species Acts, National Environmental Policy Act, California Environmental Quality Act, and Clean Water Act. She has managed the natural resources and environmental compliance of projects within several sectors including large-scale military projects, communications, energy, infrastructure, private development, transportation, and local municipalities. Mrs. Simon holds Memoranda of Understanding for the Mohave ground squirrel and other small mammal species, and for handling and performing telemetry for desert tortoise.

Chris Blandford has over 20 years of experience as a wildlife biologist and natural resources project manager. He has a strong history of managing biological resource studies; conducting focused surveys for special-status amphibians, reptiles, and birds; authoring technical reports and resource-specific management plans; performing jurisdictional wetland delineations; preparing environmental documents in support of California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act compliance; developing regulatory permit applications pursuant to the Federal and State Endangered Species Acts, California Fish and Game Code (1600 and 2080), Clean Water Act (Section 401 and 404), and Migratory Bird Treaty Act; and supervising mitigation/compliance monitoring programs. Mr. Blandford has authored and reviewed over 100 biological resource documents involving detailed effects/impact analysis and development of mitigation measures, including Biological Assessments for Section 7 consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service. Mr. Blandford is approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife for conducting surveys, monitoring and handling of desert tortoise. He has conducted habitat assessments and focused wildlife surveys throughout Southern California. He has also implemented mitigation programs for large-scale projects, performed restoration compliance inspections, and trained construction field crews in environmental awareness.

Don Copeland has over 20 years of experience in the environmental field, experienced in conducting Section 7 and Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service, and preparing Biological Assessments, Biological Evaluations, and Endangered Species Act incidental take permits. He has extensive environmental compliance experience as a project manager and biological monitor on large projects, ensuring environmental compliance with regulatory documents (Biological Opinions, 2081’s, streambed permits as well as Environmental Documents). Mr. Copeland is approved by US Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and BLM to handle desert tortoise, and has performed surveys for least Bell’s vireo, burrowing owl, southwestern willow flycatcher, arroyo toad, San Bernardino kangaroo rat, and bats. He has also used his experience to train biologists in construction awareness and implementing best management practices.

Danna Hinderle has more than 18 years of professional experience as a desert ecologist and field technician, working exclusively with the management and conservation of desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert. She has worked on a broad range of interdisciplinary projects in cooperation with federal and state agencies. She has worked on a broad range of interdisciplinary projects in cooperation with federal and state agencies including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Geological Survey, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Nevada Department of Wildlife, as well as the Fort Irwin Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division. Ms. Hinderle served as a principal investigator under her 10(a)1(A) US Fish and Wildlife Service research permit on a number of desert tortoise projects, which allowed for critical information to be collected prior to large scale renewable energy development in California and Nevada. This analysis of habitat and shelter use, home range, and movement patterns helped inform translocation and monitoring of tortoises. Danna completed her M.Sc. in 2011 on the homing ability, and habitat use of desert tortoises post-translocation.

Lehong Chow has more than 10 years of experience as a biologist within California and Nevada conducting focused species surveys, habitat assessments, small mammal trapping, plant and vertebrate inventories, compliance monitoring, technical report writing, crew management, and project management. She has worked with a wide-range of sectors including large and small-scale utilities, renewables, private development, and military operated projects. Ms. Chow has been authorized by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to handle desert tortoise and Mohave ground squirrel, and has performed surveys for burrowing owl, raptors, nesting birds, desert kit fox, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and rare plants.

Blanca Rivera has served as a field biologist on several projects in California and Nevada. She has been authorized by US Fish and Wildlife Service to handle desert tortoises and has implemented compliance programs for large-scale utility projects. She has conducted focused surveys for the desert tortoise, burrowing owl, nesting bird surveys and a wide variety of Mojave Desert and Southern California terrestrial plant and wildlife species. Ms. Rivera has served as assistant project manager for a large volume on call contract with Southern California Edison managing biological resources for operations, maintenance, and emergency projects.

Maribel Lopez has served as a field biologist on several projects in California and Nevada. She has worked extensively with authorized biologists performing desert tortoise health assessments. Ms. Lopez has contributed to several biological resource management plans and assisted in the preparation of worker environmental awareness training materials for large-scale projects. She has conducted focused surveys for the desert tortoise, burrowing owl, nesting bird surveys and a wide variety of Mojave Desert and Southern California terrestrial plant and wildlife species.

Milo Rivera has 21 years of applied and research experience in the field of environmental science, with emphasis on wildlife assessments, impact analysis, and project management. He has extensive experience in implementing construction compliance monitoring programs, conducting biological studies, focused threatened and endangered species surveys, sensitive habitat surveys, as well as preparing biological reports. He has conducted and managed surveys for the desert tortoise, burrowing owl, flat-tailed horned lizard, Mojave fringed toed lizard, nesting bird surveys and a wide variety of Mojave Desert and Southern California terrestrial plant and wildlife species. Mr. Rivera holds a Memorandum of Understanding from the California Department of Fish and Game for the desert tortoise. His previous position at the County of San Bernardino involved a variety of projects including the Hinkley Bridge and Lenwood Crossings, bridges over Santa Ana River, and maintenance projects in both the Santa Ana River and Mojave River systems.

Emily Thorn has 15 years of experience as a permitting specialist, biologist and project manager. She has a comprehensive background in managing biological resource studies, writing technical reports, permitting, agency coordination, and preparing environmental documents. Ms. Thorn has authored biological resource reports involving detailed effects/impact analysis and development of mitigation measures, including Biological Assessments for Section 7 consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service. She is proficient in performing jurisdictional wetland delineations consistent with California Department of Fish and Wildlife Section 1600 and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulatory statutes. Ms. Thorn was the primary contributor to the environmental assessment that analyzed the impact of managing water resources within the Mojave National Preserve for the benefits of wilderness and native wildlife including desert bighorn sheep.

Dave Kesonie has 17 years of experience as an ecologist and botanist. He has a comprehensive background in plant taxonomy, conducting field surveys, and data analysis. His advanced degree in botany has provided the foundation for his involvement in rare plant inventories and invasive weed management. Mr. Kesonie is also trained in performing; jurisdictional wetland delineations pursuant to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Section 1600 and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers guidelines and contributing to technical report preparation. His background in Geographic Information Systems allows for efficient data collection, analysis, and presentation of results to project proponents.