A Biological Risk Assessment is conducted prior to site development, construction, land acquisition, property transfer, sale, commercial lending, or insurance of property. The basis of the Biological Risk Assessment is the disclosure of all site specific biological considerations. The Biological Risk Assessment reports on existing site conditions, potential jurisdictional wetlands and protected waterways, protected habitats, plant and animal species occurring on site or in the vicinity of the site, potentially required permits and mitigation, estimated timelines, and suggested avoidance and minimization solutions for streamlining impacts and environmental costs.

The Biological Risk Assessment will include a California Natural Diversity Database search of federal, state, and local threatened, endangered, and sensitive species and habitat types. This search will include all documented occurrences of sensitive plants, animals, and habitats within the project vicinity. A literature search combined with informal communications with resource agencies will insure complete disclosure of the potential for sensitive habitat types, plant species, and animal species.

An on site evaluation of the proposed project site will target all ecological aspects of the site and adjacent locations. On site habitats will be evaluated and documented. Areas of concern will be photographed and documented. Any wetlands, protected waterways, protected plants, protected animals, and sensitive habitats on the project location or within the immediate surrounding vicinity will be identified.

A thorough Biological Risk Assessment Report will be completed. This report will include all findings of the database search, literature search, informal communications, and findings of the site evaluation. Photographs of any areas of concern will be documented within this report. The Biological Risk Assessment Report will include potential mitigation and compensation that may be required by federal, state, and local regulatory agencies. Any potentially required permits will be documented as well as the pathway, agency, process, and potential timeline for obtaining the permit.

A completed Biological Risk Assessment will provide the client with information needed to make sound planning decisions.