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March 2014

“Patton’s Playground” a World War II History in Southern California’s Desert Lands

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The Gulf RESTORE Act

We’ll See You AroundNew FacesHands-On General Planning

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President’sMessage

President’s Message

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These past few post-Great Recession years have been an interesting experience for many of us. While the general economy continues to exhibit (mostly) steady signs of growing strength, there seems to be continuing hesitation and cautiousness on many fronts. Conserving cash remains the mantra for many business enterprises, organizations, and government entities. Political stalemate in Washington D.C. seems to be the way things will now be until the end of time. The exploding reach of social media has ensured that more eyes than ever before are able engage on whatever one wants to do, always threatening to rise up in vigorous protest should one do “the wrong thing.” And of course the internet continues to enable everyone to become an instant “expert” on practically any subject.

In the environmental consulting field, I don’t think we’ll ever quite do things the way we used to – nor should we. Better and cheaper are two words that come immediately to mind, as our clients rightfully insist upon both from us. From an environmental consultant’s perspective, this “New Normal” era, as I like to think of it, is more proactive and solution oriented than it ever has been – and much more focused on price and value. And that’s a good thing, for our communities and for the environmental profession.

While it’s typical during economic tough times to have elevated dialogue regarding the need to reduce environmental regulatory “red-tape,” the effort during this cycle proved to be somewhat more focused and - at least to some degree - effective. Emphasis in the California legislature on CEQA reform, through Senate Bill 743, was focused on facilitating infill development by stream-lining some aspects of the environmental review requirements for projects in “transit priority areas.” As a result, jurisdictions will be able to approach transportation analyses more rationally and will no longer need to analyze parking as an environmental impact or address visual aesthetics (in most cases) in their environmental review documents for these projects. In addition, certain major

projects satisfying other environmental criteria – such as greenhouse gas emission neutrality – are eligible for a more streamlined legal appeal process.

To be sure, controversial projects with high political and legal profiles will still require substantial environmental analysis and documentation processes that will take considerable effort and time to get through. ESA is well-known for our work on such comprehensive and technically credible environmental impact analyses, especially when timeliness and legal defensibility are of critical importance to ultimate project success.

Perhaps less-known is that we help clients prepare many more streamlined, highly focused, and lower cost environ-mental documents, such as initial studies leading to negative declarations, environmental assessments leading to FONSIs, addendums, and documented categorical exclusions for a wide range of development, infrastructure and environmental enhancement projects. Such focused and less costly environ-mental review approaches are even more the rule these days, particularly when coupled with a more proactive environmental enhancement and self-mitigating approach during project development.

Strategic partnering with project applicants, local jurisdictions, resource agencies, and non-governmental organizations to build more environmental benefits and protection measures into projects is a key attribute of this approach. It enables a more streamlined entitlement process, with more dollars available to be spent on implementing tangible and significant environmental benefits, such as habitat restoration, coastal resiliency measures, public access enhancements or transit improvements – rather than just more paperwork. At ESA we have been increasingly successfully assisting our public and private clients in this manner, turning the New Normal into greater project success.

The New Normal

It is extremely important that we accomplish the DTC tasks set before us. It has been our goal to give this work a higher priority for at least the past 5 years, since the recent solar development has been cumulative, and is adversely affecting the sites. The public has voiced concerns over the loss of recreational lands and the vandalism and deterioration of DTC camps. BLM has taken the lead and is currently coordinating a renewed effort to get the DTC “back on the map” and accomplish several interpretive goals regarding DTC recreation and visitation opportunities. The first goal is to nominate the DTC to the NRHP. The one million troops that trained at the various locations tilted the scales in making the North African and European campaigns a success, and became a turning point in WWII and in American History overall. We all should be forever grateful of the sacrifices our “Greatest Generation” made to our nation and the free world.

– George Kline, Archaeologist U.S. Bureau of Land Management South Field Office

Post Exchange at Camp Laguna, circa 1942. Archaeology shows that soldiers did “lose” many bottles. (Source: Cour-tesy Heritage Center, U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona)

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Patton’s Playground World War II History in Southern California’s Desert Lands

By Rebecca Allen, PhD, RPA, Cultural Resources Director

Scattered among the planned renewable energy projects on the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-administered public lands are the forgotten remains of the largest military training area in the world. The Desert Training Center (DTC)1 sits in the heart of southern California’s desert lands and is where General George S. Patton, Jr. trained thousands of U.S. enlisted men in preparation for World War II (WWII). The DTC is located in a land-scape important to Native American cultural and spiritual values.

ESA has been coordinating with the BLM and solar companies to place renewable energy projects in a way that minimizes nega-tive environmental impacts. As part of the mitigation for sites that may be impacted due to renewable energy development, the BLM is documenting the historic WWII landscape of the DTC, associated with General Patton, but also the everyday life of the American soldier. After more than seven decades, archaeological remains such as divisional camps, airfields, target ranges, and tank tracks can still be found throughout the deserts of California and Arizona. Archaeological evidence of the DTC combined with the archival and historical record reflects the attitude, training, and experience representing more than 10% of those who served in WWII (D211896; Bischoff, Allen, and Baxter 2013).

The sheer size of the DTC spans multiple states, counties, cities, regulatory agencies, and lands that are culturally significant to more than 20 different Native American tribes. The 18,000 square-mile DTC was created in the opening days of World War II to prepare more than one million enlisted soldiers and other personnel for the rigors of desert warfare in the forthcoming inva-sion of North Africa. Over the past few years, several consulting firms have recorded DTC archaeological features and sites, creating a wealth of knowledge in various forms and locations.

1 http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/needles/patton.html

ESA is establishing the standard for how these historic sites are recorded and evaluated for a consistent archaeological record. From producing an overarching historical context, to providing artifact identification courses and standard terminology, we are helping to preserve this piece of American history for generations to come. ESA is actively working with the BLM to nominate the DTC, and sites within the larger facility such as hospital sites and airfields, to the National Register of Historic Places.

Pot #1

Pot #2

Pot #3

Pot #4Pot #5

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The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill was an ecological and economic disaster for the Gulf of Mexico and the myriad of stake-holders who depend on the Gulf for their livelihood. Fortunately, the passage of the federal RESTORE Act in 2012 established an unprecedented funding source and a unique opportunity for Gulf Coast states and local governments to implement coastal zone projects that address five strategic goals:

• RestoreandConserveHabitat;• RestoreWaterQuality;• ReplenishandProtectLivingCoastalandMarineResources;• EnhanceCommunityResilience;and• RestoreandRevitalizetheGulfEconomy.

The RESTORE Act establishes the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Resto-ration Trust Fund - to be funded by 80 percent of the total Clean Water Act penalties levied against the responsible parties—as well as a framework for the distribution of monies from the Trust Fund. The Act also creates the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restora-tion Council composed of representatives of the five Gulf coast states as well as key federal agencies. The Council is responsible for developing a Comprehensive Plan for Gulf restoration, and for the review and approval of State Expenditure Plans that define how each state will use its respective share of the Trust Fund.

By formula, the total Clean Water Act fines deposited in the Trust Fund could approach $18 billion. The pie chart below shows the allocation of monies from the Trust Fund. In Florida, implementa-tion of the RESTORE Act will be different than the other four Gulf coast states. The 23 coastal counties fronting the Gulf will be the direct recipients of funds distributed to Florida from Pot #1, in proportional amounts defined by a formula established in the Act. In addition, these counties have formed the Gulf Consortium, which will be responsible for preparing the Florida State Expendi-ture Plan defining projects to be funded under Pot #3. Therefore, in Florida the Gulf coastal counties will have the lead role in the implementation of the Act as opposed to state agencies, as is the case in the other four states.

The federal trial to determine the Clean Water Act fines is currently in its final phase, and a ruling is expected by mid-2014. The first law of its kind, the RESTORE Act is an historic piece of environmental legislation, and a major step toward recovery in the Gulf coast region. For more information about funding and the RESTORE Act go to RestoreTheGulf.gov; the Florida Association of Counties Gulf Consortium; or contact ESA’s Doug Robison at drobison@esassoc.com or 813-207-7200.

Restoring the GulfBy Doug Robison, PWS, Principal Associate

Pot #1: 35% equally divided among the five Gulf coast states for ecological restoration, economic development, and tourism promotion.

Pot #2: 30% plus interest managed by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council for ecosystem restoration under the Comprehensive Plan.

Pot #3: 30% divided among the states according to a formula to implement State Expenditure Plans, which require approval by the Council.

Pot #4: 2.5% plus interest provided to NOAA for a monitoring, observation, science, and technology program.

Pot #5: 2.5% plus interest allocated to the states for the development of technical Centers of Excellence within state agencies and universities.

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Imagine providing input on the future of your community from the comfort of your own home. That’s what residents in the City of Eureka have the option of doing. The process for the City’s 2040 General Plan Update is based on gathering as much input as possible from the community through a variety of outreach efforts. These efforts include stakeholder interviews, public work-shops, focus group meetings, decision-maker study sessions, and web-based virtual town halls.

The largest West Coast city between San Francisco and Port-land, the City of Eureka has a population of more than 27,000 residents. A distinctive and independent community, Eureka’s current economy is focused on a combination of resource-based activities and tourism. Constraints such as restrictions on fishing, limited transportation access, lack of developable land, and various resource regulations have made it challenging for the City to take full advantage of its economic growth opportunities, including its deep water port.

The current General Plan was adopted in 1997 and fails to address many of the City’s constraints. The update will provide much needed guidance on land use, growth, infrastructure and resources over the next 25 years. To make sure stakeholders have a chance to provide input, the first Community Workshop and Virtual Town Hall was held in early February and hosted more than 100 participants. City residents were given the chance to share their thoughts on Eureka’s assets and issues, as well as thoughts on what they feel could be improved in the future.

ESA is collaborating with the community to generate a series of policy papers to facilitate a thorough discussion of key issues

and contribute to the selection of informed policy solutions unique to Eureka. The update process will tackle community concerns relating to coastal regulations and planning, industrial growth opportunities, annexation feasibility, corridor revitaliza-tion, diversified housing, homelessness, public safety, mobility, financing tools and sustainability, historic building and neighbor-hood preservation, and the sensitive use of the City’s resources including Humboldt Bay and the adjacent redwoods. The updated General Plan will break new ground in how to meaning-fully address climate change and adaptability - including sea level rise - into local planning and regulatory documents and processes.

ESA is also preparing the City’s Housing Element, Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan, Climate Action Plan, and the Envi-ronmental Impact Report which will all be integrated with the General Plan Update. The General Plan Update is a two and a half year process, with the next Community Workshop and Virtual Town Hall meetings to be held this summer. Visit the City’s 2040 General Plan Update website for more information.

We need to hear from people who live, work and play in the city what they want for their community. This will allow us to ensure that the city grows and progresses in a manner that is consistent with their values and vision.

– Lisa Shikany, Principal Planner City of Eureka

Hands-On General Plan UpdateCity of Eureka Employs Technology to Get More InputBy Dan Dameron, Community Development Director

New Faces

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Doug Robison, PWSPrincipal AssociateBiological Resources and Land Managementdrobison@esassoc.com | Tampa, FL

One of the first Florida Professional Wetland Scientists, Doug has more than 31 years of experience managing and contributing to complex environmental assessments, planning, and permitting projects. A legally qualified expert in wetland science, estuarine ecology, limnology, watershed management, and environmental monitoring, his technical excellence has been recognized by public and private clients alike. His clients include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Department of Environmental Protec-tion, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Tampa Bay Water, Peace River Water Authority, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, and many local governments throughout Florida. Doug received his master’s degree in Biological Oceanography from the Univer-sity of South Florida, College of Marine Science, and has focused on coastal and estuarine habitat restoration throughout much of his career. In 2010 he authored the Tampa Bay Habitat Master Plan which serves as the template for future habitat restoration and management efforts in this nationally important estuary.

Casey RogersAssociate 2 Watercwrogers@esassoc.com | Seattle, WA

I was a Peace Corps volunteer for 2+ years in an extremely rural Ghanaian Village of 300 people - I learned two local languages and traveled throughout West Africa

ESA continues to strategically add expertise and resources to better meet our clients’ needs. Join us in welcoming the latest additions to our

growing team!

I make a great crawfish étoufféé - I learned the recipe from a previous coworker that I supervised who was part Cajun. I also enter 100-mile bike rides - called century rides or Grand Fondo’s - and races for charity.

Matthew Russell, PhD, RPASenior Managing AssociateCultural Resourcesmrussell@esassoc.com | San Francisco, CA

Matt has more than 20 years of experience in archaeology and has a wide range of experience in prehistoric, historical, and maritime archaeology in the United States and abroad, with more than 14 years managing large and complex projects in both the private and public sectors. Matt was an archaeologist with the National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Center (SRC) for many years before moving to the private sector. Among many NPS projects, he was Deputy Field Director for the H.L. Hunley Recovery Project in 2000 and was Project Director for the USS Arizona Preservation Project in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii from 2001-2011. He has written numerous articles, book chapters, and monographs, and has edited several books. Matt serves as ESA’s senior archae-ologist for prehistoric, historical, and maritime archaeological and historic resources technical studies.

Although I’m an underwater archaeologist, I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico for almost 15 years. As both an avid skier and SCUBA diver, I enjoyed the best of both worlds!

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David Tomasko, PhDPrincipal AssociateBiological Resources and Land Managementdtomasko@esassoc.com | Tampa, FL

Brendon QuintonAssociate 1Biological Resources and Land Managementbquinton@esassoc.com | Tampa, FL

David RodriguezSenior Environmental Field TechBiological Resources and Land Managementdrodriguez@esassoc.com | San Francisco, CA

David brings innovative solutions and scientific expertise based on 27+ years of hands-on experience in pollutant loading and water quality modeling and reviews, environmental monitoring design, water quality analysis, and the development of estuary and lake management plans. He has published over 40 articles or chapters in peer-reviewed scientific literature and presented find-ings related to his research on ecological responses to pollution control efforts at a workshop on carbon sequestration hosted by the University of Tokyo. Dave was previously the manager of the Environmental Section of the Southwest Florida Water Manage-ment District, where his staff oversaw projects involved with the restoration of lakes, springs and estuaries. Prior to joining the Water Management District, Dave was the staff scientist for the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program, an EPA program devel-oped to guide restoration efforts in US estuaries. His projects have involved working throughout Florida and the Southeast, as well as numerous locations in the Caribbean and the Middle East.

I recently vacationed in Panama and drove across most of the country - quite an adventure!

I participated in a study abroad program in the U.K. learning about everything from water quality to biospheres to how certain landforms appeared. It wasn’t uncommon for our professor to take us to the middle of a vast landscape and say “How did this happen?”

I was a fisheries biologist in the 1980s - during their Communist government’s crackdown on the trade union Solidarity – the only American working on a Polish fishing boat in the Bering Sea during winter. We had 17 guys jump ship seeking political asylum when we refueled in Anchorage.

May LauSenior Managing AssociateBiological Resources and Land Managementmlau@esassoc.com | Los Angeles, CA

May brings ten years of experience delivering solutions for resource management, permitting, and habitat restoration. Well versed in CEQA, NEPA and other state and local regulatory requirements, she brings proven success collaborating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Depart-ment of Fish and Wildlife, California coastal agencies, and regional water quality control boards. From wetland delineations and biological surveys, to mitigation planning and compliance reporting, May has worked with clients including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Nevada’s Clark County Department of Comprehensive Planning, and Southern California Edison.

We’ll See You Around

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See our experts at these upcoming events

March Events27-29 | 48th Annual Conference of the California-Nevada Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in Sacramento, CA

Rocko Brown presenting “Stream Manage-ment and Restoration in California –  Collaborating for the Future”

27 | Water Education Foundation 2014 Executive Briefing in Sacramento, CA

Minta Schaefer, Water Leader

27 | Charlotte Harbor Watershed Summit: Our Vision in Action in Punta Gorda, FL

David Tomasko, PhD presenting “An Alternative Approach to Water Manage-ment: An Example from the City of Winter Haven”

April Events7-10 | 39th Annual NAEP Conference in St. Petersburg, FL

Shannon Stewart presenting “New and Improved Mitigation Policies and Practices for Infrastructure”

7-10 | BioCycle 28th Annual West Coast Conference REFOR14 West in San Diego, CA

8-10 | 29th California Trails & Greenways Conference in Palm Springs, CA

8-11 | National Center for Employee Ownership Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA

8-11 | WASLA & WRPA Joint Conference and Trade Show in Seattle, WA

9-11 | Planning Association of Washington Annual Conference in Lynnwood, WA

11 | Northbay Watershed Association 2014 Conference in Novato, CA

13-16 | Airports Council International 2014 Environmental Affairs Conference in Baltimore, MD

16-18 | California Resource Recovery Association & Solid Waste Association of North America 2014 Western Regional Symposium in San Jose, CA

21-24 | American Public Works Associa-tion Oregon Chapter Spring Conference in Seaside, OR

Marjorie Wolfe, PE, CFM presenting “Salem’s Hydromodification Assessment”

Curtis Loeb, PE presenting “Improving Fish Passage Design Guidelines for Water Crossings in Tidal Environments”

21-24 | Airports Council International Operations & Technical Affairs Conference in Montreal, Canada

22-25 | 39th Annual California Preservation Conference in Pacific Grove, CA

30-May 2 | 2014 Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference in Seattle, WA

Jim Keany presenting “Developing a Rapid Assessment for the Nearshore”

Margaret Clancy, PWS presenting “Chal-lenges and Opportunities of Using the Puget Sound Watershed Characterization to Identify In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Sites – a Case Study from the Hood Canal ILF Program”

Jenna Friebel presenting “Mukilteo Water-shed-Based Stormwater Strategies Plan”

May Events1 | 15th Annual Open Space Conference in San Francisco, CA

4-6 | American Association of Airport Executives 2014 Southeast Chapter Conference in Myrtle Beach, FL

6-9 | Association of California Water Agen-cies 2014 Spring Conference & Exhibition in Monterey, CA

12-13 | National Preservation Institute: NEPA Compliance and Cultural Resources in Los Angeles, CA

We Want To Know

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12-13 | Law Seminars International: Tribal Environmental Quality Protection in Cabazon, CA

Jennifer Wade, Event Co-Chair presenting “Environmental Assessment (EA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Preparation Tips”

Erich Fischer presenting “Detailed Analysis of Requirements for Environmental Impact Review for Projects on Tribal Lands or Tribal Projects Off Tribal Lands”

13-15 | California Society for Ecological Restoration 21st Annual Conference in Santa Rosa, CA

Michelle Orr, PE, Panel Chair on Tidal Wetland Restoration

Mark Lindley, PE presenting “Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project – Design Approach and Construction Challenges”

Jorgen Blomberg, MLA and Andy Collison, PhD presenting “Lessons Learned From A Decade Of Restoration On The Napa River”

Andy Collison, PhD poster “Integrating dendochronology and Channel Migration Zone Mapping to Date Channel Evolution and Delineate Potential Riparian Restora-tion Areas”

15-18 | Society for Industrial Archaeology 43rd Annual Conference in Portland, ME

18-23 | Society of Wetland Scientists Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting in Portland, OR

Steve Crooks, PhD presenting “Breaking the Carbon Blues: Urgent Research Needs”

21-22 | The Leadership Series: Seventh Annual Cultural Resources Protection Summit in Suquamish, WA

27-29 | 12th Annual Headwaters to Ocean Conference in San Diego, CA

June Events1-6 | Association of State Floodplain Managers Annual National Conference in Seattle, WA

Bob Battalio, PE presenting “Designing floodplains for fish, fowl and floods –Effective integration of environmental stewardship goals into flood management projects”

18-19 | The Fifth Annual Statewide Energy Efficiency Best Practices Forum in San Diego, CA

16-19 | Florida Lake Management Society 25th Annual Technical Symposium in Stuart, FL

ESA is a leading environmental science and planning firm committed to the principles of sustainability. We specialize in environmental and community planning, ecosystem restoration design, technical studies and investigations,

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