Our clients include private industry and public agencies, ranging from city, county, state, and federal facilities. Our projects include:

• Baseline Environmental Audits
• Wastestream Inventories
• Regulatory Compliance Reviews
• Development of Waste Management Plans
• NPDES Monitoring
• Engineering Design

Our engineers and scientists have conducted baseline environmental audits at individual vehicle maintenance shops, paint spray booths, electroplating facilities, petroleum storage facilities, and wood treating facilities, as well as across a large Department of Energy site. Our wastestream inventories focus on liquid effluents for individual processes, as well as site-wide discharges that require NPDES permit compliance. We determine the environmental impacts of stormwater and industrial wastewater loading through system monitoring and flow and transport modeling.

Our evaluations of facilities operations extend to site characterization and design of control and treatment units to attain compliance. We perform multi-media sampling (soil, water, sludge and product), oversee monitoring well installations, and sample tanks. Our industrial process reviews range from treatment of high level mixed waste at Hanford with evaluation of RCRA land disposal restrictions to maintenance yard handling of cleaning fluids, pesticides, and road salt to conducting SPCC inspections.

Herrera’s engineering services include design of spill containment structures, wastewater treatment systems, and stormwater flow control; evaluation of alternative waste treatment methods; and evaluation of proposed hazardous waste landfill design.

We provide programmatic support to local and state agencies to identify potential industrial users, to determine typical waste stream profiles for specific industries, and to develop strategies for waste recycling and reduction.

Our clients include local, state, and federal agencies, as well as private clients, who seek technical assistance with wildlife issues, permitting, and Endangered Species Act requirements. Herrera biologists and engineers have designed innovative highway crossings for wildlife ranging from large carnivores to small mammals. In addition, our biologists and planners are leaders in policy development and in creating effective solutions based on best available science.

Key Projects

• Wildlife Studies for Camp Grisdale Road Improvements – Federal Highway Administration, Olympic Peninsula, Washington
• Preparation of Biological Assessments: An Advanced Training Manual – Washington State Department of Transportation
• Environmental Documentation for Roadway Improvements to US 93 from Evaro to Polson – Montana Department of Transportation
• Environmental Documentation for Roadway Improvements to US 89 from Browning to Hudson Bay Divide – Montana Department of Transportation
• State Route 18 Improvements from Issaquah-Hobart Road to Interstate 90, King County, Washington – Washington State Department of Transportation
• Wildlife Studies Associated with Continental Mine Waste Removal – US Environmental Protection Agency
• Endangered Species Act compliance services for various agencies including Sound Transit, Federal Highway Administration, Washington State Department of Transportation, Montana Department of Transportation, City of Seattle, and King County

Herrera’s wetland biologists and environmental scientists have key expertise in the areas of wetland delineation, functional assessments, impact analysis, mitigation, planning, permitting services, and monitoring over broad geographic areas to ensure project success.

Our wetland biologists are trained in the most current technical protocols and up-to-date regulatory conditions to provide the highest level of service for our clients. We are regional leaders in the field and regularly provide training for students of wetland science and develop and implement scientific protocols. Our service area includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska.

Key Projects

• Wetland Delineations, Mitigation Plans, and Permit Coordination for multiple projects sites – Sound Transit, King County, Washington
• State Route 518 Wetland Delineations and Mitigation Plan – Washington State Department of Transportation, King County, Washington
• Wildlife and Wetland Studies for US 93 Corridor Improvements from Evaro to Polson – Montana Department of Transportation
• South 277th Street Wetland Mitigation Design and Construction Oversight – King County Department of Transportation
• Camp Grisdale Road Wetland Delineations and Mitigation Plans – Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington
• Su-Knik Wetland Mitigation Bank Functional Assessments and Permit Coordination – Mat-Su Borough, Alaska
• Northeast 29th Street Wetland Mitigation Site Monitoring – City of Bellevue, Washington

Our mitigation experts develop solutions for impacts on aquatic and upland environments including marine areas, estuaries, lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and terrestrial wildlife habitats. We focus on working with clients early in the planning and design of the project to avoid and minimize impacts wherever possible. Where impacts are unavoidable, we offer a variety of solutions including preservation, enhancement, restoration, and creation of habitats to offset project impacts. We assist our clients with selecting appropriate mitigation sites on or off the project site.

Our mitigation and restoration experts are biologists, landscape architects, and engineers who collaborate on mitigation design. Typical projects involve installing large woody debris in streams, creating rearing and spawning habitat for fish, excavating soil in support of wetland creation, amending soil, installing snags for bird habitat, and planting native vegetation communities.

Throughout the design of mitigation projects we coordinate closely with regulatory agencies to insure that the project meets their approval. To ensure successful mitigation, we prepare monitoring, maintenance, and contingency plans for mitigation sites.

Key Projects

• South 277th Street Reconstruction Phase III: Wetland and Floodplain Compensation Mitigation Plan – King County Department of Transportation
• Tacoma-to-Lakewood Sounder Commuter Rail Project: Wetland Mitigation Plan – Sound Transit
• Grapeview Loop Road Improvements: Wetland Mitigation Plan – Mason County Department of Public Works

Our integrative approach allows us to create solutions that minimize impacts and maximize social and environmental benefits. We conduct marine and estuarine habitat and water quality studies, including sampling, identifying habitat and species, and analyzing water and substrate. We offer a full range of services across the timeline of a project from conceptual planning and analyses through project design and permitting, to post-construction effectiveness monitoring.

We have demonstrated expertise across a range of disciplines pertinent to marine development and habitat restoration projects, including estuarine and marine ecology, fisheries, water quality, and toxicology. We are experienced with eelgrass monitoring; diving surveys; fish sampling and biometrics; studying benthic organisms, marine vertebrates and invertebrates, and marine algae; habitat surveys, and impact analysis.

Key Projects

• Sounder Railway Marine Impact Mitigation – Sound Transit, Washington
• Geoduck Survey and Report for the Vashon Wastewater Treatment Plant, King County – King County, Washington
• Quillayute River Estuary Fish, Crab, and Benthic Intertidal Study – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, Washington
• Shoreline Improvement Design Assistance, Biological Assessment, Agency Coordination, and Eelgrass Monitoring Plan – Private client, Whidbey Island, Washington
• Estuary Functional Assessment for Nearshore Marine and Intertidal Habitat Areas Associated with the Everett-to-Seattle Commuter Rail Project – Sound Transit, Washington
• Estuarine and Stream Habitat Assessment for Island County’s Freeland Outfall Improvements at Holmes Harbor – Island County, Washington

Our biologists conduct surveys and document status, distribution, habitat requirements, and potential habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species, including birds, mammals, and amphibians. Using our years of local experience, we evaluate key habitat components and develop species-specific wildlife preservation, enhancement, and habitat creation projects such as planting plans and bird nesting sites. Herrera biologists also develop monitoring and maintenance plans for habitat creation and restoration projects.

Key Projects

• Bumping River Road Biological Resources Report – Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, in Yakima County, Washington.
• Brightwater Regional Wastewater Treatment System project Environmental Impact Statement chapters for plants, animals, and wetlands – King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Wastewater Treatment Division, Washington
• Grisdale Road Improvement Project Biological Resources Report including marbled murrelet, spotted owl, amphibian, and terrestrial mollusk surveys – Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division, on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington
• Wildlife Study and Habitat Assessment for a 10 – acre Cougar Mountain Property – Private client, Bellevue, Washington
• Wildlife Assessment – Private residence, King County, Washington
• Cascade Warm Lake Road Improvement Project Biological Resources Report – Federal Highway Administration, Cascade, Idaho
• Wildlife Study and Habitat Survey – 136th/Redmond Way Bypass and Stabilization project, Redmond WA – City of Redmond Public Works Department

Our fisheries services include baseline marine, estuarine, and freshwater habitat assessment; analysis of impacts on fish, shellfish, invertebrates, and other aquatic life; essential fish habitat analysis; fish population estimates; marine fisheries ecology; habitat restoration; ecological impacts of dredging and contamination; and short- and long-term monitoring. Our integrated team of marine and fisheries biologists and environmental scientists have expertise with a range of fish population, habitat, and water quality assessment techniques, including snorkel surveys, electroshocking, gut content analysis, and biometrics. We are regionally recognized for our ability to assess the effects of development and restoration projects on fish populations and their supporting ecosystems, and we have a demonstrated record of success using these skills to achieve client objectives.

Key Projects

• Lake Youngs Reserve Ecological Technical Studies – Seattle Public Utilities, City of Seattle, Washington
• Hoh River Reach Analysis and Instream Fish Habitat Assessment – Washington State Department of Transportation
• Stream Habitat Surveys and Culvert Barrier Assessments – Lewis County, Washington
• Landsburg Diversion Steelhead Passage, Smolt Behavior Studies – City of Seattle, Washington

We offer our clients a complete range of ESA-related services, from project ESA compliance reviews to negotiating with agencies and tribes to facilitate the consultation process. We are experienced with conference and consultation procedures under ESA Section 7 and Section 10, Section 9 compliance, and 4(d) rule exemption requirements. We have prepared biological assessments and other ESA documentation for projects affecting a variety of aquatic and terrestrial environments. In addition, our scientists and planners provide technical support to help the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 10 CERCLA program meet ESA compliance requirements, including Biological Assessments and scientific support for wetland delineation and stream channel and habitat restoration.

Our integrated team of scientists, engineers, and planners works closely with our clients to strategically plan their projects, identifying potential regulatory conflicts early to avoid surprises. If appropriate for the project, our experience with mitigation design, permitting, and monitoring enables us to satisfy agency requirements while meeting clients’ needs. As a result of our reputation for knowledge of ESA compliance requirements, project excellence, and rapport with regulatory agencies, several state and federal agencies contract with Herrera to educate their staff on regulatory requirements and to conduct ESA compliance reviews on their behalf.

Key Projects

• Preparation of Biological Assessments: An Advanced Training Manual – Washington State Department of Transportation
• Environmental Documentation for Roadway Improvements to US 93 from Evaro to Polson – Montana Department of Transportation
• Seattle Department of Transportation On-Call ESA and Environmental Services – Seattle Department of Transportation, City of Seattle, Washington
• Superfund Technical Assistance and Response Team 2 (START-2) ESA Support Services – Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10
• Biological Assessments for Various Local Transportation Projects – Cities of Auburn, Kirkland, Issaquah, Shoreline, and Lacey, Washington

Herrera’s botanists and biologists are recognized for their knowledge of regional plant communities; rare, threatened and endangered plant species; and exotic vegetation control. Our team excels in habitat enhancement using innovative native plant restoration techniques and bioengineering techniques using native plants for wetland mitigation, stormwater treatment, stream bank stabilization, erosion control, and revegetation of reclaimed mine sites.

Herrera’s natural resource scientists conduct botanical resource surveys, rare plant surveys, wildlife habitat assessments, wetland plant identification, noxious weed surveys, weed management plans, wetland mitigation plans, revegetation plans for restoration projects, and restoration site monitoring. Our integrated team of botanists, biologists, and wetland scientists has expertise with a range of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems throughout the Pacific northwest, intermountain west, great plains, and Alaska.

Key Projects

• Freshwater Aquatic Plant Identification Manual – Washington State Department of Ecology
• Washington Park Arboretum Master Plan and State Environmental Protection Act Environmental Impact Statement – City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation
• Noxious Weed Management Guidelines – Montana Department of Transportation
• Botanical Resource Surveys – Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division
• Vegetation Mapping, Classification, and Plant Surveys – Bitterroot Land Trust
• Pipers Creek Restoration Improvements – Seattle Public Utilities
• Upper Vasa Creek Erosion Control and Stabilization – City of Bellevue Utilities Department

Our permitting experts have obtained permits for projects involving a variety of aquatic environments including marine areas, estuaries, lakes, rivers, streams, ditches, and wetlands. We obtain aquatic permits from federal, state, tribal, and local agencies including the Corps of Engineers, Washington Department of Ecology, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and various cities and counties. Typical permits include Section 404, Section 10, Section 401, Hydraulic Project Approval, and Aquatic Use Authorization. Often in conjunction with these permits, we provide permitting services for projects adjacent to aquatic resources such as shorelines and buffers. These permits include Shoreline Substantial Development and Critical Areas Permits from cities and counties.

Our focus is obtaining permits in a timely fashion by identifying all necessary permits at the start of project planning, developing a permitting schedule, and coordinating early with permitting agencies. Our experience allows us to provide clients with realistic assessments of permitting timelines early in project development so that our clients can accurately schedule their projects and meet their construction deadlines. Our permitting experts work closely with project engineers and biologists to insure that permit applications are complete upon submittal. We also ensure that permitting agencies are aware of changes throughout the design process.

Key Projects

• SR 518 SeaTac Airport to I-5/I-405 Interchange
  JARPA permit application, Section 404 individual permit, Section 401 Water Quality Certification permit, City of Tukwila Sensitive Area Special Permission permit, Hydraulic Project Approval
  Washington State Department of Transportation
• 136th/Redmond Way Bypass and Stabilization
  JARPA permit application, Section 404 nationwide permit, City of Redmond Sensitive Area permit, Hydraulic Project Approval
  City of Redmond Department of Public Works
• Grapeview Loop Road Improvements
  JARPA permit application, Section 404 individual permit, Section 401 Water Quality Certification, Shoreline permit, Mason County Sensitive Area permit, Hydraulic Project Approval
  Mason County Department of Public Works
• South 277th Street Reconstruction Phase III
  JARPA permit application, Section 404 individual permit, Section 401 Water Quality Certification permit, King County Sensitive Area permit, Hydraulic Project Approval
  King County Department of Transportation