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WHAT WE DO We are an environmental consulting firm specializing in botanical surveys, vegetation monitoring, rare plant surveys, wetland delineations, and technical writing. |
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WHERE? Our work has taken us across the north-central United States, from Michigan to Montana. Most of the work has been for the US Forest Service, including National Forests (Ottawa, Nicolet, Chequamegon, Superior, Chippewa, Custer, and Lewis and Clark) and National Grasslands (Buffalo Gap, Grand River, Little Missouri, and Sheyenne). Other agencies we have worked with include the National Park Service (Badlands and Yellowstone), the U.S. Geological Survey, the Soil Conservation Service, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and various cities and counties. Other projects have been for private firms such as The Nature Conservancy, realtors, developers, excavators, mining companies, and private landholders. |
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HOW? The quality of our work has been recognized many times, having received merit awards from the US Forest Service in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2000. Buffalo Gap National Grasslands cited us for "outstanding contributions" to the rare species program, the Custer National Forest awarded us for "contributions to complete environmental assessments for livestock grazing." The Nicolet National Forest recognized us for "contribution to the inventory and management of rare plants on the forest" and for "organizational skills and dedicated botanical survey efforts." In more recent years, Yellowstone National Park observed that we had "raised the standard for all future reports," the Lewis and Clark National Forest described our work as 'outstanding." We aim to be a low maintenance firm, with quick response, quick comprehension, thorough coverage, a fine report, and no wasted movement. |
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WHAT WE DID 2007 Field Season: This was our busiest season yet. We worked on six US Forest Service units. We did target surveys for Chenopodium subglabrum on the Grand River National Grasslands, target surveys for Platanthera praeclara on the Sheyenne National Grassland, and comprehensive rare plant surveys on the Little Missouri National Grassland, Superior National Forest and the Chequamegon National Forest. As has been the case every few years, we did vegetation monitoring on the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Finally, a new venture; we did aquatic plant surveys on Lac Vieux Desert on the Nicolet National Forest. Rare species located this year included the above mentioned plants as well as Taxus canadensis, Geocaulon lividum, and Ranunculus lapponicus, and Agoseris lackschewitzii. A new development this year: we have been getting more requests for mammal and bird inventories through the course of our vegetation surveys, so we have been expanding our mammal and bird identification skills. In most cases, the best place to keep up with our travels and to see the latest photography or survey findings is at our blog. 2006 Field Season: The rare Eriogonum visheri, or Dakota Buckwheat, pushed the season into October this year. The plant turns a bright red in late summer and holds this color into the early winter, validating surveys well into October, and, I might argue, November or December. Those surveys were in South Dakota on the Grand River National Grassland. It is dinosaur country, and for the third year in a row the mighty Triceratops reared its bony head. We also worked in the badlands of North Dakota on the Little Missouri National Grassland. These sites were where oil drilling had been proposed. Dozens of what appeared to be Townsendia hookeri were discovered, but phenologies prevented a definitive determination. A new client gave us surveys on the tallgrass prairie of the Sheyenne National Grassland in eastern North Dakota, where we found several hundred specimens of Platanthera praeclara, the fabled Western Prairie Fringed Orchid. In Wisconsin, on a day off we found Utricularia resupinata on the exposed shoreline of a seepage lake. Drought and a hot summer dropped lake levels to record lows. A few weeks were spent up by Washburn, WI, on the Chequamegon National Forest on a rare plant survey on proposed logging sites. No rare plants were seen there, although dozens of Platanthera orbiculata populations were encountered. This plant was de-listed a year or two ago. Surveys on the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota recorded Platanthera hookeri and Taxus canadensis. Also, Dave attended a Wetland Delineation Training course in August put on by the University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse. A trip to Poland during August reminded us where so many of the noxious weeds in North America originated. Look for more information on the Photos and Survey History pages. |
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WANT DETAILS?
Follow the
menu bars.
You can see just where we have been in
Survey History. If you are wondering about
qualifications or interests, go to
About Us. If you want to get a better idea
of the quality of our work go to
Survey Reports. We
have some photos of rare plants, habitats, and whatnot at
Photos. If you want to follow us
around on our journeys, look at the photo album at
Travels It's all here. And if you wish, we can provide you with many references. And you can always give us a call or drop us a line and we will be glad to fill you in. Call Us Now!
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