Restoration of degraded habitats has become a national priority. In Southern California, less than five percent of historic riparian habitat remains and many watersheds have been degraded by a variety of anthropogenic disturbances. Aspen's qualified team of biologists, ecologists, planners and other scientists have extensive practical knowledge in the restoration of degraded ecosystems throughout California. Aspen comprehensively assesses restoration goals, opportunities, and constraints and prepares plans and design documents to optimize ecosystem function and achieve community and species diversity goals that are consistent with existing and future environmental conditions. We also apply our expertise to the preparation of Watershed Management Plans and Special Area Management Plans that allow local and regional organizations to prioritize and plan specific restoration projects.

• Habitat assessment using Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP), the Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) Approach, the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM), and related methods to evaluate habitat condition and restoration potential
• Identification of appropriate project and ecosystem goals, development and evaluation of restoration alternatives in consideration of goals, opportunities, and constraints
• Detailed vegetation mapping utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  Change analysis of vegetation community structure
• Optimization of restoration alternatives employing cost-benefit and incremental cost analysis
• Development of restoration feasibility studies and plans
• Preparation of comprehensive habitat mitigation and monitoring plans
• Evaluation of restoration success, using an adaptive management approach to efficiently identify problems and effective remedial actions
• Preparation of habitat conservation plans
• Preparation of Watershed Management Plans, Special Area Management Plans (SAMPs), and Master Streambed Alteration Agreements (MSAAs)
• Hydrologic and hydraulic stream flow evaluation
• Sediment transport analysis

• Habitat Restoration
  
  
  • Lake Perris Beach Replenishment Project
  • Ormond Beach Wetlands Restoration Feasibility Study, Ventura County, CA
  • Laguna Canyon Creek Initial Study and Conceptual Restoration Plan, City of Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA
  • Corps Section 206 and Section 1135 programs
  • Prado Dam/Reach 9, Orange County and Riverside County, CA
  • Lower Sulphur Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project, Orange County, CA
  • Wood Canyon Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project, Orange County, CA
  • Tucson Drainage Basin Habitat Criteria Report, Tucson, AZ
  • Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Project, Ventura County, CA
  • Murrieta Creek Phase I Restoration Project, Temecula California
  • Morro Bay Power Plant Habitat Equivalency Study, CA
  • Elkhorn Slough Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program, CA
  • Bull Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project, Los Angeles, CA
  • Cucamonga and Deer Creek Ecosystems Restoration Report, San Bernardino County, CA
  • Agua Fria River Ecosystem Restoration, Avondale, AZ
  • Kino Environmental Restoration Project, Tucson, AZ
  • Habitat Criteria Reports, Rio Salado Environmental Restoration Project, Phoenix and Tempe, AZ
  • Santa Clara Valley Water District - Jacques Gulch Restoration Project


• Watershed Management Plans and Special Area Management Plan
  
  
  • Otay River Watershed Management Plan (ORWMP) and Special Area Management Plan (SAMP), San Diego County, CA
  • Dominguez Channel Watershed Management Plan, Los Angeles County, California


• Other Biological Documentation:

  Aspen prepares and reviews numerous biological resource documents and proposes mitigation for biological impacts using measures that have been extensively field-tested in a large number of mitigation monitoring programs.

  • Fort Irwin Endangered Species Management Plan (ESMP)
  • US Army Corps of Engineers IDIQ Environmental Services Contracts (Corps)