CTC Wildlife Surveys
Ascent’s biological resources team assists the California Tahoe Conservancy by conducting surveys for various species in support of the Conservancy’s projects in Griff Creek, Sunset Stables, and Lyons Ranch.
Prairie City SVRA Aquatic Resources Delineation
Trails are fundamental to fulfilling the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s mission to create opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. The Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP) for the Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area provides specific and detailed management direction for the road and trail systems in these park units, guiding their future operation, maintenance, and development.
Botanical Field Surveys, SERAL and Cedar Ridge Fuels Project
Tuolumne County is conducting landscape restoration activities through Supplemental Project Agreements developed under a Master Stewardship Agreement with the Stanislaus National Forest. Ascent conducted botanical surveys in advance of forest restoration and fuel reduction activities to be implemented for the Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape (SERAL) and Cedar Ridge Fuels projects.
SCAG Development Streamlining Guidance for Increasing Housing Supply
In response to the region’s housing crisis, SCAG developed a comprehensive package of guidance materials to help local governments accelerate the CEQA and administrative processes to expedite needed additional residential supply. The materials include user-friendly resources and toolkits to help local planning agency staff with day-to-day housing application processing and simplifying internal entitlement processes, such as expanding the use of ministerial approvals, to avoid delays and added expenses that can exacerbate the housing crisis.
NASSCO Floating Dry Dock Replacement and Waterfront Improvement Project EIR
Ascent prepared an EIR for the Floating Dry Dock Replacement and Waterfront Improvement Project, an expansive port facility adjacent to San Diego Bay. The project is designed to address existing deficiencies related to the age and condition of structures, shoreline sloughing, and outdated operational conditions at the existing dry dock at the Port of San Diego.
Meeks Bay Restoration and Public Access Project EIS/EIS/EIR
Planning and environmental review were coordinated for the stream restoration and public recreation project at Meeks Bay on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. Restoration of Meeks Creek will provide substantial water quality and habitat benefits. However, it will require the removal of the Meeks Marina and result in boating access loss. Alternative features include marina removal and Meeks Creek restoration, SR 89 bridge replacement, bicycle and pedestrian paths, improved vehicle circulation, parking, boat ramp, small marina and pier, and reconfigured campgrounds.
California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) Program EIR
In response to the growing wildfire crisis, the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection initiated the new statewide California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) to achieve fire fuel treatment of 250,000 acres per year in the State Responsibility Area. An innovative Program EIR and project streamlining strategy were prepared to substantially streamline implementation of later activities consistent with CalVTP strategies for fire fuel reduction, fuel break development, and ecological restoration.
Johnson Meadow Restoration and Land Management Plan
The Upper Truckee River has been modified by humans since the mid-1800s by cattle grazing, logging, channel manipulation, and urban development. Restoration of the river and Johnson Meadow would support the clarity of Lake Tahoe, improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat, increase climate resilience, and provide numerous ecosystem benefits. Ascent conducted biological, cultural, and wetland field surveys to support the development of a feasibility report and conceptual alternatives.
Tomales Bay State Park Public Works Plan for Vegetation Treatment
California State Parks is proposing the Tomales Bay State Park Forest Health and Wildfire Resilience Project to implement vegetation treatments on up to 2,433 acres along Tomales Bay within the ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok. Ascent prepared a Public Works Plan and Coastal VTS as a companion to the CalVTP to comply with the Coastal Act and coordinated with the California State Coastal Commission.
Tásmam Koyóm Cultural Park Management Plan
Divestiture of PG&E lands through the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council created a historic opportunity to return ownership and management of part of the original Maidu homeland to the tribal community. Over 2,300 acres comprising the Humbug Valley properties have continued to be important to the tribe over the centuries of ownership by others. Ascent assisted the Maidu with preparation of a Land Management Plan that will guide use and management of the properties, with priority goals and strategies coming from tribal community input, while integrating features to comply with the mandate of the Stewardship Council and natural resources management objectives of CDFW.
Union City 2023–2031 Housing Element
The 2023–2031 Housing Element update sets forth the policies and programs to address the housing needs of all households in Union City and addresses new state law requirements and statutory regulations. The project includes updating the sites inventory, developing a rezone strategy, preparing a fair housing assessment to affirmatively further fair housing, and conducting outreach in multiple languages (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin, Tagalog, Hindi) to reach the city’s multilingual residents.
Folsom 2021–2029 Housing Element
Ascent led the preparation of the City’s sixth cycle Housing Element. Folsom was assigned a much higher Regional Housing Needs Allocation, particularly the lower-income RHNA (70 percent increase). Ascent staff worked closely with City staff, landowners, and other stakeholders to develop a rezone strategy focused on increasing housing capacity at light rail stations, along the city’s primary commercial corridor, and in a newly developing town center.
