State

Headquartered in Sacramento,
We Support a Score of State Agencies

California state agencies create nation-leading policies and conduct robust programs with priorities for sound planning, adaptive climate change initiatives, effective environmental compliance, and sensitive natural resources conservation. Ascent’s statewide presence and Sacramento base camp place our professionals in the position to effectively support many critically important state programs. We often help our state clients resolve first-time-for-them challenges, going beyond convention in our commitment to quality outcomes.

STATE PROJECT TYPES
  • CEQA and NEPA compliance
  • Greenhouse gas and environmental regulations
  • Government and correctional facilities
  • Marine and terrestrial conservation plans
  • Renewable energy
  • Transmission and natural gas lines
  • University plans and facilities
  • Wildfire resilience and risk reduction
FEATURED PROJECTS
The City of Sacramento’s 2021–2029 Housing Element is an 8-year strategy to meet the housing needs of current and future residents by providing opportunities for increased overall housing production, greater housing affordability, advancement of equity and inclusion, and protection against residential displacement.
South Lake Tahoe, California
Upper Truckee Marsh Restoration project
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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.
Rancho Cordova, California
Prairie City SVRA Aquatic Resources Delineation
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Cal Poly San Luis Obispo required a programmatic EIR for its 2035 Master Plan. Cal Poly retained Ascent’s assistance in 2022 following issuance of a Draft EIR for the Master Plan in 2017. Because of concerns raised by the City of San Luis Obispo about utility capacity and revisions to the Master Plan, Cal Poly sought to revise and reissue the Draft EIR. The Master Plan EIR was completed within 8 months and included extensive coordination with City staff.
San Luis Obispo, California
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 2035 Master Plan EIR
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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.
Statewide, California
California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) Program EIR
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CDFW prepared a state action plan for fish and wildlife conservation, known as the 2015 California State Wildlife Action Plan, or SWAP 2015. SWAP 2015 identified the species of greatest conservation need for each target ecosystem, defined their key ecological attributes, and prescribed measures to best protect the ecosystems from human-caused pressures and environmental stresses, importantly including climate change.
Statewide, California
2015 State Wildlife Action Plan
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The City of Sacramento’s 2021–2029 Housing Element is an 8-year strategy to meet the housing needs of current and future residents by providing opportunities for increased overall housing production, greater housing affordability, advancement of equity and inclusion, and protection against residential displacement.
Statewide, California
Fire-Adapted Communities Roadmap and Dashboard
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OUR STATE SERVICES

OUR STATE SERVICES
SELECT STATE CLIENTS
  • California Air Resources Board
  • California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
  • California Department of General Services
  • California Department of Housing and Community Development
  • California Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • California Public Utilities Commission
  • California State Coastal Conservancy
  • California State Lands Commission
  • California State Parks
  • California State University
  • Judicial Council of California
  • University of California
STATE KNOWLEDGE
CEQA Wildfire Risk Evaluation – How Much Analysis Is Enough?

On October 23, 2024, the California First District Court of Appeal released its decision on People of the State of California Ex Rel. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, et al. v. County of Lake. The ruling addressed the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for the Guenoc Valley Mixed-Use Planned Development Project, a luxury resort consisting of residential estate villas, hotel units, and related infrastructure on 16,000 acres in an unincorporated and largely undeveloped area of Lake County known as the Guenoc Valley Ranch.

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Western Burrowing Owl Becomes a Candidate for Listing under CESA

On October 10, 2024, the California Fish and Game Commission accepted a petition to list western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and designated the species as a candidate species. This decision has triggered a 12-month status review by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). A decision on whether to list this species is expected by spring of 2026; however, as a candidate species, western burrowing owl is afforded the same protections as a listed species under CESA, including prohibition of take of individuals.

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New CEQA Exemption for Nonmotorized Public Access

AB 2091 was signed by Governor Newsom on September 22, 2024, creating a new CEQA exemption for non-motorized public access. The new exemption applies to park districts and the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) when providing new nonmotorized public access to existing roads, trails, parking areas, and similar areas owned by the park district or GRTA. To use the new exemption, the lead agency must hold a public meeting to solicit input, consider effects on natural and tribal cultural resources, make required findings, and file a Notice of Exemption.

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