ERO’s scientists are certified in wetland delineations and have extensive experience working in the Arid West, Great Plains, and Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast. ERO has delineated and mapped thousands of acres of wetlands and other waters ranging from eastern deciduous forested wetlands to high‐altitude fens in the Rocky Mountains. We coordinate closely with state and federal regulators, especially the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), to ensure that our delineations are accurate and meet all current regulatory guidelines. ERO also assists with evaluating jurisdiction over any identified aquatic features to determine if federal or state permitting is required.

ERO is a known regional expert in Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting and prepares applications for any 404 permitting that may be necessary for a project. ERO staff works with project teams to understand project goals and identify strategies that would reduce permitting requirements and streamline the permitting process. ERO’s close working relationship with the Corps can help determine the most effective environmental approaches that are practicable, efficient, and acceptable to the Corps.

ERO has been consulting with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) on Regulation 87 and has an extensive understanding of the proposed regulations and how CDPHE plans to implement the State Dredge and Fill Program. ERO can assist with evaluating if a project can qualify for an exclusion or exemption under the program or assist with obtaining authorization under the proposed general or individual permit authorizations.  

ERO scientists have training in and certification to conduct surveys for a broad range of federally and state-listed threatened and endangered species; National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management sensitive species; and management indicator species throughout the western United States. Our experience includes surveys for:  

• Greater sage-grouse  
• Gunnison sage-grouse  
• Mexican spotted owl  
• New Mexico meadow jumping mouse  
• Preble’s meadow jumping mouse 
• Southwestern willow flycatcher  
• Ute ladies’-tresses orchid  
• Western yellow-billed cuckoo  

ERO is recognized as an industry leader in Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance. ERO has completed habitat evaluations throughout the western United States for a variety of species and has submitted hundreds of habitat assessments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). If projects could affect a federally listed species, ERO has expertise in preparing, implementing, and monitoring ESA permits. This expertise includes all aspects of preparing ESA permits, including:  

• Agency consultation 
  • Biological Assessments  

• Candidate conservation agreements 
  • Habitat Conservation Plans  

• Safe harbor agreements  

ERO’s wildlife biologists and botanists can also help identify, design, and create habitat for a variety of species if required for mitigation or enhancement activities.  Our strong working relationships with the Service can help streamline ESA compliance and identify mitigation strategies that will be practicable, sustainable, and acceptable to the Service and project team.

Through field surveys and research, ERO assists clients with pre-disturbance inventories and natural resource assessments. ERO has experience in the western United States with mapping, categorizing, assessing, and managing communities and habitats in a wide range of ecosystems. We use the latest remote sensing and analysis technology including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), side-angle radar, and web-based real-time data analysis to identify and map vegetation communities or sensitive areas, prepare wetland functional assessments and riparian proper functioning conditions reports, conduct habitat equivalency analysis and rapid resource assessments, and develop project-specific models. After determining which natural resources are present at a site, ERO can make recommendations to manage existing resources effectively and protect important wildlife or rare plant habitat while considering the needs of the client.  

ERO botanists and biologists perform detailed vegetation and rare plant surveys throughout Colorado and surrounding states. ERO documents dominant species, native versus nonnative species presence, structural diversity, species richness, overall cover, and community boundaries across the landscape. ERO has used both the point-intercept and Daubenmire vegetation sampling methods for vegetation sampling based on project objectives.  

ERO’s wildlife specialists conduct surveys, assess habitats, develop management plans, and implement habitat mitigation and restoration plans for large and small mammals, birds, raptors, reptiles, and amphibians. ERO conducts wildlife studies that focus on project‐specific issues, resulting in efficient and scientifically sound solutions that satisfy the requirements of wildlife agencies and meet client objectives.  

ERO’s wildlife biologists complete eagle and raptor monitoring for numerous nests each year. Our biologists can assist with developing pragmatic approaches to monitoring disturbances from construction activities and have built trusted relationships with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Service to develop tailored monitoring or avoidance techniques for each individual nest. ERO can assist with construction monitoring and prepare Incidental Take Permits for eagle or raptor nest disturbances.

ERO identifies wildlife or sensitive areas early in project planning and suggests strategies to avoid or minimize impacts or develop specifications and restrictions, which can prevent delays during construction.