As Westervelt Ecological Services moves into 2015, I am reminded how long I have been working in this industry - and that makes me feel old. But it also causes me to reflect on our achievements as a company, and that makes me feel proud. We're marking a milestone this year: planting our one millionth tree! By the end of 2015, we will have protected over 15,000 acres of habitat across the U.S. Our multi-benefit projects provide value to the environment and the community through partnerships with non-profit organizations and regulatory agencies.

Several exciting projects are in the pipeline, which means we'll be preserving and rehabilitating more habitats for listed plant and animal species. These habitats provide refuge for non-listed species as well, including: migrating birds and waterfowl, small mammals, native fishes, insects, amphibians and reptiles, and a vast number of native plants. The function, balance, and health of the environment relies on each of these species.

Through the establishment of our banks WES will continue partnering with various groups to ensure we are creating the most sustainable habitats. We believe working toward a common goal and sharing information throughout the process allows us to better plan on a landscape level, ultimately protecting more habitats and ensuring the survival of more species.

We are eager to see what we can continue accomplishing together.

Milestone Moment: 1,000,000 Trees
WES to plant millionth tree in April 

Re-vegetation is an integral component of restoration. Over the past nine years, Westervelt has planted many native trees and shrubs on our project sites, and we are about to plant our one millionth tree! The tree will be planted as part of the restoration effort at Canoe Creek Mitigation Bank in Alabama.

The 237-acre bank has been approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to provide wetland and stream credits in the Middle Coosa watershed. These credits can be used for unavoidable impacts to waters of the United States which result from activities authorized under section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

The restoration effort focuses on wetland and stream habitat and will permanently protect and restore the structure and function of approximately 6,374 linear feet of stream and riparian buffer. Wetland restoration activities on CCMB encompass 132 acres and include the following habitat types: hardwood forested, riparian hardwood forested, and hardwood forested slope.
2015 Customer Survey Winner
A few minutes of his time resulted in a brand new YETI cooler! 

Congratulations to Marshall Cook with California Rangeland Trust, winner of a Westervelt YETI Tundra 45 cooler. Marshall was entered into a drawing for the cooler by completing our customer survey! Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey. Your feedback is invaluable to our organization.





Final Credit Release Not An Ending, A Beginning
Van Vleck Mitigation Bank receives fifth and final credit release



It has been five years since construction was completed on Westervelt Ecological Services (WES) 775-acre Van Vleck Mitigation Bank  in eastern Sacramento County. Having met all of the performance standards and financial assurances during the interim monitoring and management phase, WES is excited to announce the Interagency Review Team (IRT) approved the bank's fifth and final credit release in November, 2014.

Both the science and the regulatory requirements for vernal pool mitigation have evolved over the past 10 years. Westervelt staff has managed to balance this new science and increased regulatory oversight to deliver approved vernal pool mitigation necessary to fulfill the compensatory mitigation requirements of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Van Vleck is the only bank in California since the inception of the Army Corps of Engineers' new mitigation rule in 2008 to receive its final credit release

Van Vleck will continue to offer compensatory mitigation credits for Vernal Pool Preservation, Vernal Pool Creation and Swainson's Hawk until they are sold out. These habitats serve vernal pool invertebrate species and Swainson's hawk. Once the bank has sold out of all available credits, the long-term management, monitoring and endowment fund will ensure the bank's continued success and protection in perpetuity.

The WES team is proud of this project and looks forward to working with our federal resource agency partners to continue learning and, as a result, improving vernal pool mitigation.
Associate Spotlight
Lindsay Peterson

WES is pleased to announce our newest staff member, Lindsay Peterson.

Lindsay has joined the Sacramento office as the Biological Monitoring Coordinator and Associate Ecologist. In her position she determines annual land management and stewardship tasks for each bank and service contract property, and serves as the primary author of annual monitoring reports for each bank.

Lindsay received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Management and Protection with a concentration in Mitigation Strategies and a minor in Biology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She will be graduating in May from California State University, Sacramento with a Master of Science degree in Conservation Biology.

In her free time Lindsay enjoys practicing yoga and traveling. She has recently gone on trips to New York City, Scotland and Ireland! She loves going to San Francisco Giants baseball games and running with her 3 year old chocolate lab.
Magic at St. Marks
Callippe Silverspot Butterfly
Over 13 butterfly species provide a visually rich testament to longleaf restoration efforts 

The high number of colorful butterflies flitting around St. Marks Mitigation Bank on a spring or fall day may convince you you're walking through a field of floating flowers. They come to feed and pollinate the mosaic of wildflowers growing in the understory of the open-canopied longleaf forest habitat present on the property. A habitat type historically prevalent in the region, population growth and agricultural conversion have diminished its extent.

WES began restoring the longleaf forest on the 1,450-acre bank in 2011. Restoration activities have included several rounds of prescribed burning, invasive species control and establishment of native flora. These efforts have enhanced the natural community resulting in increased species richness.
 
During the 2014 fall surveys over 13 butterfly species were recorded. Although none of the butterflies found on the property are considered species of special concern, threatened, or endangered, their presence speaks to the overall health of the site and success of the restoration efforts.


Scientific Name
Common Name
Agraulis vanillae
Gulf Fritillary
Cercyonis pegala Wood Nymph
Danaus plexippus Monarch
Enodia portlandia  
Southern Pearly Eye
Euptoieta claudia   
Variegated Fritillary
Junonia coenia
Common Buckeye
Limenitus archippus
Viceroy
Papilio glaucus
Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio palamedes or Papilio polyxenes
Palamedes Swallowtail or Black Swallowtail
Phoebus sennae
Cloudless Sulfur
Satyrium favonius
Southern Hairstreak
Urbanus proteus
Long-tailed Skipper



Out and About
Look for WES at conferences this spring

April
May
Want To Know More About WES?
Brown bag lunch hour WES_BrownBag

You've combed through the website, and already like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter, but you still want to know more about WES? Solution: a brown bag lunch, our favorite in-person opportunity for presenting information about WES to your company. WES provides sandwiches to accompany the hour-long presentation. You emerge from your lunch break with a satisfied stomach and new information to consider. Who doesn't love free lunch and more knowledge? Let us know if your company is interested in having WES present at a brown bag lunch. 
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