Rice Solar Energy Project was a proposed 150MW solar thermal power generating plant. Clearance surveys and sensitive species mitigation were conducted on 1,400 acres of privately-owned land.
Wilder Ecological was sub-contracted to provide field leadership as a Designated Biologist to coordinate the surveys and manage the mitigation effort.
- Nate Jones served as a California Energy Commission (CEC) Designated Biologist, and USFWS Authorized Biologist to co-lead clearance survey effort and associated mitigation work.
- Completion of USFWS protocol desert tortoise clearance surveys on approximately 1,400 acres
- Desert kit fox surveys and mitigation during clearance effort
- MBTA avian surveys and monitoring
- Daily staffing and direction of 40+ biological resource monitors in coordination with the activities of site fencing, geo-technical testing, and archaeological services contractors
- Constructive engagement with CEC, USFWS, CA Dept. Fish and Wildlife agencies
- On-site Environmental Awareness Education of all construction personnel