Site Analysis & Design
Sound Watershed provides important technical analysis that support diagnosis, ecological synthesis and effective design. These activities contribute to a sound technical basis for management strategies, mitigation opportunities, and restoration concepts.Our staff lead scientific analysis projects to evaluate existing conditions and identify opportunities and constraints for improvement approaches. Our studies have helped improve regulatory systems at local, state and national levels. We've contributed toward better understanding of the human-induced impacts to natural resources in a variety of settings throughout the western United States. We are particularly strong at synthesizing information from various assessments into a coherent management framework.
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Ecosystem Restoration Design
I am passionate about using high-quality scientific basis when designing restoration and/or mitigation projects that support creek and watershed functions within the context of both natural systems and processes, as well as the dynamic influences of human-focused management. Projects typically include detailed site assessment, data collection, diagnosis and design. These activities provide the technical basis for restoration and management strategies after coordinating with other scientists and engineers to identify technical project opportunities and constraints. Projects often require facilitating resolution of complex issues with key stakeholders and regulators as projects unfold. Projects range from small local projects to major, multi-million dollar projects.
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Sustainable Forestry
Our staff have lead or supported the development of sustainable forestry practices for numerous private forests, including large integrated forestry corporations, large multi-ownership Timber Investment Management Organizations, small family-owned forests, and several large state and federal forests. We were a key scientific adviser during the Forests & Fish planning process in Washington State, and were active in its adaptive management program. We helped develop and implement Watershed Analysis projects in Washington, Idaho and Colorado and helped design the Washington State Watershed Analysis methods. We developed several long-term management plans, including several Landscape Management and Habitat Conservation Plans. Other projects include:
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Natural Resource Policy
Michael has provided objective technical and management expertise that supported innovative strategic approaches to natural resource management and policy issues. He has worked with local, state and federal agencies, corporations, and advisory bodies to develop comprehensive, science-based management systems. He developed multiple industry-wide standards for 13+ management protocols, and has developed several comprehensive frameworks for "Adaptive Ecosystem Management" into management and regulatory systems.
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Collaborative Facilitation & Stakeholder Negotiations
Michael has facilitated and/or mediated collaborative, stakeholder-driven planning projects, often integrating detailed technical, ecological, operational, regulatory, economic and social objectives. He has successfully negotiated several landmark ecosystem and land-use conservation and management plans with landowners, regulatory agencies, tribal governments and environmental advocacy groups. Typical plans applied to mixed land-use landscapes ranging from 30,000 to several millions acres. His work included a wide range of land-uses like forestry, agriculture, urban, water resources, utilities, irrigation districts, etc. This operational breadth enables him to develop widely supported management prescriptions in multiple commercial sectors.
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