Linda leads Ascent’s natural resources practice. With over 18 years of professional experience, she is an expert in biological resource assessment and impact analysis, CEQA and NEPA compliance, and mitigation planning. Linda also has extensive experience with endangered species permitting under the federal and California Endangered Species Acts. Her projects have ranged throughout California, including mountain, valley, and coastal regions. She has worked on many complex, multidisciplinary projects requiring a high degree of organization and coordination. She is skilled at managing teams of technical specialists and providing senior review, quality assurances, and budgetary oversight. Linda coordinates frequently with local, state, and federal regulatory and resource management agencies, providing reliable, unbiased information to inform regulatory decisions that allow her clients achieve their objectives. She is an active member of the regional and local subunits of The Wildlife Society, serving on the executive boards since 2006. She is a Past President of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society and is a Certified Wildlife Biologist.
Linda's background and capabilities include:
- Led the consultant team for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s State Wildlife Action Plan, 2015 Update, which establishes a conservation framework for California for the next 10 years.
- Directed biological resource compliance programs, including implementation, monitoring, and reporting for a Habitat Conservation Plan, for California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for over 15 years, involving over 30 prison facilities.
- Led biological resource compliance and ESA consultation for EchoWater Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade EIR, Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District.
- Performed independent, external peer review for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, serving as biological and ecological expert for projects that are novel, controversial, precedent setting, have significant interagency interest, or have significant economic, environmental and social effects.
- Managed and prepared hundreds of biological resource sections for water and wastewater, local infrastructure, development, and renewable energy projects throughout California.
- Assisted state and local agencies to develop habitat conservation plans, open space plans, and habitat management plans with CEQA/NEPA compliance.
- Facilitated agency coordination for projects with court-mandated or funding-constrained schedules.
Linda’s interest in the natural world began by spending summers hiking and fishing in the high Sierra. Following in the tradition of three generations, she enjoys going to little-known fishing spots with her family. Although trout fishing is an excuse to hike, enjoy the solitude of the mountains, and maybe bring home dinner, Linda now views trout fishing as her ecological duty to promote the restoration of native amphibians to high mountain lakes and streams. Her friends and colleagues describe Linda as pragmatic, solution-oriented, loyal, dedicated, and committed to excellence.