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Technical Advice and Facilitation

Salmon in Pilchuck River, Washington

We provide a wide range of technical advisory services to a diverse suite of clients, including local governments, Indian Tribes, not-for-profit organizations, corporations and individual landowners. Backed by our experience and expertise, our clients are able to participate capably in environmental review and decision-making, negotiate effectively with regulatory agencies, produce high-quality technical documents and plans, and make knowlegeable choices regarding economic activities, associated impacts and strategies for compliance and mitigation. Examples of our services include:

  • Facilitate client-agency consultation
  • Advise Native American Tribes and serve as Tribal liaison
  • Advise county and municipal governments
  • Formal review and comment
  • Education and outreach
  • Expert testimony

Sample Projects:
Port Townsend Paper Corporation - Technical Advisor for ESA Consultation: As part of this project, Steward and Associates have provided expert review of numerous technical studies and documents relating to the relationships between instream flow, riparian condition and stream temperature, and associated impacts on salmon survival and production. Through our expertise in a variety of environmental modeling approaches - including the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology - we were able to provide a knowledgeable critique of highly technical studies and the applicability of study results to management decision-making.
Advisor to the Friends of the Hylebos Wetlands: Steward and Associates provides technical advisory services and prepares formal review and comment on behalf of the Friends of the Hylebos Wetlands group for several major transportation projects that affect Hylebos Creek and its associated wetlands. Our firm has reviewed several iterations of environmental documentation prepared by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), consulted with WSDOT regarding mitigation and restoration opportunities, and conducted stream reconnaissance surveys and associated reporting.
Liaison to Watershed and Salmon Recovery Planning: Steward and Associates serves as a liaison for the cities of Bothell and Woodinville to technical and policy development committees for salmon recovery planning in the Greater Lake Washington watershed (Water Resource Inventory Area 8). Responsibilities include regular written briefings to elected officials and staff, review of technical and policy documents, drafting of policy and grant proposals on behalf of the two cities, and representation of the cities on key committees.
Washington Forest Law Center (WFLC) - ESA Jeopardy Analysis: WFLC is a leading legal advocacy group concerned with forest protection in Washington State. The WFLC contracted with Steward and Associates to conduct an analysis of the potential impacts of the proposed Washington State Forest Practices Habitat Conservation Plan (FPHCP) on salmonid species listed under the Endangered Species Act. The FPHCP is a proposed regulatory framework that would provide private timber companies with 50 years of protection from lawsuits under the ESA. Steward and Associates developed a case study of potential impacts on summer steelhead populations in the Lower Columbia Region of the state, following jeopardy criteria used by NOAA Fisheries to develop Biological Opinions. Using on the best available science we determined that the actions permitted under the FPHCP would constitute jeopardy under the ESA. The intent of this effort is to compel the agency to follow their own guidance and procedures in their analysis of the FPHCP, and to provide a legal basis for future court challenges should the plan be approved.
Advisors in FERC Hydroelectric Relicensing Proceedings: Cleve Steward and Janne Kaje have served as Technical Advisors to the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, American Rivers, Trout Unlimited, CPR-Fish, and Friends of the Cowlitz in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing proceedings on the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers. Mr. Steward formerly represented the Cowlitz Tribe and Cowlitz Non-governmental organizations, and Mr. Kaje currently represents the Cowlitz Tribe in the Lewis River proceedings, on fish passage, hatchery production, instream flow, habitat protection, and salmonid recovery issues associated with FERC licenses for both hydro-systems.
Technical Services and Expert Testimony - National Wildlife Federation: Steward and Associates provided technical support and expert witness services to the National Wildlife Federation in a lawsuit brought against the Federal Emergency Management Agency. NWF argued successfully that FEMA did not comply with Section 7 consultation requirements of the ESA in its implementation of the National Flood Insurance Program. As a result, the Court ordered FEMA to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service on the potential impacts of the NFIP on ESA-listed Puget Sound chinook salmon. Steward and Associates was retained by NWF to develop the technical record, including a description of the ecological importance of floodplains to chinook salmon, an evaluation of the nature and extent of development in floodplains, and a discussion of the potential for development to adversely affect listed chinook salmon.