Alex Mach
Mach 8 Biological Consulting, Inc. / Owner and Principal Biologist
EDUCATION
B.S. Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. University California, Los Angeles. 2006
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS / PERMITS
-
- California General Contractor License #: 925950
- California Qualified Applicator License #: 143554
- USFWS / CDFW Authorized Biologist: Desert Tortoise. Authorized to capture, handle, weigh, measure, mark, attach/remove radio transmitters, and to collect carcasses.
- CDFW Level II Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard Surveyor
TRAININGS / WORKSHOPS
- How to manage the NEPA process and write effective NEPA documents (Shipley 2008)
- Desert Tortoise Council’s Surveying, Monitoring, and Handling Workshop (DTC 2007 & 2008)
- Desert Tortoise Symposium (DTC 2008)
- Integrated Training Area Management, Army Sustainable Range Program: ArcView, NEPA, and Conservation Sessions (ITAM 2008)
- Field Identification of California Anurans (USGS-Western Ecological Research Center, Gary Fellers 2010)
- California Tiger Salamander Terrestrial Ecology and Rare Pond Species Workshop (Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation 2018)
EXPERIENCE
Alex Mach has 10 years of experience conducting pre-construction environmental surveys for threatened and endangered species, monitoring environmental compliance of construction activities, and implementing avoidance/mitigation measures in sensitive habitats. He maintains working knowledge of the biological requirements of many different threatened and endangered species to consult with clients throughout all phases of project completion and quality control.
Alex is a licensed General Contractor in California and successfully manages numerous construction and ecological restoration contracts for the federal, state, and private sectors. A sampling of completed projects is listed below:
Construction / Restoration Project
Please contact Alex Mach for references at: amach8@gmail.com / (951) 640-8598
Project |
New Melones Weed Abatement Services, Bureau of Reclamation |
|---|---|
| Location | Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties |
| Completed | May 2018 – May 2023 (on-going) |
| Contract | 140R2018C0007 |
| Work Description | Provide weed abatement along roadsides, parking lots and islands. Provide pest abatement around restrooms and outbuildings in various locations at the New Melones Lake Recreational Complex. This requirement calls for repeated mowing and spraying of herbicides on all thistle infested fields adjacent to all recreation areas, day use grounds and campgrounds next to parking lots, buildings, and 200 miles of roadside. Provide a Best Management Plan to avoid environmental and habitat degradation. This includes surveying for nesting birds during the migratory bird season and the design and implementation of a reseeding plan for native Sonoran grass and wildflower. |
Project |
Sugar Pine Reservoir Recreation Complex Hazard Tree Mitigation |
|---|---|
| Location | National Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest |
| Completed | February 2018 – March 2018 |
| Contract | 129JGP18C0010 |
| Work Description | Hand-fell, transport, and treat designated hazard trees from campgrounds and day-use areas within the Sugar Pine Reservoir Recreation Complex to identified disposal areas. Additional treatment requirements include: End-lining, skidding, transportation of included timber and slash to designated disposal sites, application of borate compound to stumps, stump grinding designated stumps, and restoring recreation sites. |
Project |
Post Construction Reseeding and Hydro-mulch Application |
|---|---|
| Location | National Park Service, Yosemite National Park |
| Completed | July 2018 – Present |
| Contract | P17PC00603 |
| Work Description | Hydraulically apply native seed, mulch, and fertilizer along highway. Work performed under peak visitor use in the park. Weed inspections were completed for all equipment before entering the park. Pesticide application along public roads with traffic control. Spot spraying in remote areas. |
Project |
Loading and Hauling of Base Rock and Fill |
|---|---|
| Location | National Park Service, Yosemite National Park |
| Completed | September 2016 |
| Contract | PP16PX02733 |
| Work Description | Load and haul ~1000 cubic yards of road base and fill from the old Lower Pines campground to South Landing. Strict weed control protocols were maintained. All equipment was inspected by a park representative before entering the park. |
Desert Tortoise
Project |
AT&T Fiber Optic Cable Replacement Project
|
|---|---|
| Location | San Bernardino County, CA |
| Completed | July 2018 – Present |
| Permit # | 2081-2014-007-06 |
| Work Description | Conducted pre-construction surveys and flagged all desert tortoise burrows. Excavated burrows and moved desert tortoises in areas where project activities would likely impact them. If a desert tortoise was moved, it was moved into an appropriate habitat adjacent to the project site, no more than 1,000 feet in the case of adults or 300 feet in the case of juveniles and hatchlings. Removed any desert tortoise that was threatened to a nearby location in accordance with protocol set forth by USFWS (USFWS 2009). |
| Est. Survey Hours | 20 |
| Est. Monitoring Hours | 40 |
| Individuals Observed | 0 |
| Dens Excavated | 2 |
Project |
SoCalGas L3000 Post ILI Segment Replacement |
|---|---|
| Location | San Bernardino County, CA |
| Completed | April 2017 – July 2018 |
| Work Description | Conducted pre-construction surveys, flagged all desert tortoise burrows, excavated burrows and moved desert tortoises if the project activities are likely to affect them. If a desert tortoise was moved, it was moved into appropriate habitat adjacent to the project site, but not more than 1,000 feet if it is an adult or 300 feet if it is a juvenile or hatchling. Removed any desert tortoise that was threatened to a nearby location in accordance with protocol set forth by USFWS (USFWS 2009). |
| Est. Survey Hours | 50 |
| Est. Monitoring Hours | 2,400 |
| Individuals Observed | 8 |
| Individuals Handled | 1 |
| Dens Excavated | 4 |
Project |
Rice Solar Energy Project |
|---|---|
| Location | San Bernardino County, CA |
| Completed | September 2013 – October 2013 |
| Permit # | 08B0279-11F0276p |
| Work Description | Conducted pre-construction surveys, flagged08B0279-11F0276p all desert tortoise burrows, and excavated burrows.
Monitored construction equipment and activities during desert tortoise fence installation. Inspected fence on systematic intervals. |
| Est. Survey Hours | 24 |
| Est. Monitoring Hours | 80 |
| Individuals Observed | 0 |
| Individuals Handled | 0 |
| Dens Excavated | 12 |
Project |
NV Energy’s Southwest Intertie Project (SWIP) / ON-Line Project |
|---|---|
| Location | Clark County, NV |
| Completed | February 2012 – May 2013 |
| Permit # | 84320-2010-F-0391 |
| Work Description | Supervised desert tortoise (DT) staff of 5-9 people while conducting presence / absence surveys. Excavated DT burrows and possible cover sites within the impact area. Relocated (no transmitters) all desert tortoises in immediate harm’s way. Presented DT awareness trainings to construction crews. Monitored construction activities to ensure environmental compliance. Escorted vehicles with low visibility through tortoise habitat without exclusion fencing.
Conducted pre-onstruction surveys, flagged all desert tortoise burrows, excavated burrows and moved desert tortoises if the project activities are likely to affect them. If a desert tortoise was moved, it was moved into appropriate habitat adjacent to the project site, but not more than 1,000 feet if it is an adult or 300 feet if it is a juvenile or hatchling. Removed any desert tortoise that was threatened to a nearby location in accordance with protocol set forth by USFWS (USFWS 2009). Monthly reports submitted to CDFW. |
| Est. Survey Hours | 160 |
| Est. Monitoring Hours | 2,500+ |
| Individuals Observed | 4 |
| Individuals Handled | 0 |
| Dens Excavated | 12 |
Project |
BrightSource Energy’s Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System |
|---|---|
| Location | San Bernardino County, CA |
| Completed | October 2010 – December 2012 |
| Permit # | 8-8-10-F-2 |
| Work Description | Supervised DT staff of 5-9 people while conducting clearance and presence / absence surveys. Monitored construction equipment and activities.
Periodically inspected DT fencing. Excavated DT burrows and possible cover sites. Dug artificial DT burrows in holding pens and inspected enclosure installation. Radio Telemetry. |
| Est. Survey Hours | 1,000 |
| Est. Monitoring Hours | 1,000 |
| Individuals Observed | 8 |
| Individuals Handled | 0 |
| Dens Excavated | 25 |
Project |
Silver State Solar Project |
|---|---|
| Location | Clark County, NV |
| Completed | February 2011 – April 2011 |
| Permit # | 84320-2010-F-0208 |
| Work Description | Supervised DT staff of 5-9 people while conducting clearance surveys. Presented DT awareness trainings to construction crews. Monitored construction equipment and activities during DT fence installation. Inspected DT fence. Constructed temporary enclosure fencing around juvenile DT burrows. Excavated DT burrows and possible DT cover sites (ie. rodent and canid burrows). Located 1 juvenile DT (45 mm) and 2 adults (>100mm). Radio telemetry. |
| Est. Survey Hours | 80 |
| Est. Monitoring Hours | 100 |
| Individuals Observed | 6 |
| Individuals Handled | 3 |
| Dens Excavated | 2 |
Project |
Translocation of Desert Tortoise From the Southern Expansion Area of Ft. Irwin to Occupied Habitat |
|---|---|
| Location | San Bernardino County, CA |
| Completed | September 2008 – December 2010 |
| Permit # | 84320-2010-F-0208 |
| Work Description | Conducted DT clearance surveys and interpret DT sign. Collected morphometric data and perform health assessments on wild, captive and research tortoises. Decommissioned DT enclosure fencing and restored the resulting impacts. Fixed radio transmitters and marked individual DT’s with notches on their shell. Radio telemetry of over 200 DT’s.
Worked as a part of a larger team including USGS personnel, translocated over 800 adult and juvenile desert tortoises from DOD property to identified translocation sites and monitored their status after translocation compared to resident and control animals for 5 years after translocation. Supervised DT staff of 5-9 people while conducting clearance surveys. Presented DT awareness trainings to construction crews. Monitored construction equipment and activities during DT fence installation. Inspected DT fence. Constructed temporary enclosure fencing around juvenile DT burrows. Excavated DT burrows and possible DT cover sites (ie. rodent and canid burrows). Located 1 juvenile DT (45 mm) and 2 adults (>100mm). Radio telemetry. |
| Est. Survey Hours | 600 |
| Individuals Observed | 70 |
| Individuals Handled | 39 |
Project |
Addition of Maneuver Training Land at Ft. Irwin, CA |
|---|---|
| Location | San Bernardino County, CA |
| Completed | August 2007 – September 2008 |
| Permit # | 1-8-03-F-48 |
| Work Description | Presented weekly DT awareness briefs to incoming soldiers and construction crews. Conducted pre-construction surveys, and monitored construction activities. Responded to “tortoise emergencies” (ie: DT in road on Ft. Irwin property). DT husbandry for over 70 wild juvenile desert tortoises – maintained individual pens, to prevent disease transmission, monthly health assessments and weighed/measured until their translocation the following spring. |
Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (BNLL)
Project |
AERA EIR Compliance Support |
|---|---|
| Location | Kern, Tulare County, CA |
| Completed | May 2016 – August 2016 |
| Permit # | 8-8-11-F-65 |
| Work Description | Completed section by section blunt-nosed leopard lizard according to accepted CDFW protocol, other rare wildlife species, and botanical surveys of all of Aera’s oil leases in Kern County. This was done in support of Aera’s compliance with the recently certified (December 2015) EIR for Revisions to the Kern County Zoning Ordinance focused on Oil and Gas Local Permitting |
| Est. Survey Hours | 360 |
| Individuals Observed | 8 |
Yosemite Toad / Mountain Yellow Legged Frog
Project |
Presence Absence Data Collection for Habitat Modeling |
|---|---|
| Location | Yosemite National Park |
| Completed | Summers 2009 – 2014 |
| Work Description | Collaborated with USGS researchers, UC students, and National Park biologists to develop and implement a study of yosemite toads (Bufo canorus) based on established research and protocol Developed a random sampling frame to determine the species richness and abundance of aquatic invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians as part of an effort to create a biological index for the Merced river drainage in Yosemite ValleyTrained incoming field personnel to familiarize them with the research protocol and methods in wilderness settingsDuties included creating maps for backcountry trips, organizing human resource paperwork, developing species identification keys, and downloading data at the end of each tripSurvey Protocol consisted of visual encounter surveys in remote high elevation lakes, meadows, and streams for yosemite toads, sierra nevada yellow legged frogs (Rana sierrae), as well as other reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates.Fieldwork required: extensive backpacking experience over rugged (often cross-country) terrain for 8-9 day tours carrying ~50 lb packs; ability to work in a small crew with limited human contact in remote environments under inclement weather conditions for prolonged periods; and aptitude to work in and around cold waterDesigned a database using ArcMap and Access to manage data from previous and for future field seasonsAssisted National Park biologists with various projects by developing maps for presentations and reportsOrganized the National Park wildlife division’s scientific literature in an electronic citation manager (Endnote) to facilitate the preparation of major sections of park management plans and researchCollected demographic and habitat data using Trimble and Garmin GPS units for analysis with ArcMap and other GIS softwareCoordinated the deployment, maintenance, use, and storage of field equipment to prolong its utility |
Western Pond Turtle / Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog
Project |
Presence Absence Data Collection for Habitat Modeling |
|---|---|
| Location | Tuolumne County, CA |
| Work Description | Worked as part of a collaborative team to assess the historical / current river conditions downstream of the Hetch Hetchy Dam operations. Data collected included: visual encounter surveys for foothill yellow-legged frog; western pond turtle; and other reptile and amphibian species; point counts for migratory birds; and stream temperature monitoring. Data were used to develop flow recommendations and resource management priorities in the Upper Tuolumne River. |
Nesting Bird Surveys and Western Burrowing Owl (BUOW)
Project |
SoCal Gas; NV Energy; BrightSource Energy; Silver State Solar |
|---|---|
| Work Description | During the nesting bird season (March 1 to September 15), nesting bird surveys for raptors and all other birds covered under the MBTA were conducted within a 500 foot minimum avoidance buffer for raptors and a 300 foot minimum buffer for passerines birds within a minimum of three days prior to the start of work.
Breeding habitat/nest sites were fenced and/or flagged in all directions in a minimum 100 ft buffer until the nest was inactive, the young have fledged, the young are no longer being fed by the parents, the young have left the area, and the young will no longer be impacted by the project(s). Monitored work activities occurring near a burrowing owl winter buffer or any active nest buffer in order to monitor burrowing owl and/or nest behaviors that may be impacted by construction activities. Buffers may be enlarged or decreased in size, depending on the nesting behaviors observed. |
| NESTING BIRD SURVEYS | |
| Est. Survey Hours | 500+ |
| Est. Monitoring Hours | 80 |
| Nests Observed | 200 |
| BURROWING OWL SURVEYS | |
| Est. Survey Hours | 500+ |
| Est. Monitoring Hours | 0 |
| Burrows Observed | 20 active, 80 non-active |
Peregrine Falcon
Project |
Peregrine Falcon Prey Remains Collection
|
|---|---|
| Location | Butano and Big Basin Redwoods, California State Parks |
| Completed | July 2018 |
| Contract # | A1868002 |
| Work Description | Climb or rappel into Peregrine Falcon nesting cliffs to collect prey remains at any nesting or pecking ledges to confirm if Peregrine Falcons are depredating Marbled Murrelet by identifying any feathers, beaks, bills, feet, or any other remains indicative of Marbled Murrelet |
American Badger / Desert Kit Fox
Project |
SoCal Gas; NV Energy; BrightSource Energy; Silver State Solar |
|---|---|
| Work Description | American badger and desert kit fox dens inspections were conducted as part of the desert tortoise clearance survey, conducted within the project area and buffer within a maximum of 48 hours prior to ground-disturbing work directly ahead of construction. The following protocols were enforced:
|
| Dens Observed | 400 potential dens, excavated dens (~200 potential dens, 5 known dens, |
Clean Water Permitting (SWPPP / Spills and public health)
Project |
SoCal Gas; NV Energy; BrightSource Energy; Silver State Solar |
|---|---|
| Work Description | Enforced a Stormwater Pollution and Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that address controlling construction-related erosion and sedimentation.
Constructed and installed all BMPs outlined in the SWPPP to limit sediment movement. Flow dissipation and sediment control structures were also constructed in appropriate locations. Small weed-free hay bale dams were placed below slopes as temporary erosion control measures. Ensured that fueling of equipment did not occur adjacent to or in drainages. “No-fueling zones” were designated on construction maps and a minimum of 50 feet (15 meters) from drainages |
REFERENCES
Please contact Alex Mach for references at: amach8@gmail.com / (951) 640-8598
Project |
SoCal Gas; NV Energy; BrightSource Energy; Silver State Solar |
|---|---|
| Work Description | Enforced a Stormwater Pollution and Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that address controlling construction-related erosion and sedimentation.
Constructed and installed all BMPs outlined in the SWPPP to limit sediment movement. Flow dissipation and sediment control structures were also constructed in appropriate locations. Small weed-free hay bale dams were placed below slopes as temporary erosion control measures. Ensured that fueling of equipment did not occur adjacent to or in drainages. “No-fueling zones” were designated on construction maps and a minimum of 50 feet (15 meters) from drainages |