Coleman Penstock Replacement Project Case Study

Deputy Project Manager, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Field Manager – PG&E Coleman Penstock Replacement Project – LOCATION

As Deputy Project Manager, Mr. Gibeson was responsible for the Coleman Penstock Replacement Project biological and cultural evaluation and wetland delineation surveys and final report. He was involved in all aspects of the initiation, implementation, and completion of a number of wildlife, rare plant, and invasive weeds surveys, as well as extensive wetland delineations and cultural review of known historic sites. He was responsible for all client deliverables and contact, agency consultations, and coordination with PG&E subcontractors. Cardno’s successful performance during this project’s environmental review process led

The remainder of the site was to be managed for sustainable commercial timber production, preservation of old-growth forests, and a wildlife habitat preserve. Mr. Gibeson organized and managed the field crews, performed quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of all data, participated in field work, and trained all biologists in advanced global positioning system (GPS) data acquisition and troubleshooting Trimble GPS units. The studies and associated reports ranged from an assessment of the overall wildlife habitat values of the proposed conversion areas to protocol surveys for state and federal endangered, threatened, and other sensitive plant and wildlife species, including golden eagles, accipiters, Northern spotted owls, marbled murrelet, and various plant species. (March 2006 - March

Gibeson performed biological surveys of the 3,000+ acre, privately-owned ranch located on Mt. Hamilton just above Alum Rock Park in unincorporated San Jose. This property is now managed by the University of California at Berkeley. He helped conduct a census of the 200-foot USFWS mandated no-burn zone surrounding each of the ranch’s 12 lakes and ponds to collect accurate baseline data in order to conduct prescribed burns and habitat restoration as recommended by USFWS. A Presence/Absence Survey was administered for common mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian species, as well as for California red-legged frogs (Rana draytonii), foothill yellow-legged frogs (Rana boylii), California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) and western pond turtles (Emmys marmorata). Handling of listed species was unnecessary. Remote cameras were used successfully to survey large nocturnal mammals, including feral pigs, bobcats, and a cougar.