The Challenge
Developers planning large-scale solar projects across more than 8,400 acres in the Desert Center region needed comprehensive biological assessments to move their projects forward in a Bureau of Land Management Development Focus Area. The area includes sensitive desert habitats and species, requiring careful planning, agency coordination, and regulatory compliance. Ensuring that renewable energy development could proceed responsibly while protecting ecological resources was essential for each client’s permitting and project timelines.
Our Solution
Spheros Environmental, through Ironwood, conducted a full suite of biological survey services to support early project planning and environmental review. Our team completed habitat assessments, protocol desert tortoise and burrowing owl surveys, rare plant surveys, vegetation mapping, wetland delineations, and wildlife camera monitoring. Following these surveys, we supported constraints and alternatives analyses, as well as providing subject matter expertise for permitting. We supported many of these projects through construction, where our team also provided compliance oversight to ensure the permit conditions were conducted properly.
Results + What makes this unique
The biological surveys provided the critical environmental data needed to guide planning, reduce risks, and support agency coordination for multiple solar developments. By covering a large and ecologically sensitive landscape, the project demonstrated Spheros’ ability to deliver comprehensive, high-quality field studies at scale.