DESCO Forged a Strong Relationship with National Wildlife Refuges and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service

DESCO has had the opportunity to work in conjunction with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on several National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) over the past couple of years. DESCO has conducted three separate projects on the Trinity River NWR in bottomland hardwood forest habitat, two projects on the Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR in Tamaulipan xeric scrub habitat, and a project on the Sabine NWR in coastal marsh habitat.

Each project provided unique environmental and natural resource concerns. The Trinity River NWR was established to preserve and protect bottomland hardwood forest. Bottomland hardwood forest habitats are environmentally important for floodwater retention and attenuation. These habitats support a multitude of waterfowl and migratory bird species, as well as scores of other wildlife. The Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR is responsible for preserving and protecting native habitats of South Texas, including habitat of the ocelot, which is federally listed as endangered. Most of the native habitat in the Lower Rio Grande Valley outside of the NWR has been converted to crop and ranch land. The Sabine NWR is held liable for preserving and protecting coastal marsh habitats, which support a multitude of aquatic, bird, and wildlife species.

Each of these projects allowed DESCO’s biologists to work hand in hand with Refuge staff and USFWS personnel. DESCO provided oversight, consulting, and compliance monitoring to minimize impacts of oil and gas exploration activities conducted within these sensitive and ecologically significant areas.


  ¶ 10:52 AM

  DESCO Conducts Finfish Impact Assessment for Texas Parks and Wildlife in Conjunction with Bridge Demolition

Jones Contractors hired DESCO to assess impacts to finfish as a result of activities conducted in association with the demolition and removal of old pilings from the I-10 bridge across the Sabine River. All fish species impacted during the project were identified, measured, and recorded. Data collected during the assessment was provided to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, allowing the agency to determine damage assessment fees. DESCO’s biologists are approved by the Texas General Land Office, which maintains jurisdiction over all state waters and submerged lands, to perform finfish monitoring and impact assessments.


  ¶ 11:05 AM

  DESCO Biologists Completed Wildlife Surveys in Wyoming for the Bureau of Land Management

DESCO traveled north to Wyoming to conduct prairie dog burrow and mountain plover habitat mapping as well as raptor nest and black-footed ferret surveys. These projects established a good working relationship with the Rawlins District, Bureau of Land Management staff and area USFWS biologists. These surveys were performed to ensure seismic activities in the area would not adversely affect these sensitive species.


  ¶ 10:57 AM