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Our staff is composed of professionals who have lived and worked in Idaho, with working knowledge of local, state and federal agency requirements and regulations. Our success results from close working relationships with clients, integrating their needs with our expert resources.



Charlie Baun:

Charlie BaunI am a native Idahoan and the lead ecologist and principal of Environmental Conservation Services Inc. (ECS). I have over 13-years or academic and work-related experience with ecosystems of the Great Basin and Columbia Plateau. I earned a MS degree in Natural Resource Management, with an emphasis in range and disturbance (grazing and fire) ecology, from the University of Idaho in 2001, and a BS degree in biology, with an emphasis in ecology and botany, from Albertson College of Idaho in 1998.

My work experience has primarily been associated with environmental projects and natural resource management/ planning. I have prepared and authored environmental reports (RMP, EIS, EA, BA, FONSI, etc.) for federal and state agencies, as well as private industry, in Idaho, eastern Oregon, northern Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona. The most significant portion of my work as a public employee and private consultant has been associated with sagebrush/grass steppe and forested ecosystems associated with the Great Basin and Columbia Plateau. Through these projects I have been responsible for:
  • Managing and participating in multiple interdisciplinary projects;
  • Management, analyzing, and interpreting biological and land use data;
  • Surveying and measuring wildlife and vegetation, including special status species, and assessing its response to disturbance (grazing, wildfire, invasive species, recreation, military training, and other human uses);
  • Mapping (GIS) and analyzing wildlife and vegetation populations;
  • Wetland delineation; and
  • Biological mitigation reports and associated monitoring.
In addition to surveys, assessments, and mapping, I have significant experience with local, state, and federal environmental policy and regulations including but not limited to the: NEPA; Clean Water Act; Clean Air Act; Endangered Species Act; National Historic Preservation Act; Executive Order 13007 (Indian Sacred Sites); Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice); and others. I am also currently on a number of voluntary panels and scientific boards, including: the only non-agency (state or federal) member on the Lepidium papilliferum (slickspot peppergrass) scientific panel; a member of the Blueprint for Good Growth Steering and Technical Committee; a member of the Ada County Conservation Weed Management Partnership; and a supervisor for the Ada County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Publications

Baun, C. and English, A. 2005. Biological assessment (BA) for the S-95 Smokey Boulder to Hazard Creek Project. Prepared for the Idaho Department of Transportation, Boise, Idaho.

Baun, C., Sharp, L., A. Burt, T. Reynolds, and A. English et al. 2005 Technical report for biological resource impacts for the proposed Cotterel Wind Power Project.

Baun, C., Blades, J, Hardin, K., Koleini, K. and Miller, S. 2005. Spring-summer slickpot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum) survey and inventory in the Orchard Training Area. Prepared for the Environmental Management Office of the Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho.

Baun, C., Blades, J, Koleini, K. and Miller, S. 2005. Fall slickpot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum) survey and inventory in the Orchard Training Area. Prepared for the Environmental Management Office of the Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho.

Baun, C., Blades, J., Hardin, K., Koleini, K. and Miller, S. 2005. Sensitive species findings report for the Spring Valley Ranch (Phase 1). Findings Report For SunCor Inc.

Baun, C. 2004. Livestock grazing environmental assessment (EA) for Boise District, Four Rivers Field Office. Prepared for the Four Rivers Field Office, Boise, Idaho.

Baun, C. and Hardin, K. 2004. Special status rodent survey and inventory in the Orchard Training Area. Prepared for the Environmental Management Office of the Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho.

Baun, C., Koleini and Hardin, K. 2004. Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) extirpation survey in the Orchard Training Area. Prepared for the Environmental Management Office of the Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho.

Baun, C. 2004. Sensative species findings report for the Spring Valley Ranch (Phases 1 and 2). Findings Report For SunCor Inc.

Baun, C. 2003. Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) extirpation survey in the Orchard Training Area. Prepared for the Environmental Management Office of the Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho.

Baun, C., English, A., and MacDaniels, S. 2003. Sensitive species and archeological findings report for the Spring Valley Ranch (Phases 1 and 2). Findings Report for SunCor Inc.

Baun, C. and Bridges, B. 1998. Light sensitivity on male satin bowerbirds, Bundaberg Mountains, Australia. Idaho Academy of Science Journal 4-3-98. Boise, Idaho

Kenn Hardin:

Kenn HardinI am a native of the northwest and have lived in the Boise area since elementary school. I am currently a biologist at Environmental Conservation Services Inc. (ECS). I have over 5-years of academic and work-related experience with ecosystems of the Great Basin. I received a BS degree in biology, with a focus of study in ecology, from Boise State University in 2006. Prior to my career in Natural Resources I completed a Bachelors of Business Administration at Boise State University in 2001.

My work experience has primarily been associated with environmental projects in southern Idaho. Projects I have been involved in include:
  • Multiple local Environmental Assessments;
  • Wildlife Mitigation Plans for area planned communities;
  • Biological Assessments;
  • Land Condition Trend Analysis in the Orchard Training Area;
  • I conducted rangeland utilization assessment and nested frequency analysis for the BLM’s Four River Field Office;
  • I conducted presence/absence small mammal surveys in the Orchard Training Area; and
  • I conducted Lepidium papilliferum (slickspot peppergrass) inventory in the Orchard Training Area.
My most recent experience prior to ECS was as a Biologist and Asbestos Building Inspector. My time was split between building inspections, Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments, Natural Features Analysis, and assisting with vegetation field identification with their wetlands specialist.

The most significant portion of my work as a public employee and private consultant has been associated with sagebrush/grass steppe ecosystems associated with the Great Basin. Some of my past employers include: the Idaho Army National Guard’s Environmental Management Office; URS Corporation; the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Four Rivers Field Office; and Materials Testing and Inspection. My experience and education have focused on the vegetation condition and animal behaviors associated with Great Basin ecosystems.

Publications:

Baun, C., Blades, J, Hardin, K., Koleini, K. and Miller, S. 2005. Spring-summer slickspot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum) survey and inventory in the Orchard Training Area. Prepared for the Environmental Management Office of the Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho.

Baun, C., Blades, J., Hardin, K., Koleini, K. and Miller, S. 2005. Sensitive species findings report for the Spring Valley Ranch (Phase 1). Findings Report For SunCor Inc.

Baun, C. and Hardin, K. 2004. Special status rodent survey and inventory in the Orchard Training Area. Prepared for the Environmental Management Office of the Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho.

Baun, C., Koleini and Hardin, K. 2004. Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) extirpation survey in the Orchard Training Area. Prepared for the Environmental Management Office of the Idaho Army National Guard, Boise, Idaho.

Hilary Heist:

Hilary HeistI am a Boise native and have over 11 years of academic and diverse professional experience in natural resources, and I earned my BS degree in Wildlife Resources from the University of Idaho in 2000. I have a significant amount of wildlife field experience conducting:
  • Various bird surveys (secretive marshbird surveys, aquatic bird surveys, breeding bird surveys, songbird nest searching);
  • Monitoring songbird, bald eagle, burrowing owl, and screech owl nests;
  • Trapping/capturing various raptor and aquatic birds;
  • Leg banding and patagial wing-tagging birds;
  • Drawing blood and taking morphometric measurements on birds and elk calves;
  • Radio-collaring and radio-tracking elk calf movement;
  • Determining cause of death by performing field necropsies on elk calves; and
  • Setting and monitoring black bear bait stations.
My plant experience includes surveys for rare plants, forest canopy cover, line transects, Daubenmire counts, shrub/grassland habitat condition, and marsh inventories.

In addition to field experience, I have also gained professional experience coordinating, developing, planning, and implementing:
  • A large-scale recycling program and center;
  • Erosion control inspections;
  • A weed management program;
  • A living with wildlife manual;
  • A wildlife habitat and water quality enhancement fund;
  • A stream restoration grant project;
  • Wildlife habitat improvement projects;
  • High school student volunteer projects;
  • Interpretive signs and educational material; and
  • Education programs for children and adults on wildlife, native plants, ecology, water quality, recycling and erosion topics.
I have worked within the state, federal, and private sectors. Past employers include; Idaho Department of Fish and Game (Boise & Lewiston, ID), Tamarack Resort, Sustainable Ecosystems, Bureau of Land Management (Butte, MT), and Boise State University. In addition to my work experience, I have been involved with a number of voluntary boards in Valley County; including the advisory board for the North Lake Recreational Water and Sewer District’s feasibility study, committee member for a citizen recycling group, and chairperson for the Lake Cascade Watershed Advisory Group.

Trainings/certifications include:
  • “Responsible Person” Erosion Control Workshop (City of Boise - October 2006)
  • Medicinal and Herbal Workshops (Darcy Williamson – Spring/Summer/Fall 2006)
  • Wetlands Regulation & Enforcement (Lorman - March 2006)
  • Storm Water Management at Construction Sites (IDEQ - March 2006)
  • Project Learning Tree (American Forest Foundation - Spring 2005)
  • “Certified Interpretive Guide” (The National Association for Interpretation - April 2005)
  • Project WILD (IDFG – April and July 2004)
  • Fire Safety Course (BLM - July 2000)
  • Photo Monitoring Seminar (BLM - June 2000)
  • Landbird Monitoring Course (USFS - May 2000)
Danielle Klemash Maguire:

Danielle Klemash MaguireI graduated from Boise State University in 2004 with a B.S. in Biology, with an Ecology Emphasis and a minor in Anthropology. I have eight years experience in field ecology of the Great Basin (sagebrush steppe, riparian and forested habitats), of Idaho and California, and my experience includes:
  • Surveys of upland and riparian plant species, and special status species (flora and fauna);
  • Aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling;
  • Avian surveys and point counts;
  • Habitat assessments for baseline data and monitoring; and
  • Establishment of wildlife habitat relationships.
In addition, my federal and state permitting expertise and experience includes Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Clean Water Act (Sections 401 and 404), and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Assessment (EA) development for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). I am also responsible for completing wetland delineations, and I have obtained Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation and Management Certification. I’ve also conducted research projects and co-authored two peer-reviewed papers examining the pollination biology and the effects of predation risk in the rare plant, slickspot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum). At ECS I specialize in plant ecology, riparian ecology, macroinvertebrate ecology, and project design and data analysis. My employment prior to ECS includes Oxbow Environmental, Bureau of Land Management Four Rivers Field Office, Ecosystem Sciences and Boise State University.

Publications:

Robertson, I.C. and D. Klemash. 2003. Insect-mediated pollination in slickspot peppergrass, Lepidium papilliferum L. (Brassicaceae), and its implications for population viability. Western North American Naturalist. 63(3) 333- 342.

Robertson, I.C. and D. Klemash Maguire. 2005. Crab spiders deter insect visitations to slickspot peppergrass flowers. Oikos. 109(3) 577-582.