Science AND PLANNING Services

Understanding species, systems, and processes to support conservation, planning and design.

ADVANCING ECOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

In an era of increasing environmental challenges, PCI Ecological's science services are at the forefront of understanding and protecting our natural world. Our multi-disciplinary team of experts conducts comprehensive assessments of streams, wetlands, forests, grasslands, parks, open spaces, and ranch lands to evaluate their health and resilience. By combining rigorous scientific methods with a deep appreciation for ecological processes, we develop innovative strategies to improve ecosystem functioning and biodiversity across diverse landscapes.

Our science-based approach not only addresses current environmental issues but also anticipates future challenges, ensuring that our conservation and restoration efforts have lasting positive impacts on both natural systems and human communities. Whether working with urban parks that serve as vital community green spaces, expansive open areas that provide critical wildlife corridors, or working ranches that balance agricultural production with conservation goals, we deliver solutions that honor both ecological integrity and human needs.

OUR SCIENCE & PLANNING SERVICES INCLUDE:

  • Ecological restoration and mitigation program design, implementation, and monitoring

  • Watershed and preserve management planning

  • Park and preserve master planning for natural resources and public access

  • GIS-based habitat mapping and spatial analyses

  • Biological construction services, including species protection and relocation

  • Climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning

  • Ranchland evaluations and restoration design and site enhancements

WHERE OUR EXPERTISE MAKES AN IMPACT

Featured science and Planning projects

  • Stage Zero Restoration of Lakeville Creek

    Stage Zero Restoration of Lakeville Creek

    Lakeville Creek is a seasonal tributary to the Petaluma River located on the historic edge of San Pablo Bay. Historic land use has impacted the channel and has resulted in downcutting that has disconnected it from its floodplain and has lowered the groundwater table across a highly erosive landscape.

  • Gualala Mill Bend Public Access and Estuary Enhancement Plan

    Gualala Mill Bend Public Access, Restoration, and Estuary Enhancement Plan

    The Redwood Coast Land Conservancy (RCLC) partnered with PCI Ecological to create the Mill Bend Conservation Plan to guide stewardship, restoration, and public recreation activities at the Mill Bend Preserve.

  • Lower Ten Mile River Salmonid Habitat Enhancement Design and Regulatory Compliance

    Lower Ten Mile River Salmonid Habitat Enhancement Design and Regulatory Compliance

    The Ten Mile River Watershed in Mendocino County, California is considered an important watershed for maintaining and recovering populations of coho salmon, steelhead, and Chinook salmon by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

  • Garcia River Estuary Salmonid Habitat Enhancement Design and Regulatory Compliance

    Garcia River Estuary Salmonid Habitat Enhancement Design and Regulatory Compliance

    The river, floodplains, wetlands and estuary surrounding the Garcia River, located 40 miles south of Fort Bragg, support important coastal habitat, plants and wildlife, including a variety of special-status species.

  • Fitch Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve

    Fitch Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve

    Full design for initial public access improvements, including an accessible entry to this steep landscape, was completed in 2023 and construction of the first phase of improvements was completed in spring 2024.

Connect with our team

At PCI Ecological, our team of dedicated professionals brings creativity, talent, and a deep understanding of the environment to each project. Every undertaking moves forward with careful consideration of the needs of stakeholders, government agencies, and the land itself.

Carrie Lukacic

Carrie Lukacic
Principal Environmental Planner
carrie@pcz.com | 707.827.8916

Joan Schwan

Joan Schwan
Principal Vegetation Ecologist
jschwan@pcz.com | 707.827.8883