Ecological Sciences – Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.

Endangered Species Act Updates

Jackie Rockey — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:20:41 +0000

On November 19, 2025, four regulatory updates to the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) were proposed that may change how the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) list and protect imperiled species and their habitats and conduct ESA Section 7 consultations for projects requiring federal permits. If finalized, the changes would only apply to ESA…

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(Another) Proposed Waters of the U.S. Definition Rule Proposal

Jonathan Farrell — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:11:12 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a proposed rule change on November 20, 2025 to revise the definition of “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) in the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). The revisions will affect the circumstances in which permits are needed to disturb, dredge, and/or discharge fill material into streams, wetlands…

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Award-Winning GIS Tool Boosts Environmental Due Diligence

CEC Staff — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:11:38 +0000

The GIS/ECO Online Screening Tool, created by Kyle Filicky, a Project Manager, and Jennifer Rokosz, a GIS Analyst, both in Pittsburgh’s Ecological Sciences practice, was honored with a CEC Innovation Award for its impact on project efficiency and data consistency. This tool is transforming how environmental due diligence is done here at CEC. It’s built to streamline proposal development and…

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In the Field with Project Scientist Alex Casile

Olivia Emerick — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 04:00:43 +0000

Most people overlook the impact that wetlands have on the environment, but for Alex Casile, a Project Scientist in the Ecological Sciences practice, identifying and protecting wetlands is an important part of her everyday job. As we made our way to a stream so that Alex could perform a mock delineation, she listed the benefits that wetlands have to offer: “They filter water, they’re big carbon…

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Karl Kratzer Joins CEC Pittsburgh as Ecological Sciences Principal

CEC Staff — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:00:36 +0000

Karl Kratzer Principal Ecological Sciences 804.910.4868 kkratzer@cecinc.com CEC Pittsburgh is excited to welcome the latest addition to our team, Karl Kratzer, who joins as a Principal in the Ecological Sciences practice. Karl brings 40 years of knowledge and experience to the team. He has extensive experience in project management, coordination, and environmental impact analysis for…

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Endangered Species Act Updates

Jonathan Farrell — Tue, 27 May 2025 16:48:21 +0000

Two potential regulatory changes to the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) have been proposed this year that may change how the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) protect listed species and their habitats and conduct ESA Section 7 consultations for projects requiring federal permits. The ESA was passed in 1973 and makes it unlawful for any…

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Katie Astroth Named St. Louis Operations Lead

CEC Staff — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 14:40:22 +0000

Katie Astroth, P.W.S. Principal & St. Louis Operations Lead 314.447.3613 kastroth@cecinc.com We are pleased to announce that Katie Astroth, P.W.S., a Principal in our Ecological Sciences practice, has been appointed Operations Lead for the CEC St. Louis office. Katie has been with CEC for nine years and has over 16 years of experience in environmental compliance, biological assessment…

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EPA Intends to Revise Definition of Waters of the United States

Rob Geho — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:49:29 +0000

On March 12, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced their intent to revise the definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) – Administrator Zeldin Announces EPA Will Revise Waters of the United States Rule | US EPA. This proposed effort includes three action items noted below. On March 12, 2025, a memorandum to the field between the U.S. Department of the Army, U.S.

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Discovering a New County Record for Barborpoll Bulrush in West Virginia

Jonna Miller — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 19:45:31 +0000

At CEC, the Ecological Sciences team is always hard at work in the field, monitoring invasive plants, performing habitat assessments, and surveying rare, threatened, and endangered species. One recent breakthrough showcases the dedication and expertise of our botanists, Kyle Filicky, PWS, and Alexandrea Casile, who documented an exciting discovery: a new county record for Barborpoll Bulrush…

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CEC Tackles Another Colorado Process-Based Restoration Design Project

Jonna Miller — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 13:29:22 +0000

CEC’s restoration design team, led by Christy Mower, was hired by the City of Fort Collins’ (Colorado) Natural Areas Department (FCNAD) to design a headwaters restoration project within a prairie region just south of the Colorado and Wyoming border, referred to as Brannigan Springs, located within a 22,000-acre site called Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (SSN). The City of Fort Collins is…

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