Evaluating vegetation health through drone imagery

SHN’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) pilots and geographic information system (GIS) specialists assisted a quinoa farmer in evaluating the health of his crops.  Farming quinoa is new in Humboldt County and there is a lot to learn about growing a healthy yield in our unique climate.  Crop health and yield are affected by numerous factors including soil fertility, moisture availability, and drainage.  SHN used a multi-spectral camera mounted on a drone to map crop health conditions in the fields.     

Using the images, the farmer identified portions of the fields where crops are stressed, allowing him to address the situation by, for example, watering more, adding mulch, or conditioning the soil in those areas.  Mapping with drones is a cost effective way to document crop health; this documentation allows year to year comparison of crop yields when fertilizer or water adjustments are made.

Quantifying the potential effects of aquaculture on eelgrass

Balancing the local economy and potential impacts on natural resources is important to us, which is why we are so enthusiastic to be part of carefully implemented shellfish development in Humboldt Bay.  Careful implementation requires quantifying the potential impacts of shellfish aquaculture on native eelgrass (federally protected as essential fish habitat), so SHN biologists developed a four-year “before-after / control-impact" (BACI) experiment and monitoring plan for eelgrass, in accordance with the California Eelgrass Mitigation Policy and Implementing Guidelines (NOAA 2014).  Upon completion of this project, SHN will have produced the largest dataset of eelgrass population metrics by location, elevation, and sediment type in Humboldt Bay.  Our lead biologist coordinated collection of the first year of initial conditions data, by organizing six field teams of two to three biologists and technicians.  To safely collect accurate data, teams surveyed during the lowest negative tides of the year, which sometimes required pre-dawn boating to the sites, as early as 4 am.  Teams were composed of professional biologists and environmental scientist in addition to students representing Humboldt State University, UC Santa Cruz, and Pacific University.

Limiting biological impacts during and after major highway construction

Caltrans and state resource agencies, such as California Fish and Wildlife and the Regional Water Quality Control Board, are responsible for minimizing the impacts of major highway construction; SHN is implementing those mitigating actions.   Beginning in 2012, SHN’s Biologist of Record for the project took responsibility for monitoring regulated species potentially impacted during construction.  He managed a crew of 30 biologists as part of the Pre-Construction Bird Nesting Survey Protocol that identified nesting locations of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  The Biologist of Record prepared the salmonid relocation and dewatering plans, and supervised crews who performed the relocations.  He also conducted Northern Spotted Owl surveys, and prepared daily and quarterly reports documenting the interactions between construction activities and regulated biological resources. SHN also provided surveying, geologic and geotechnical services, construction monitoring, special inspections, and construction materials testing for the Bypass and associated construction. SHN continues working to limit construction impacts, by providing biological and botanical surveys for post-construction and mitigation monitoring. We are using drones and multi-spectral imaging to monitor the distribution of Baker's meadowfoam, a listed plant species.