Cambrian Environmental specializes in the karst and Edwards Aquifer regulatory issues that present unique regulatory challenges and potential constructability issues for projects in San Antonio. Our focus includes Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Geologic Assessment investigations, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service threatened and endangered species due-diligence studies as required under the Endangered Species Act. Cambrian’s experts have a trusted perspective on the hydrogeology and regulatory issues of the Edwards aquifer having characterized thousands of recharge features on more than 100,000 acres of karst terrain.
Although Cambrian was established in 2014, our personnel have provided high-quality environmental services for projects across the central Texas region since 1999. Our veteran staff includes three licensed professional geoscientists as well as salamander biologists and karst invertebrate specialists who are permitted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for all levels of presence/absence investigations for threatened and endangered karst species in central Texas (USFWS Permit ESPER0005108). Cambrian staff have provided specialty technical and scientific services on hundreds of projects including roadways, transmission lines, subdivisions, schools, churches, natural gas lines, water lines and sanitary sewer systems.
Cambrian Environmental specializes in the aquifer-associated salamanders of central Texas, and our personnel collectively have over 40 years of experience working on these species. This experience includes habitat assessments, presence/absence surveys, population monitoring and demographic estimates, natural history research, population and phylogenetic research, federal permitting, mitigation design and implementation, preserve design, and habitat restoration. Cambrian holds a TPWD permit for all species of central Texas Eurycea and a USFWS permit that covers research and survey activities for all seven federally-listed species. Our ecologists are experienced at conducting surveys within the framework of the USFWS protocols but have also developed and published novel survey techniques, including an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay to detect federally-threatened Eurycea in the northern segment of the Edwards Aquifer. Our ecologists’ expertise is demonstrated by several peer-reviewed publications and over 50 professional presentations on these salamanders.
Cambrian Environmental provides expertise on Houston Toads, and our personnel collectively have over 15 years of experience on this species, with over 3,000 hours working in occupied habitat. This work includes visual encounter, drift fence, pitfall trap, artificial cover object, human-performed auditory, and automated recording device surveys for presence/absence determinations, population monitoring, and natural history research. Cambrian is permitted by the USFWS to conduct research on Houston Toads, including handling and relocation of individuals or egg strands. The recently improved USFWS 10(a)(1)(A) survey protocols were developed with the help of Cambrian ecologists and are largely based on our ecologist’s research to refine the use of automated recording devices and automated vocalization recognition software.
Our ecologists additionally have considerable experience conducting surveys, habitat management, and research on a variety of wildlife species, especially herpetofauna. Much of this research was conducted with the intention of informing the conservation of endangered and threatened taxa or refining the geographic distribution of common, rare, and invasive species. This experience includes work in aquatic and terrestrial systems that span several ecoregions, and notable subject species include sirenid salamanders, Dunes Sagebrush Lizards, Spot-tailed Earless Lizards, Louisiana Pinesnakes, Texas Tortoises, Rio Grande Cooters, Bald Eagles, wading birds, and small mammals. Additionally, our ecologists’ expertise in the application of novel methods for surveying or monitoring has been applied to many vocalizing species (e.g., anurans, birds, bats) including Golden Cheeked Warblers.
Geologic Assessments for Water Pollution Abatement Plans
Void Closure reporting for caves encountered during construction
Cambrian Environmental holds a TPWD permit (SPR-0319-056) that covers surveys, collection, processing, genetic sampling, and vouchering of SGCN and non-SGCN aquatic invertebrates, freshwater fish, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals throughout the state.
Cambrian Environmental additionally holds a USFWS (ESPER0005108) permit that covers surveys, collection, processing, genetic sampling, vouchering, and other activities for the federally-listed species listed below.
Threatened and Endangered Salamander investigations for:
Endangered Karst Invertebrate Investigations
Karst Terrain Feature Surveys
Presence/absence investigations for any of 16 species of endangered cave invertebrates in Williamson, Travis and Bexar counties
Cave and Spring management services
Cave and Spring biological monitoring
Karst preserve design
Conservation easement and acquisition support services
