[PCA] ESA Seeks Consulting Services for Review and Design of Vegetation Monitoring and Analytical Methods

Cliff Duke CSDuke at esa.org
Wed Mar 4 08:45:52 CST 2015


REQUEST FOR QUOTATION
Consulting Services for Review and Design of Vegetation Monitoring and Analytical Methods
Background
The City of Los Angeles, CA, through its Department of Water and Power (LADWP), has exported groundwater from the County of Inyo (Inyo) since 1913, when the City built its first aqueduct from the Owens Valley to Los Angeles. LADWP and Inyo independently monitor the effects of groundwater pumping on vegetation in the Owens Valley.  As part of a recent settlement to a dispute over vegetation conditions in a particular vegetation parcel, Inyo and Los Angeles committed to a facilitated process with the Ecological Society of America (ESA) to develop and implement vegetation monitoring procedures and detailed analytical procedures for determining if a measureable change in vegetation has occurred, is occurring, or will occur as a result of groundwater pumping.
In accord with this process, ESA is assembling a panel of three scientists to assist with the design of new vegetation monitoring and analytical methods.

Scope of Work
The panel members, coordinated by ESA’s Director of Science Programs, will review the vegetation monitoring and analytical methods currently used by LAWDP and Inyo and will assist them in the design of updated methods in accordance with the current state of the science.
Panel members and ESA staff will attend an initial 3-day workshop in the Owens Valley (likely Bishop, CA) in Spring 2015. Inyo and LADWP staff will provide presentations of the goals, monitoring purposes, and current programs/methods. The workshop will include field visits to familiarize members with the geography and ecology of the Owens Valley and negotiation of a schedule and budget for the next phase of work. In that next phase, following the workshop, panel members will prepare written recommendations for updated monitoring and analytical methods, including strengths and weaknesses of alternatives. Panel members may communicate among themselves and ESA via conference call and email, but do not need to reach consensus on their recommendations. ESA staff will assemble a report of the panel’s recommendations and coordinate a presentation to Inyo and LADWP.  The presentation format may be a workshop, video conference, or webinar.  One or more panel members will be expected to participate in the presentation.
Panel members may be invited to provide additional services through ESA as the LAWDP/Inyo Working Group refines their monitoring and analytical methods.
More details of the project are provided in the draft project plan which is available upon request from ESA.

Qualifications
ESA invites applications to serve on the panel from scientists with the following expertise:

1)      Vegetation monitoring and data analysis methodology, including statistics

2)      Knowledge of the vegetation and plant ecology of the Owens Valley or similar environments

3)      Knowledge of the impacts of varying water availability on vegetation and plant ecology of the Owens Valley or similar environments
Application Process
Email a cover letter highlighting your applicable expertise and experience, a resume with three references, and a quotation of your consulting rate ($ per day) by March 17, 2015 to
Dr. Clifford S. Duke
Director of Science Programs
Ecological Society of America
1990 M Street, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
Email: csduke at esa.org<mailto:csduke at esa.org>

In addition, in your cover letter, provide a schedule of your availability for a 3-day meeting (plus travel time) in the Owens Valley, CA during the months of April, May, and June 2015. ESA will reimburse travel expenses separately, in accord with our agreement with Inyo County. Consistent with ESA’s contract with Inyo County, selected panel members will also be expected to provide proof of liability and auto insurance.
ESA will notify the three accepted applicants by March 27, 2015.

Please direct any questions or requests for additional information, including requests for the draft project plan, to Dr. Clifford S. Duke, phone 202-833-8773 ext. 202, email csduke at esa.org<mailto:csduke at esa.org>.


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