Melissa Denena, M.S.
Director of Ecological Services
Staff Ecologist

Mrs. Denena is an experienced wildlife and plant ecologist with extensive skills in wetland ecology, special-status species surveys (including both plants and animals), and permitting. Her areas of expertise include the preparation of CEQA/NEPA documents, delineations of jurisdictional waters, permitting, special-status species surveys, monitoring projects. Mrs. Denena has prepared a number of CEQA/NEPA documents analyzing environmental impacts. This involved researching the existing biotic conditions of a specific site, completing wetland delineations and special-status species surveys, and analyzing the measures needed to avoid, minimize, and compensate for any determined impacts. Mrs. Denena has been trained to perform wetland delineations of jurisdictional waters. Wetland surveys have been conducted in seasonal wetlands, vernal pools, marshes, ephemeral/intermittent/perennial streams, and created wetlands. On numerous occasions, the information gathered during the wetlands surveys has been used to complete USACE, RWQCB, and CDFG permit applications. Mrs. Denena has conducted a number of special-status species surveys, including the vernal pool crustaceans, valley elderberry longhorn beetle, California tiger salamander, burrowing owls, raptor species, bat species, and numerous plant species. Mrs. Denena has been involved in a number of monitoring projects. These have included wetland monitoring (measuring the success of mitigated wetland/riparian habitats) and wildlife monitoring (ensuring that special-status species were not adversely affected by pre-determined disturbances).