Jeff Gurule

Senior Project Manager | Staff Ecologist

As a Live Oak Associates biologist, Jeff has provided consulting services for clients in California since 2005.

During that time he has managed numerous projects throughout Central California that require the evaluation of habitat for special status species, the analysis of environmental impacts, and the development of appropriate mitigation measures consistent with the biological resource requirements of CEQA and NEPA.

Jeff is also an aquatic resources specialist. He regularly conducts aquatic resource delineations, provides guidance to clients concerning current agency regulations, and assists clients in obtaining permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Regional Water Quality Control Board. Among his ongoing projects, he manages vernal pool habitat monitoring for the Kennedy Table Conservation Bank and Drayer Conservation Bank.

Since receiving his USFWS Branchiopod Recovery Permit in 2007, Jeff has conducted numerous branchiopod surveys on project sites ranging from a few acres to thousands of acres. Jeff also maintains a valid CDFW Scientific Collecting Permit and is a qualified Level II blunt-nosed leopard lizard surveyor.

Jeff’s field experience includes numerous botanical and wildlife surveys covering rare plants, birds, San Joaquin kit fox, riparian brush rabbit/wood rat, herps, branchiopods, and valley elderberry longhorn beetle. In addition, Jeff conducted an experimental rare plant (Pseudobahia bahiifolia) relocation project in which he successfully translocated several populations of this species. Jeff has also developed and implemented burrowing owl passive relocation protocols for projects.

  • • B.A. Environmental Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA. 1988.

    • CLAD Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a Supplemental in Science, National University, Fresno, CA. 2002.

  • Avian ecology, wetland and vernal pool ecology, botany, entomology, CEQA and NEPA compliance, and Clean Water Act (CWA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance.

  • • Live Oak Associates, Inc., Oakhurst, CA. Wildlife/Plant/Wetlands Biologist 2005 to Present

    • Herschy Environmental, Inc., Oakhurst, CA. Supervising Field Technician 2004 to 2005

    • Raymond School, Raymond, CA. Elementary School Teacher 2002

    • Ocean Song Farm and Wilderness Center, Occidental, CA. Naturalist 1992 to 1994

    • City of Oakland, Oakland, CA. Science Education Specialist 1990 to 1991

    • University of California Berkeley. Research Assistant, Endangered Animal Species 1989

    • University of California Berkeley. Research Assistant, Avian/habitat relationships 1988

    • University of California Berkeley. Research Assistant, Comparative Avian Biology 1987

  • • Swainson’s Hawks in California’s Central Valley: Status - Life History – Identification - Survey Methodology - Risk Assessment – Conservation – Protection, Michael Bradbury, Swainson’s Hawk Technical Advisory Committee, April 12, 2012

    • Rare Pond Species Survey Techniques Workshop, The Wildlife Project & Laguna de Rosa Foundation, Rohnert Park, CA. March 27, 2010

    • Arid West Supplement, Wetland Training Institute, 4/14/07

    • Identification and Ecology of the Fairy Shrimp and Tadpole Shrimp of California, Oregon, and Washington, Christopher Rogers, 12/12-14/06

    • Advanced CEQA Course, U.C. Davis Extension, 11/29-30/06

    • Wetland Delineation Training Course, Wetlands Training Institute, 3/27-31/06

    • CEQA: A Step by Step Approach, U.C. Davis Extension, 12/2/05

    • Water and Waste Water Management for Wineries, U.C. Davis Extension 8/6/04

  • Jeff enjoys playing music, spending time with family, hanging at his local creek, running, hiking, and biking.

“I enjoy the diversity and challenges the work we do at LiveOak Associates provides. I also enjoy the community of colleagues and clients I work with.”
— Jeff