MEET OUR TEAM
Barry Nerhus is a wildlife biologist and ecologist with 14 years of experience in biological research, environmental assessment, wetland science, and wildlife studies. He has extensive experience managing construction projects in and adjacent to sensitive habitats. As the Founder/President of Endemic Environmental Services, he has created a company that focuses on habitat restoration/management and wildlife studies/management. He has experience in project management, drafting monitoring and mitigation programs, and avoidance and minimization plans, and he is a principal investigator of the southwestern pond turtles in Southern California.
Dean Nerhus has surveyed, monitoring and managed natural resource projects for 8 years. He has worked with highly environmentally sensitive projects throughout California. He has monitored and surveyed a multitude of projects for Caltrans D3 and D8, Camp Pendleton Marine Base, Barstow Logistics Base and Point Mugu Naval Weapons Air Station. He has been approved to survey and monitor 5 years’ experience with arroyo toads, two years’ experience with California desert tortoise, eight years’ experience nesting bird surveys, three years’ experience bat survey and monitoring, and eight years’ experience with western pond turtle surveys and studies.
Kent Nerhus is the Director and Chief Pilot of sUAS Operations for EES. Kent has been in the sUAS industry since 2013 and has been involved in many different segments of the industry. Including, aerial photo/video, transmission and distribution tower inspections, Infrared via thermal, search and rescue, water way inspection, vegetation identification, UAV manufacturing, raptor survey, topography mapping, 3D mapping, 2d mapping.
Luma Fowler is a senior biologist and bat specialist with 15 years of field experience specializing in ecological restoration, environmental surveys and documents, bat ecology and acoustics, wildlife research, and mitigation projects. Luma has experience working with public agencies, nonprofits, construction companies, and partner environmental agencies. As the Restoration Director and Bat specialist at Endemic Environmental Services, she has contributed to expanding and protecting wildlife and bat habitats in California through habitat restoration.
Thea Wang has 23 years of field experience with biological research, conducting environmental surveys, and working on ecological restoration and mitigation management projects. She is extensively experienced with surveying and monitoring for sensitive wildlife and plant species. She has worked closely with regulated and sensitive species, including Stephens’ kangaroo rat, San Bernardino kangaroo rat and Pacific pocket mouse. Additionally, she has 16 years of experience managing teams of biologists. She currently holds a USFWS 10(a)1(A) Recovery Permit and also a CDFW Scientific Collector’s Permit. She has worked with rare species through research, and biological monitoring. In addition, Dr. Wang has lectured and worked as a teaching assistant at the University of California, Los Angeles and presented biological information as a guest lecturer and to the general public.
Jesse Allen is a Water Resource Inspector who is certified as a Qualified SWPPP Developer/Practicioner (QSD/P). His experience as an Inspector includes assisting with the development of Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) Best Management Practices for erosion and sediment control for highway and bridge construction projects, as well as supporting public and private clients with obtaining Water Quality permits by conducting water quality inspections and reviews. Jesse is experienced in assisting clients with complying with the Construction General Permit and NPDES permit requirements. Jesse is proficient in writing and submitting SWPPP inspection reports and water quality reports, including discharge, Type 8, and Type 6 reports.
Brian Mayerle is is an experienced Ecologist/Botanist and Biologist Consultant with over 30 years of experience in natural resources assessment and regulatory analysis for projects located in western United States. He is an expert in the provisions of Sections 10, 401, 404, and 408 of the federal Clean Water Act; the California Fish and Game Code; CEQA, NEPA; the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act; and the state of California and Federal Endangered Species Acts. He is also experienced with the local ordinances and policies protecting natural resources in California and with survey protocols established by state and federal regulatory agencies, including the USFWS, the CDFW, and the USACE.
Brian has led teams of Field Biologists on complex field projects with diverse geography and resources. His pertinent species experience includes vernal pool fairy shrimp, vernal pool tadpole shrimp, San Joaquin kit fox, burrowing owl, nesting birds, raptors, foothill yellow-legged frog, California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, giant garter snake, and sensitive plant species.