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Michael J Gonzales


Natural Resources has been a focus of Mike Gonzales’ career in environmental compliance and project management in Southern California. As a biologist, Mike conducts general habitat and vegetation surveys, rare plant surveys, protocol surveys for certain special-status species, and jurisdictional delineations. He prepares and reviews biological technical reports, habitat restoration plans, resource management plans, and local and regulatory agency permit applications and associated studies in compliance with the Clean Water Act, the Federal and California Endangered Species Acts, the California Fish and Game Code, and the California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act. He has extensive working knowledge of the National Environmental Policy Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, and stormwater compliance regulations, including environmental documents, alternatives analyses, and consistency evaluations for regional multiple species preserve documents under the Natural Communities Conservation Program.
 
Mike became a member of California Native Plant Society, San Diego Chapter (CNPS-SD) over 28 years ago, for one reason – to drive his Nissan pickup to the Annual Fall Sale at Balboa Park and load it up with as many native plants as could be stuffed into the truck-bed for planting in his yard. Having gained a passionate appreciation for the many benefits of “native-scapes”, he has been serving as the CNPS-SD rep on the San Diego Pollinator Alliance (SDPA) which includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County, Sky Mountain Permaculture Institute, and Butterfly Farms. A key accomplishment of SDPA is the Pollinator Pathway Exhibit at San Diego County Fair which provides a hands-on learning experience about how people can assist Monarch butterflies and other pollinators by taking simple conservation-related actions. It is located at “The Farm” (i.e., infield of the track at the fairgrounds) and is composed of educational and experiential components designed to inform visitors about the beauty and importance of pollinators, and why native habitat is important to them. The Exhibit displays ways that fair-goers can create and protect pollinator habitat around their homes, work, and schools, as well as other specific actions they can take to benefit pollinators.
 

Gonzales, Michael J