Consulting Services

Do you need advice or assistance in evaluating your residential or commercial property in making it more environmentally friendly and more appealing to buyers or tenants?

As a Washington Native Plant Steward, and Forest Steward along with my years of experience as both an Appraiser and as a Real Estate Broker, I can consult with Homeowners Associations, Developers, Builders and individuals who want or need information about living next to Native Growth Protection Areas, or help you develop a plan to be a good steward to it. I can also advise on what resources are available and who to turn to for assistance.

Our region is undergoing a transformation in how we will address the sustainability of our environment while our population grows at a rapid pace. We can all take part in protecting our resources by using low impact development techniques and by doing something as simple as planting native plants.

From Homeowners Associations to individual property owners, I am here to help you reclaim your property from noxious/invasive weeds and assist you in developing a restoration plan.

As an example of what kind of consulting services I can offer;

Evaluate existing conditions and write a recommended plan for improving site for habitat, aesthetics, improved property value and appeal to buyers, tenants or customers.  See photo album for project before and afters on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Native-Growth-Education/280360345066#!/media/set/?set=a.10150421554980067.408367.280360345066&type=3

I can identify noxious/invasive weeds and help you draft a plan to remove them and re-plant with native and/or drought tolerant plants.

I can identify the native plant communities on your property and make recommendations for companion plantings.

Assist builders/developers in selection of appropriate native or drought resistant plantings for both aesthetics and water retention areas (rain gardens or bio-swales)

I can come to your office or Homeowners Association and do a presentation on Native Growth Protection Areas and how they add value to the community.

Other classes I offer to the public are:

Why Native Plants?

Invasive/Noxious Weeds and our responsibilities as property owners

Regional Population Growth and low impact development

I have been working with a team to assess the current condition of existing Native Growth Protection Areas in the North Creek Basin of Snohomish County.  NGPA's located within the North Creek watershed are in poor condition, with distressed plant communities and threatened ecological function, because of intensive human development and a lack of environmental awareness. These poor human induced environmental conditions have resulted in a lack of conifer tree cover, poor conifer establishment, low density of native shrubs, and presence of invasive non-native plants, as well illegally dumped materials such as garbage and yard waste.    

The North Creek watershed is salmon bearing (Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye) therefore it is important that the watershed function properly for their future existence.  Increased development in the watershed has led to an increase in impervious surfaces and a more efficient transport of water throughout the system. This has resulted in abnormally high winter flows and also abnormally low summer flows, and therefore more strain on salmon and negative impacts on the structure of the watershed. The importance of these assessments will enable interested parties to enhance the water quality, and aquatic habitat within the watershed.

 Follow the link for more information. http://www.wnps.org/npsp/snohomish/projects/ngpa.html