Melissa Garcia
Salida
Summary
Results-driven Natural Resource Specialist with 20+ years of experience leading multi-disciplinary teams, managing large-scale conservation projects, and overseeing regulatory compliance. Expertise in NEPA, restoration planning, ecosystem management, and interagency collaboration. Proven track record in budget oversight; habitat and riparian improvement and restoration projects; engagement and cooperation with interested publics, state, local, agency, and NGO partners; minerals, grazing, recreation, and leasing/ easement permitting; workforce development; administrative oversight; and strategic land-use planning. Experienced with ecosystem management and conservation strategies. Utilizes knowledge of regulatory frameworks and sustainability practices to ensure resource efficiency. Track record of successful project execution and stakeholder collaboration.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Supervisory Natural Resource Specialist (Restoration Coordinator)
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
11.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: Colorado State Office | Lakewood, CO
- Hired and led a multi-disciplinary team in statewide restoration planning and execution
- Manage a $12M+ budget for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) landscape restoration projects
- Develop conservation strategies integrating mechanical, fire, and chemical vegetation treatments, plantings, riparian habitat improvement projects, mining reclamation and remediation projects
- Oversee watershed-scale restoration projects, ensuring regulatory compliance, project development, coordination and monitoring, and coordinated and worked with partners
- Colorado State Office | Lakewood, CO
Planning and Environmental Specialist
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
07.2022 - 11.2023
- Company Overview: Colorado State Office | Lakewood, CO
- Provided technical expertise for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, land use planning, environmental analyses, and quality control on NEPA-related documents
- Also worked with litigation coordinator and attorneys on appeals and protests
- Incorporating policy, direction, law, and standards into environmental analysis and streamlining
- Technical support in NEPA compliance for large-scale projects including Greater Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan Amendment and Big Game Programmatic EIS to include partner and cooperating agency engagement, project development, project research, administrative record development, and editing supporting reports
- Managed project timelines using Microsoft Project and maintained SharePoint sites and data tracking
- Colorado State Office | Lakewood, CO
Field Manager
San Luis Valley Field Office (BLM)
12.2016 - 07.2022
- Supervised resources and permitting staff, office operations, budgeting, workforce planning, and policy implementation
- Managed interagency wildfire response, land health initiatives, and public land access improvements
- Secured Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) investments for land acquisition
- Enhanced NEPA processes and interdisciplinary team coordination, involvement, and cohesion
- Developed and enhanced partnerships with agencies, NGOs, interested parties, and permittees in recreation, minerals, wetlands, and range/grazing management
- Led a landscape-level assessment, watershed condition assessments, land health determinations, and NEPA processes to streamline and provide consistency in terms and conditions, best management practices, standard operating procedures, project design features to better serve permittees, authorize project and restoration work, and improve land management practices and decision making
Associate District Manager
Rocky Mountain District (BLM)
11.2015 - 12.2016
- Supervised district administrative staff and acted as Interim District Manager as needed
- Managed budget allocations and workforce strategy
- Led Browns Canyon National Monument interagency planning and public engagement process, interim monument manager
Assistant Field Manager – Renewable Resources
Royal Gorge Field Office (BLM)
07.2012 - 11.2015
- Supervised teams in resources including forestry, recreation, wildlife, fisheries, riparian, range, archaeology, noxious weeds, soil, air, and hydrology
- Office management, administrative oversight, budget allocation and execution, hiring, and personnel management
- Involved in Resource Management Plan efforts, NEPA compliance, Interdisciplinary team coordination and project work, and public land partnerships
- Advanced planning for renewable energy and land management improvements
- Participated in landscape-level assessments, Regional Ecosystem Assessments, and land health assessments
Wildlife Biologist
San Luis Valley Field Office (BLM/ Forest Service- Service 1st position)
01.2004 - 01.2012
- Led and conducted wildlife, fisheries, upland, and riparian habitat and population inventory, monitoring for impacts to species to include Threatened, Endangered, sensitive and species of concern, migratory birds, and other wildlife and aquatic species
- Conducted project effectiveness monitoring, developed mitigations and permit terms and conditions, timing limitations, and sensitive habitat avoidance requirements, NEPA analysis, Biological Assessments and Biological Evaluations, and habitat restoration projects
- Managed and involved in interdisciplinary team efforts, partnership cooperation interagency collaborations for species conservation, watershed condition assessments, land health assessments, travel management
Education
Master of Science - Zoology and Physiology
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY01.2004
Ecology prerequisite classes
Adams State College
Alamosa, CO01.2001
Associate of Applied Science - Aquaculture Technician
Trinidad State Junior College
Alamosa, CO09.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO09.1996
Skills
- NEPA
- Biological Assessments/Evaluations
- Environmental Compliance
- Federal Land & Resource Management
- Budget Oversight
- Strategic Planning
- Watershed Restoration
- Ecosystem Restoration
- Renewable Energy
- Land Use Planning
- Interagency Collaboration
- Public Engagement
Certification
- Certified Type II Wildland Firefighter
- Certified Pesticide/Herbicide Applicator
- BLM Emerging Leaders Program and Leadership Academy Graduate
- NEPA & Environmental Impact Analysis Trainings
- Monitoring training in multiple species, vegetation, stream, riparian, and habitats.
Affiliations
- Member Tribal Matrix Team
- Member, Leadership Teams (CO BLM, Rocky Mountain District, SLV Public Lands)
- Chair, BLM Colorado Inclusion Diversity Equity & Accessibility Team (2021-2023)
- Member, BLM Field Manager Working Group (2017-2022)
- Member, State Budget Advisory Team (2015-2017)
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, SLV Chapter (2003-2012)
- CO/WY Chapter of The Wildlife Society (2000-2009)
- Trout Unlimited, SLV Chapter (1999-2006)
- Desert Fishes Council (1999-2002)
Key Skills And Expertise
- NEPA, Biological Assessments/Evaluations, & Environmental Compliance
- Federal Land & Resource Management
- Budget Oversight & Strategic Planning
- Watershed & Ecosystem Restoration
- Renewable Energy & Land Use Planning
- Interagency Collaboration & Public Engagement
- Workforce Development & Diversity Initiatives
Timeline
Supervisory Natural Resource Specialist (Restoration Coordinator)
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
11.2023 - Current
Planning and Environmental Specialist
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
07.2022 - 11.2023
Field Manager
San Luis Valley Field Office (BLM)
12.2016 - 07.2022
Associate District Manager
Rocky Mountain District (BLM)
11.2015 - 12.2016
Assistant Field Manager – Renewable Resources
Royal Gorge Field Office (BLM)
07.2012 - 11.2015
Wildlife Biologist
San Luis Valley Field Office (BLM/ Forest Service- Service 1st position)
01.2004 - 01.2012
Ecology prerequisite classes
Adams State College
Associate of Applied Science - Aquaculture Technician
Trinidad State Junior College
Bachelor of Arts - Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology
University of Colorado
- Certified Type II Wildland Firefighter
- Certified Pesticide/Herbicide Applicator
- BLM Emerging Leaders Program and Leadership Academy Graduate
- NEPA & Environmental Impact Analysis Trainings
- Monitoring training in multiple species, vegetation, stream, riparian, and habitats.
Master of Science - Zoology and Physiology
University of Wyoming
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