About

A Leading Environmental Consultant in Southern California

Reliable and Responsive

A reputable team with high-quality standards, attention to detail, and excellent customer service.

Environmental regulations have become more complex, and we know that navigating the regulatory environment in California can be a challenge. To fully understand your next steps, you need a talented team of biological consulting specialists to help you move forward.

Rocks Biological Consulting specializes in biological analysis and regulatory permitting. RBC’s team of well-respected experts guide clients through the complex regulatory maze in California. We’re your partners who conduct biological surveys, habitat assessments, threatened/ endangered species surveys, and wetland delineations, to name a few.

We’ll work for you to assess project constraints and work on your behalf to satisfy regulatory agencies while maintaining your project’s forward momentum.

OUR STORY

Established. Trusted. Respected.

Rocks Biological Consulting possesses a level of proficiency rare among small environmental consulting firms. We have the experience to deliver high-quality work while keeping projects on schedule and within budget. We have led projects large and small, written hundreds of technical reports, and performed thousands of biological surveys, including focused species surveys and aquatic resource delineations. Our team of experts is well-versed in California flora, fauna, and habitats as well as local, state, and federal environmental regulations and processing guidelines.

Our team, the right expertise

Our talented team of experts knows exactly what to look for whether it’s listed species, aquatic resources, or critical habitats, and we understand the data and reporting required for regulators. We’ll provide the right expertise to meet your needs.

Jim Rocks

Principal Biologist

Jim Rocks serves as principal biologist for the firm and has over 25 years of experience in biological resources throughout California and the greater southwest.

Melanie Rocks

President/Principal

Melanie Rocks serves as a principal planner, project manager, and biologist for RBC.

Keoni Calantas

Senior Biologist/Project Manager

Keoni leads proposal efforts, authors biological analyses, and is a certified CRAM practitioner.

Ian Hirschler

Senior Biologist/Project Manager

Ian is a supervisor, project manager, and biological field lead. He conducts focused-species surveys, biological and revegetation monitoring, and aids in the preparation of technical reports.

Hannah Swarthout

Biologist

Hannah assists in conducting protocol surveys, performs biological monitoring, and aids in the preparation of technical reports.

Shannon Mindeman

Senior Biologist/Project Manager

Shannon manages projects, aids in the preparation of technical reports, and assists clients in navigating regulatory challenges.

Travis Whitney

Senior Ecologist/Regulatory Specialist

Travis is dedicated to preserving, conserving, and expanding biodiversity within our natural world and improving workforce diversity withinthe environmental field.‍

Want to work for Rocks?

Great people, dynamic work, flexible schedule, and no corporate BS. We are always looking to add passionate biologists and regulatory specialists to our team. We are currently seeking associate and/or senior aquatic regulatory specialists with at least 3-5 years of experience in California.

Get in touch

"The Rocks Biological team is smart, professional, and great to work with. I have enjoyed having them as a teaming partner on several projects in Southern California and would highly recommend them. "

Sophia Habl Mitchell

Owner

Sophia Mitchell & Associates

"I first met Jim and the Rocks Biological team over 10 years ago on a project we did together on MCAS Miramar. His group really helped me navigate through tough biological requirements on the project and since that time we continue to use them on projects in the region. We consistently get great service from the Rocks team and we look forward to working with them for years to come.

Albert Valdivia

Vice President

Clark Construction Group

"When we were looking to develop an integrated resources management plan for the Pala Reservation, Rocks Biological immediately responded with a comprehensive proposal that went above and beyond. Selecting Rocks to work with us on this big project was a great decision. They are professional, flexible, and skilled at developing a plan that meets the unique needs of a Tribal nation. I especially appreciate how they have helped me manage my priorities on this project, with patience and gentle nudging when necessary! The entire team is a pleasure to work with and I expect to continue a long and fruitful partnership with Rocks."

Shasta Gaughen

Tribal Historic Preservation Officer

Pala Band of Mission Indians

"... I am very grateful for the professionalism and flexibility that Rocks consistently provides to meet [project] needs and to keep projects moving smoothly. Despite being a smaller firm, the Rocks team also provides a prime-level expertise in a variety of key environmental areas. This allows our City of San Diego projects to receive top-level service and support while also opening up more opportunities to meet contract SLBE participation requirements, which can be challenging on contracts that shift priorities often. Lastly, a huge benefit of partnering with Rocks has been that they are just a fun group to work with and they mirror the main goal we have at our own firm: always taking their work seriously, but not themselves.”

Scott Gressard, MS

Senior Environmental Specialist

Dudek