M.S. Biology, San Francisco State University, Romberg Tiburon Center, 2016
B.A. Environmental Studies and Ethnic Studies (double major), Mills College, 2004
- Vollmar Natural Lands Consulting: Senior Ecologist, 2005–present
- BMP Ecosciences: Botanist, 2003-2005
- Mills College and CSU Stanislaus: Biological Research Assistant, 2003
Cassie Pinnell, VNLC’s Arcata Office Lead/Senior Ecologist, holds an MS in Biology from SF State University and has been working as a professional ecologist since 2005, with over four years as Executive Director of a watershed restoration non-profit in Humboldt County. Her work has included managing large-scale restoration projects, and conducting statewide surveys for special-status plant and wildlife species, using a variety of survey techniques in both wetland and upland environments. She has experience in assessing the effectiveness of wetland, intertidal, and upland restoration projects, and using GIS and statistical software to determine community-level responses to habitat modification and restoration. Ms. Pinnell has also worked on large-scale species distribution assessments and habitat analyses to supplement conservation planning in California.
Ms. Pinnell has managed the preparation of multiple regulatory permitting applications, including Sections 404, 401, 1602, and a variety of other regulatory agencies. She also has decades of experience preparing technical documents to support CEQA and has experience preparing Project-Specific Analyses (PSAs) for the California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP). She is trained and experienced in conducting wetland delineations, rare plant surveys, and special-status wildlife surveys throughout California. Her graduate research included six years of implementing and assessing the effectiveness of eelgrass restoration efforts in the San Francisco Bay and she has since been serving as the project manager and lead ecologist for large-scale intertidal and tidal restoration efforts in the San Francisco Bay. In addition to her work as an ecologist, her work as the Executive Director of the Mattole Restoration Council included extensive experience creating and maintaining working partnerships with public agencies, non-profits, universities, landowners, stakeholders, and technical advisory committees to best design, permit, and implement effective restoration and conservation projects, totaling approximately $1 million annually.