Mark Berninger

Mark Berninger

Field Research Biologist, Aquatic Biologist

location of Mark BerningerSan Diego, California, United States

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  • Timeline

  • About me

    Natural Resource Manager / Senior Environmental Planner at City of San Diego

  • Education

    • St. Xavier High School

      1992 - 1996
    • Butler University

      1996 - 2000
      BS Biology

      Activities and Societies: College Mentors for Kids, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Biological Sciences Honor Society

  • Experience

    • US EPA (contractor)

      Apr 2002 - Jul 2007
      Field Research Biologist, Aquatic Biologist

      Conducted and coordinated field surveys as an in-house contractor for the US EPA’s National Exposure Research Laboratory. Contributed to the development of the US EPA’s Large River Rapid Bio-Assessment Protocol, assisted refinement in sampling procedures in several other established Environmental Assessment Protocols. Coordinated all logistical aspects for several large scale projects including coordination with state and local government, and acted as primary contact for property owners. Collected and identified fish and macroinvertebrates in numerous river/stream watersheds throughout the United States. Developed and adjusted sampling protocols with USEPA’s primary investigators. Implemented QA/QC training for crew members, state and local agencies to ensure integrity of sampling procedures. Show less

    • Cardno JFNew

      Aug 2007 - Dec 2012
      Ecological Resource Specialist 2

      Mark manages large and complex wetland delineation projects related to Clean Water Act section 401 and 404 compliance. He also obtains state, county, and municipal permits and approvals related to wetlands, riparian areas, tree surveys, and maintenance and monitoring plans. He coordinates large scale wetland determination/ delineation projects that involve multiple states and numerous wetlands. He is responsible for supervising and planning logistics for multiple survey crews, but directly in the field or remotely. Mark performs endangered, threatened and rare species survey work, vegetation and wildlife monitoring on wetland mitigation and restoration projects, and construction observation for restoration and wetland mitigation projects. He is a linear corridor survey specialist and implements restoration and consulting project work, including site assessments, stream bank restoration and design, bat surveys, field crew supervision, client consultation, prescribed burn, and restoration plans. Prior to joining Cardno Mark worked extensively throughout the East, Midwest, and Mountain West and abroad on multiple projects requiring water quality, and aquatic sampling and analysis; invasive species surveying; macroinvertebrate habitat quality analysis and sampling; fish identification; habitat and community surveys. Mark has also worked extensively in South America, particularly in the Rio Negro region of the Amazon River basin. Show less

    • Cardno ENTRIX

      Dec 2012 - Sept 2013
      Project Scientist / Wetland Biologist

      As project Scientist / Wetland Biologist , I am responsible for managing large and complex ecological restoration projects. He has coordinated large scale wetland restoration projects that involve multiple state and federal agencies as well as large scale stream and river restoration projects. He is responsible for supervising and planning logistics for multiple restoration teams, both, directly in the field or remotely. Mark performs wetland delineations, endangered, threatened and rare species surveys, vegetation and wildlife monitoring on wetland mitigation and restoration projects. He has extensive experience with wetland mitigation design and construction observation for restoration and wetland mitigation projects. He also has extensive and varied experience in native plant community management, water quality sampling, and utilizing mobile GPS units to facilitate project goals and planning. Prior to working with Cardno, Mark worked as an in-house contractor for the USEPA, developing bio-assessment protocols for multiple projects throughout the United States from large rivers to headwater streams. Show less

    • Natural Resource Group, LLC

      Sept 2013 - May 2014
      Environmental Coordinator
    • WRA, Inc.

      Sept 2014 - Feb 2017
      Wetland Ecologist

      Performing Wetland and Waters of the US Delineations, developing Regulatory Permitting Applications for Local, State and Federal Resource Agencies

    • City of San Diego

      Jul 2017 - now

      I currently manage a team of dedicated biologist and interns within the Open Space Division of the Parks and Recreation Department. Our team manages the Rare Plant Monitoring Program, the Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Program, the Vernal Poll Habitat Conservation Program, the Right-of-Entry Permit Program, and we also provide stewardship for the natural resources within the Open Space Parks and Preserves owned by the City of San Diego. Total acreage of our open space preserves and parks is over 26,000 acres. Show less

      • Natural Resource Manager / Senior Environmetal Planner

        Mar 2019 - now
      • Environmental Biologist / Public Utilities Department

        Jul 2017 - Mar 2019
  • Licenses & Certifications

    • California Rapid Assessment Protocol (CRAM)