Jim Rocks serves as principal biologist for the firm. He is responsible for overseeing project fieldwork and ensuring technical accuracy and completeness. He holds an M.S. in biological science and is a department associate with the San Diego Natural History Museum Botany Department, where he has taught several botanical classes. He has a rich history as a consulting biologist in southern California. Mr. Rocks conducts a variety of special-status species surveys, habitat restoration and management, impact analyses, and project permitting. He has worked extensively with federal, state, and local regulatory staff to obtain regulatory permits and implement mitigation programs. He is permitted to conduct surveys for the Quino checkerspot butterfly, coastal California gnatcatcher, and all listed vernal pool branchiopods in the state of California.