White Horse Associates, Inc. (WHA), established in 1981, conducts environmental research, surveys and consulting.  We are experts in classification, inventory, assessment, modeling, design and management of landscapes.  Most of our work focuses on the effects of various land/water uses on watershed, wetland, riparian and riverine resources, and alternatives to enhance these same resources. Synopses of the types of projects we do follow.    

• Ecological Classifications:  These hierarchical classifications integrate climate, geology, geomorphology, hydrology and soils to identify successively more homogenous assemblages of habitats with distinctive form, function and ecological potential.    At finer scales, assemblages of homogenous habitats with distinctive potential are further stratified into states (i.e. condition classes), landforms  and vegetation types that denote existing condition.  Stream and riparian habitats are typically the focus of ecological classifications.  GIS is used to assemble and integrate map layers.  Ecological Classifications have been used to assess livestock impacts, to select control and treatment areas for Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDAs), to evaluate total maximum daily loads (TMDLs)  and water quality,  to evaluate and/or predict mining impacts, and to assess forestry practices and wildlife parameters.  Recent applications in Owens Valley serve as a baseline for monitoring effects of rewatering the Owens River.  These robust, high-resolution inventories have also been used to delineate jurisdictional wetlands, to predict future conditions for alternative management, and for hydrogeomorphic (HGM) assessments of past, present, and future conditions.  

• Mapping Applications:  Sherman Jensen, president of White Horse Associates, has developed a high level of skill through 25 years experience mapping various landscape components at various scales.  These mapping skills are an essential component of previously described ecological classifications and subsequently described wetland delineations.   A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a useful tool for generating pretty maps and for assembling spatial data.  It is also useful for integrating and examining relationships between different landscape components (e.g. climate, geology, hydrology, soil and vegetation).  GIS is at the heart of Ecological Classifications and a major component of most other studies.  We also provide GIS support to other consultants.  Our facilities include a robust suite of mapping and GIS tools.  Ted Dean has 18 years experience applying GIS to environmental research and surveys.  Mapping is also an important tool for hydrologic and ecological modeling and may serve as a template for functional landscape designs.   

• Wetland Delineations:    We have conducted many wetland delineations in accordance with 404 policy of the Clean Water Act implemented by the US Army Corps of Engineers.  Projects range from small local developments (< 5 acres) in northern Utah to very large planning areas (> 100,000 acres).  Sherman Jensen is certified by the US Army Corps of Engineers to conduct wetland delineations.  Previously described ecological classifications integrate soil, hydrologic, and vegetative parameters that define jurisdictional wetlands.  

• Riparian Studies:  White Horse Associates has been active in the study of riparian habitats since 1980.  Our early work focused on the relationships between vegetation, soil, and hydrologic variables.  Under the stewardship of Dr. W.S. Platts we helped develop methods for assessing the condition of riparian habitats.  When we tested these methods across a broad region, it became apparent that riparian resources had to be viewed in context with the climatic, geologic, and geomorphic parameters influencing the functional qualities and ecological potential.  Ecoregions, geologic districts, landtype associations, geomorphic classes, and valley-bottom types were used to identify stream/riparian resources with distinctive function and potential.  Subsequently, we developed the concept of "states" (i.e. condition classes) based primarily on stream channel morphology.  Changes in state were found to correspond with changes in the distribution of riparian vegetation types, fine-scale landtypes (e.g. floodplain, terrace, levee) and water regimes within a given setting.  Riparian studies served as the basis for the framework of ecological classifications.  We have completed many studies specific to riparian habitats in the western United States.     

• Hydrologic and Ecological Modeling:  Sometimes its not enough to know what you presently have, but instead what you might have -- hence hydrologic and ecological modeling.  We have applied various routines of HEC Model developed by the Army Corps to model stream hydrology, and consequent changes to riparian, fishery and wildlife habitats.  Ecological classifications typically serve as the basis for hydrologic and ecological modeling.

• Restoration and Landscape Design:  Extensive mapping, characterization and modeling have served as templates for restoration and landscape design.  We design landscapes that work.

• Expert Testimony:  Sherman Jensen has served as expert witness in several high-profile environmental litigation cases.  He provided expert testimony in the fields of physical ecology, soils, classification, and riverine/riparian habitats for three Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDAs) in the Northwest United States.  He also provided expert testimony concerning livestock impacts to stream and riparian habitats in southeastern Utah and provided council with respect to defendants in Mono Lake Committee et al. versus Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. 

• Vegetation and Rare Plant Inventories:  In addition to mapping and assessments of vegetation previously discussed, we provide expert services in the description and characterization of vegetation communities.  Frank Smith (Botanist) has 25 years field experience characterizing floristic communities and conducting rare plant surveys. In the course of these studies Frank has discovered several new plant species.

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