Report form
The form I use
My fillable habitat assessment form, organized to every item USFWS requires. Built by Travel Twist Biologist LLC.
Habitat Assessment
A boots-on-the-ground look at your property, professional ArcGIS maps, and a complete report submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for you.
$135 per hourWritten estimate before any workSite visit, ArcGIS maps, USFWS submission$395 desktop review credited
Permitted wildlife biologist · Central Texas
- USFWS golden-cheeked warbler recovery permit (ESPER32178096-0)
- ArcGIS map deliverables for large infrastructure and energy projects
- Nine years at a national environmental consulting firm
What USFWS requires
When a property with potential warbler habitat isn’t surveyed, USFWS asks for a habitat assessment that includes:
- A map showing the property within the county
- A dated aerial photo with the property boundary
- Detailed descriptions of the habitat and vegetation on site
- The factors and methods used to decide a survey wasn’t needed
- An explanation of why a survey wasn’t performed
- An explanation of why the site isn’t suitable habitat, if that’s the finding
Why this takes real work
A habitat assessment has to hold up to agency review. That means time on your land, careful measurements, professional mapping, and a written record that explains every conclusion.
USFWS doesn’t sign off on habitat assessments, so the quality of the report is your protection.
Exactly what you get
Every habitat assessment includes all of this.
- Boots-on-the-ground site visit
- I walk the property myself. I map vegetation units, measure mature Ashe juniper (height and trunk diameter), estimate canopy cover and height, and take GPS-located photo points.
- Professional ArcGIS maps
- Made in ArcGIS Pro: a county location map, a dated aerial image with your property boundary, and a habitat map of each vegetation unit.
- GIS data in the USFWS format
- A shapefile (or spreadsheet) with the five fields USFWS requires, ready to submit.
- Complete habitat assessment report
- Every item USFWS requires: habitat descriptions, the methods used, the habitat criteria, and a clear determination with the reasons.
- Submission to USFWS
- I submit the assessment to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Austin office and track the 10-business-day response window for you.
- Follow-up and next steps
- If USFWS responds with concerns, I let you know right away and explain your options, including whether a spring survey makes sense.
Timing
- Can be done most of the year, unlike spring-only surveys
You also get
- PDF report and maps for your records, builder, or lender
- GIS files for your engineer or surveyor
- A call to walk you through the results
Texas servicesIs your property in golden-cheeked warbler country?Preview the county guideClose the preview
Texas services
Is your property in golden-cheeked warbler country?
Habitat assessments and protocol surveys are for Texas properties. Pick your county to see its warbler planning programs, maps, and contacts.
Open the county guideHow your quote is built
I bill $135 per hour for the actual time your assessment takes, including drive time and site access. Before any work begins, you get a written estimate based on these typical hours.
| Task | What it covers | Typical hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling and site access | Coordinating access, gates, and landowner contacts | 0.5–1 |
| Drive time | Round trip from Austin (Travis County) | Actual time |
| Field time | Walking the property, measurements, and GPS photo points | 1–2, plus about 1 hour per 12–20 acres Quoted (over 100 acres) |
| ArcGIS mapping and data | Location, aerial, and habitat maps, plus the USFWS shapefile | 2–3 |
| Report writing | Habitat descriptions, criteria review, and determination | 3–5 |
| USFWS submission and follow-up | Submission and tracking the 10-business-day window | 0.5–1 |
| Mileage | From Austin, wherever I happen to be working | IRS standard rate |
| Lodging and meals | Only for properties more than 50 miles from Austin that need multi-day work | Federal (GSA) per diem |
| Desktop review credit | Your $395 desktop review, if you started there | −$395 |
Example estimate
A 40-acre property, 40 miles from Austin:
- About 11–17 hours, or $1,455–2,310
- Plus mileage for about 80 miles round trip
- Less $395 if you started with a desktop review
No surprises
- Your written estimate lists the expected hours and a maximum.
- I won’t go over that maximum without your approval first.
- You’re billed for actual hours, so if it takes less time, you pay less.
Weather and access policy
- Rain, storms, and unsafe conditions can make fieldwork impossible or unreliable. I check the forecast before leaving and reschedule at no charge if the weather won’t cooperate.
- If I’ve already driven out and can’t work because of sudden weather, a locked gate, or access that wasn’t arranged, that trip’s drive time and mileage are billed.
- Rescheduling by you before I leave for the site is free.
How it works
From quote to submitted report.
1
Quote
Send your property boundary. I review it and send a written quote with every cost listed.
2
Site visit
I walk the property, measure the habitat, and document it with GPS photo points.
3
Report and submission
You get the report and ArcGIS maps, and I submit them to USFWS and track the response.
See the work
Common questions
Do I need a habitat assessment or a survey?
Start with a free call or the $395 desktop review. If your property has potential warbler habitat and you’re not doing a spring survey, a habitat assessment documents the site for USFWS.
Does USFWS approve my habitat assessment?
No. USFWS doesn’t issue approval for habitat assessments. They aim to respond within 10 business days if they disagree, and no response doesn’t mean agreement. A thorough, well-documented report is your best protection.
Why do you bill hourly instead of a flat fee?
Every property is different. A small, easy-to-reach site shouldn’t pay the same as a large, rugged one. Hourly billing with a written estimate and a maximum means you only pay for the work your property actually needs.
What happens if it rains?
I check the forecast before leaving and reschedule for free if the weather won’t allow reliable fieldwork. If sudden weather or an access problem stops the work after I’ve driven out, that trip’s drive time and mileage are billed.
Why does travel affect the price?
Getting to your property takes time and fuel, and distant or large sites can take more than one day. Travel is always calculated from Austin (Travis County), so your quote is the same no matter where I’m working that week. Properties within 50 miles of Austin are day trips with no lodging. For properties farther out, multi-day work includes lodging and meals at federal per diem rates, listed separately in your quote. I list it separately so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.
What if my property does have warbler habitat?
You’ll get clear options. That may be a spring presence/absence survey (March 15 to June 1) or planning your work around the habitat.
Get a clear quote.
Book a free 15-minute call, or send your property details for a written quote.