Principal, Senior Environmental Planner

“First stillness, then right action.” - Lao Tzu

Desirée Douglass

Desiree Douglass is a senior environmental planner with over 14 years experience in land-use and environmental planning, permitting, documentation, wetland determinations and mitigation design, and code compliance. Along with her technical expertise, Ms. Douglass specializes in collaborative design and problem-solving to design, permit, and fund projects.

"Desiree has proven not only to be a great resource for technical environmental information, but a master at crisis management. On more than one occasion Desiree has had to address unanticipated land use issues on very short notice. She has also proven to be a master at coordinating governmental entities to assure that land use issues are addressed promptly and with certainty." - Assistant State Attorney General, WSDOT

Prior to founding Douglass Consulting, Ms. Douglass served as a senior project manager with David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA), a national engineering firm and as a senior biologist for the National Park Service. As a senior environmental planner, Ms. Douglass coordinates environmental staff and subcontractors to complete projects throughout the northwest. She provides expertise for environmental analysis and conducts field investigations; prepares environmental documents and permit applications; and facilitates federal, state, and local agency permitting for projects. She has completed significant parks and recreation, residential, commercial, transportation, utility, and telecommunication projects. Other key projects include wetland inventories for the US National Park Service, watershed studies for the US Army Corps of Engineers, and documentation for the Washington State Attorney General. Ms. Douglass has worked with companies to implement Quality Assurance Programs and Minority Business Programs.

Professional Affiliations

• Board of Directors Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
• American Planning Association
• American Water Resources Association
• Association of Environmental Planners
• Society of Wetland Scientists

Education and Professional Training

• B.A. Environmental Studies, 1992, Western Washington University.
• Wetland Delineation Training, WDOE.
• Small Business Education and Advocacy, USACE.
• Wetland Function Assessment Seminar, WDOE.
• Wetlands & Urbanization Seminar, King County.
• Wetland Restoration Seminar, SWS and SER.
• Section 404 Nationwide Permit Training, USACE.
• National Environmental Policy Act Workshop, APA.
• Beyond Watershed Planning, AWRA.
• Shoreline Master Program Updates, WDOE.
• Low-Impact Development Conference, City of Bellingham.

Project Examples

• Scriber Lake Park Master Plan, City of Lynnwood, Washington. Served as agency liaison and environmental coordinator for new park master plan.
• Portage Creek Wildlife Area Permitting, Snohomish County, Washington. Served as permit coordinator for new access road, parking, and bridge replacement project.
• Juanita Beach Park Master Plan, City of Juanita, Washington. Serving as agency liaison and environmental coordinator for new park master plan.
• Northwest Indian College Environmental Assessment, Lummi Reservation. Environmental project manager and author of Environmental Assessment for new four-year university on Lummi Reservation.
• Skagit County Comprehensive Plan Update – Natural Resource Lands Element – Serving as project manager for the Natural Resource Lands Element of the Comprehensive Plan Update. Coordinated public outreach for NRL Element Update.
• Orcutt Area Specific Plan, San Luis Obispo, California. Project manager and senior planner author of the Specific Plan (Master Plan) for the last large annexation area (230 acres) in San Luis Obispo, California. Plan included 100 acres of parks and open space and integrated single-family and multi-family neighborhoods.