RECON Spring 2026 News and Updates

Spring 2026 News and Updates

Spring is one of RECON’s busiest and most exciting seasons, with teams across disciplines supporting projects throughout southern California and beyond. From environmental planning and permitting to biological surveys and habitat restoration, our team is helping clients move important projects forward.

This season has also brought opportunities to share our expertise through community partnerships, industry conferences, and hands-on education programs that support the next generation of environmental professionals.

Project Spotlights

RECON is proud to support the City of San Diego Public Utilities Department with biological surveys and on-site monitoring for infrastructure maintenance projects. Most recently, our team completed a nesting bird survey at Miramar Dam ahead of a vegetation management project. The project utilized targeted goat grazing, a sustainable approach that helps maintain critical infrastructure while minimizing ecological disturbance.

We are also continuing restoration work with the City of San Diego Stormwater Department in Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, where our team has helped restore riparian habitat through invasive species removal, native planting, and ongoing nesting bird and raptor surveys to protect sensitive wildlife during breeding season.

RECON completed the Primrose Removal Project at Kumeyaay Lake in Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) in San Diego, restoring open water and improving habitat conditions. Floating primrose-willow, an invasive aquatic plant that formed dense mats across the lake, was removed through targeted treatment and manual biomass removal methods. Conducted in partnership with the MTRP Foundation and the City of San Diego, the project also included training for City staff to support long-term monitoring and maintenance. The project is now in its maintenance phase.

Happy Retirement, Loretta Gross

For 48 remarkable years, Loretta Gross has been an integral part of RECON’s success, growing alongside the company and helping shape the high standards, strong support systems, and collaborative culture that define RECON today.

She began her career in 1978 as a Production Specialist, quickly earning a reputation for her exceptional attention to detail and commitment to quality in RECON’s environmental documents.

From 1982 to 2003, Loretta served as Support Supervisor, leading production teams and helping modernize RECON’s systems as technology evolved. Since 2003, as a Principal of Support Services, she has overseen the Production team, IT systems and infrastructure, office technology, and employee training programs—playing a critical role in supporting the company’s daily operations and long-term growth.

Throughout her career, Loretta has been a trusted leader, problem solver, mentor, and steady presence whose contributions have left a lasting impact on RECON and the many colleagues fortunate enough to work with her. We thank her for her extraordinary service and wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement.

Conference Highlights

From April 23 through 26, RECON sponsored and attended the 2026 Association of Environmental Professionals State Conference.

During these four days of networking, learning, and sharing best practices, RECON’s staff represented our wide range of environmental services through exhibitor hall participation and expert-led panel discussions.

Shanti Santulli, Regulatory Director, kicked things off with an informative peek behind the aquatic resources curtain as a moderator of the “Dreading Water in Southern California: Aquatic Resource Permitting Best Practices” panel. She reviewed aquatic resources permitting best practices and regulatory updates through a presentation and panel discussions alongside Eric Becker, Senior Water Resource Control Engineer, and Alan Monji, Environmental Scientist, from the Regional Water Quality Control Board, and Jenn Turner, Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor, from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This standing-room-only presentation was well received by the audience for its valuable insights and for providing accessibility to sought-after specialists.

Biology Director Cailin Lyons along with Wendy Loeffler, Biology Program Manager, and Makela Mangrich, Senior Biologist, joined forces with BKF Engineers for the “Emerging Endangered Species in SoCal: Project Approaches & Best Practices – A Consulting Biologist’s Perspective” panel.

These biological resources experts provided practical solutions for addressing emerging candidate species for listing at the state and federal level during the CEQA review process. The panel included a robust roundtable discussion that highlighted best practices such as potential measures for avoidance, minimization, and mitigation and permitting strategy in consideration of project timing.

Lori Spar, CEQA Director, led a panel of various environmental planning professionals through a discussion of career pathways. Joining Lori were Jennifer Kazmer, County of San Diego Chief of Long Range Planning; Leah Boyer, Associate Project Manager; Stephanie Smith, Grid Legal Partner, Land Use and Real Estate Attorney; and Chelsea Polevy, Associate Biologist. The panel focused on discovering CEQA career paths. Each panelist described their personal journeys from student to professional, provided real-world advice, and answered questions from the audience of students and early professionals.

RECON sponsored the 2026 California Society for Ecological Restoration Conference in Fortuna from May 18 to 20. This year’s theme, “Adaptive by Nature: Restoring in an Era of Uncertainty,” featured engaging panels and presentations focused on ecological restoration, resilience, and innovative environmental solutions.

Community Outreach

The MTRP Foundation’s Eco Ambassadors program provides an opportunity for teens to explore potential careers in fields related to nature and conservation while enjoying the outdoors. On March 8, Meagan Olson, Restoration Director, along with RECON team members, spoke to students about environmental consulting and habitat restoration featuring project examples from southern California. The day included a hike around Kumeyaay Lake to learn about the Primrose Removal Project and an interactive scavenger hunt along the trails.

On May 21, RECON hosted our annual San Diego Association of Governments Bike Anywhere Day pit stop in front of our Centerside Mission Valley office. This annual event helps connect local cyclists and promote the many benefits of active transportation. We encouraged staff to give their cars the day off and commute by bike while supporting a healthier, more sustainable community.

Welcome to the Team!

We are excited to announce that RECON has gained several new team members:

Steven Gaughran, Production Specialist
Christina Hernandez, Assistant Biologist
David Slayton, Production Specialist
Anna Touchstone, Senior Regulatory Specialist
Jackie Schneider, Proposal Coordinator