In September 2026, substantial changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) took effect, raising concerns about delisting endangered species and the impact on habitat conservation. While federal agencies like the Department of Interior (DOI) welcome the change, state agencies in California and other states continue their commitment to conservation efforts. Notably, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) has made significant progress on the 30×30 Initiative, which aims to conserve 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030. Hear from a representative from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for insights and strategies for local leaders who are committed to habitat conservation while navigating complex state and federal policies.
October 15
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Hosted by: California Department of Water Resources (DWR)
Resources
Meet the Speakers
Shelly Amrhein
Habitat Conservation Planning Section Manager
California Department of Water Resources
Laith Bander
Environmental Compliance Manager
Dudek
Shelly Amrhein
I have over twenty years of experience in the field of environmental policy analysis and planning. My background in this field varies from CEQA and NEPA analysis and training to arboriculture work and biological resource assessment. I have worked as a staff scientist, a mitigation program manager, and an environmental program manager; and, my experience is in both the public and private sectors. Some of my strongest skills are interagency coordination and communication with groups of differing (and sometimes opposing) interests. I have managed projects, coordinating special interests ranging from those of environmental NGOs to building industry groups, and from local planners to state and federal regulatory agencies. I pride myself on my adaptability, which has enabled me to navigate the complex world of environmental policy and regulatory programs. Although my educational background is in the field of biology, I have become versed in a variety of other areas including historical resources, and air quality issues. My adaptability and enthusiasm for learning have enabled me to become proficient in CEQA and NEPA policy, and also understand federal grant management, regulatory permitting issues, and contract management.
Laith Bander
Laith Bander is an environmental compliance manager with Dudek, specializing in environmental planning and permitting, land management, and environmental compliance throughout California. Laith specializes in providing oversight and solutions for all phases of natural resource management and infrastructure projects, including preparation of environmental and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents and discretionary resource agency permits. He has a proven track record of interfacing with project engineers early in the design process to identify design changes or develop creative and legally defensible mitigation measures to reduce project environmental impacts to less-than-significant levels and streamline the permitting process. Laith specializes in the planning, implementation, and management of environmental compliance for large-scale civil and utility-scale construction projects, including railroad construction, electrical transmission lines, and flood control facilities.
