Dennis Palafox
Biological Services Manager
Dennis is an accomplished environmental and regulatory professional with 40+ years of experience conducting and managing complex biological resource projects for state agencies and consulting firms. He has proven expertise in project management, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement, delivering projects on time and within budget while protecting natural resources and supporting critical infrastructure. He currently serves as ERG’s Biological Services Manager and as a Senior Biologist. ERG’s Program Manager for the TxDOT Biological Services Contract for projects including mussel surveys, imperiled plant and animal surveys, habitat assessments, Migratory Bird Treaty Act surveys, and Endangered Species Act Biological Assessments, Biological Evaluations, and Conference Opinions. He is responsible for maintaining project costs/schedules, managing project personnel and subcontracts, overseeing field work, performing QA/QC of reports and other deliverables, identifying project-related liability risks, and working with TxDOT staff to identify, address, and correct project issues.
Professional Highlights
Since August of 2023 I have served as the ERG Program Manager for the Texas Department of Transportation Biological Services contract managing 26 projects involving habitat assessments, presence/absence surveys, and Endangered Species Act consultations involving a variety of species.
I have 15 years of experience as a supervisor of the Information and Records program at the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Spills and Kills program.
I served as a Regulatory Case Manager at LCRA, where I developed work package schedules and project plans for the public involvement and regulatory approval phases of the Certificate of Convenience and Necessity process. In this role, I coordinated a multidisciplinary team, managed public involvement activities, and supported legal preparations by providing expert testimony at administrative hearings.
I have extensive experience working as a consultant and with state agencies, conducting impact assessments on a wide range of species across Texas and other states for diverse projects. I have assisted agencies and private companies in meeting state and federal regulatory requirements, balancing client objectives with environmental protection to ensure compliance and sustainability.
ERG Ethos
I strive to collaborate closely with colleagues to deliver exceptional results that not only fulfill client needs but inspire trust and lasting partnerships.
Off-the-Clock Pursuits
I am a devoted stepfather to three adults and proud “Papa” to five “grandchildren”.
I’m an avid birdwatcher. I have served on the Board of the Travis Audubon Society (TAS) and chaired the Field Trip Committee where I lead field trips. I have birded in Europe, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean.
I volunteer for Christmas Bird Counts for the National Audubon Society, Breeding Bird Surveys for the U.S. Geological Survey, and Golden-cheeked Warbler Surveys for the City of Austin.
I’m an avid walker and hiker and have walked the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage in Spain.
I enjoy live music in Austin, The Live Music Capital of the World. You can frequently see me dancing two-step and swing at Austin music venues.
