Amber Navarrette
Estate & Wildland Ecological Strategist
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Complex properties
WUI fire reality
Living water + land
Wind-aware design

Strategic ecological stewardshipfor estates and wildland properties.

Engaged for properties of scale and consequence—where canopy, terrain, water, wind, and fire behavior must operate as a disciplined, unified system.

Request Consideration Explore service tiers
Limited monthly appointments
To keep quality high, I cap strategy audits at 5 per month.
What your audit delivers
A premium, decision-ready report you can hand to your crews and advisors.
Canopy systems priorities
Structural balance, wind-load reduction targets, and phased canopy guidance.
WUI risk notes
Fuel patterns, ladder-fuel pathways, and defensible space priorities by zone.
Land + water integration
Drainage behavior, slope stress points, and erosion-sensitive zones.
Scope language + sequencing
Clear scopes for contractors and a timeline that protects your landscape character.
Services

Investment Levels

Private engagements for complex estates and acreage properties. Most begin with a Strategy Audit and progress into phased oversight or long-term stewardship.

Tier I — Estate
Estate Systems Design
  • Comprehensive estate-wide outdoor master planning
  • Canopy systems strategy for mature and legacy landscapes
  • Risk prioritization (wind-load, structural balance, consequence mapping)
  • Root-zone, soil ecology, and long-term vitality strategy
  • Drainage, slope behavior, and hydrological intelligence
  • Bespoke koi ponds and refined ornamental aquatic environments
  • Integrated water feature placement aligned with wind, light, architecture, and circulation
  • Unified design language across hardscape, planting, canopy, and living systems
  • Phased implementation roadmap for generational stewardship
Tier II — WUI
Wildland Interface Strategy
  • WUI fuel assessment and ladder-fuel reduction plan
  • Access and egress considerations for emergency response
  • Defensible space priorities aligned to site conditions
  • Erosion and watershed sensitivity notes
  • Contractor scope writing + oversight checkpoints
Tier III — Hybrid
Stewardship Framework (3–5 Year)
  • Estate refinement + fire reality integrated into one system
  • Stand structure strategy: spacing, canopy lift, density targets
  • Phased scheduling to protect landscape character
  • Annual review cadence and adaptive management
  • Priority list for safety, aesthetics, and long-term resilience

*Implementation is performed by appropriately licensed trade professionals and/or qualified crews.

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Process

Clarity first. Then execution.

A precise framework that eliminates uncertainty, prevents scope drift, and protects long-term resilience.

Site Intake
We start with your goals, risk concerns, and how the property is used—then collect existing plans, photos, and known constraints.
Field Walk + Mapping
On-site evaluation of canopy structure, terrain, wind exposure, drainage behavior, access routes, and WUI fuel patterns.
Strategy Report
You receive a clear, premium report: priorities, scope language, phased sequencing, and an oversight-ready roadmap.
Implementation Oversight
Optional coordination with licensed trade professionals and forestry crews—quality checks, scope alignment, and risk control.
Typical timeline
Strategy audits are scheduled monthly in limited slots.
After the field walk, most reports are compiled with a clear priority ladder and implementation-ready scopes.
Deliverable format
Premium PDF report + scope checklist.
Designed to be forwarded to your team: concise priorities, site notes, and phased sequencing.
Oversight options
Retainers available for complex phases.
Ideal when you need consistent decision-making across crews, seasons, or sensitive site constraints.
About

Where estate refinement meets wildland ecology

I advise estate owners on risk, permanence, and land intelligence—protecting mature canopy character, view corridors, hydrology, and generational resilience.

Core focus areas
Strategy, scoping, and oversight for properties with complexity.
Risk-first prioritization
Targets, failure consequences, and the difference between cosmetic and structural work.
Wind + microclimate
Exposure mapping, sheltered courtyards, and airflow-aware plant placement.
Water behavior
Drainage pathways, hillside pressures, and erosion-sensitive zones.
WUI planning
Fuel patterns, ladder fuels, and defensible space priorities aligned to site realities.
Notes on titles & scope
Clear, compliant language—so your plan stands up to scrutiny.

I operate as an ecological strategist—creating a framework and scopes that can be implemented by appropriately licensed trade professionals and/or qualified crews.

If your project requires specialized sign-off (engineering, surveying, or forestry plan requirements), I can coordinate with the appropriate credentialed partners.

In parallel with her advisory practice, Amber Navarrette founded Setare Inc., a California forestry firm entrusted with government fuels reduction and wildland mitigation contracts statewide.

Serving California — Bay Area, Sierra Foothills, Santa Barbara / Montecito estates and WUI properties
Living Water

Ecologically Integrated Aquascapes & Water Storage

Water can be both functional infrastructure and ecological beauty. Integrated systems can provide habitat, resilience, and emergency reserves while elevating the landscape.

Habitat water systems
Living water designed for health, clarity, and ecological function.
Natural filtration, oxygenation, circulation strategy, and plant communities—built to stay stable without heavy chemical dependence.
Estate water reserves
Discreet storage for irrigation resilience and emergency readiness.
Concealed cisterns, integrated reservoirs, and hillside tanks—planned for drought cycles, operational continuity, and WUI realities.
Hydrological design
Water behavior mapped across slope, canopy, and circulation.
Placement coordinated with wind corridors, shade patterns, and drainage pathways—so water assets enhance the whole property system.
Ecological aquascapes
Water features designed as living ecosystems rather than decorative basins.

Aquascapes can function as micro‑ecosystems that support plant communities, beneficial microbes, and wildlife while creating a calming focal point for the estate.

Designs may include koi habitats, natural filtration wetlands, submerged oxygenating plants, and circulation patterns that keep water healthy without heavy chemical management.

Placement is coordinated with wind corridors, shade patterns, and surrounding canopy so that the water system integrates naturally with the larger landscape.

Water storage strategy
Discreet reserves for irrigation resilience and emergency use.

For estates in drought‑sensitive or fire‑prone regions, water storage can become a strategic asset. Storage systems may include concealed cisterns, integrated pond reservoirs, or gravity‑fed hillside tanks.

These systems can support landscape irrigation, provide emergency water reserves for wildfire response, and stabilize ecological plantings during extended dry periods.

When designed correctly, storage infrastructure can remain visually quiet within the landscape while significantly increasing property resilience.

Optional water infrastructure integrations
Designed to remain visually quiet while strengthening estate resilience.
Available on request
Rain capture + storage
Roof capture pathways, first-flush considerations, and storage sizing aligned to landscape demand.
Greywater-ready landscapes
Planting and zoning concepts that can support permitted greywater strategies where applicable.
Fire-ready water access
Reserve placement, access considerations, and coordination with WUI needs and contractor planning.
Wildlife + habitat balance
Habitat value without inviting conflict—edges, circulation, and water quality management that respects the site.
FAQ

Common questions

Brief clarity for discerning property owners.

Do you do the physical tree work?
Strategy audits focus on assessment, scoping, and phased planning. Implementation is performed by licensed/qualified crews; oversight is available if you want continuity and quality control.
Can you help with defensible space and fuels planning?
Yes—especially for estates in the wildland–urban interface. The goal is a plan that reduces risk without stripping the property of character.
What do you need from me to start?
Address, basic goals, any site constraints, photos, and any existing plans. We’ll handle the rest during intake + the field walk.
Why do you limit audits to 5 per month?
Because quality requires focus. Complex properties need thoughtful deliverables—not rushed summaries.
Contact

Request Consideration

Share your property location and primary concern. Availability is limited and scheduled selectively. Engagements accepted on review.

Contact details
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Phone
530-559-8712
Best-fit projects
  • Mature canopy + structural risk concerns
  • Rural estates in WUI zones
  • Hillside drainage + erosion sensitivity
Inquiry form
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