The long-term approach that Northern California Resource Center (NCRC) encourages for restoration takes patience and preparation. A sound restoration project relies heavily on a professionally performed bio-assessment that acts as the foundation of the project. A bio-assessment allows the project to include benchmarks and incremental achievements that can be charted, assessed and evaluated. Some improvements surprise in their ability to recover and a base line assessment allows for the experts to reevaluate and, if necessary, adjust the course of the project as it evolves.

NCRC's areas of assessment services include hydrology, forestry, botany, cultural resources, fisheries, point and non-point sediment source inventory and analysis. The U.S Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish & Game and the U.S Wildlife Service have utilized NCRC’s assessments.