Wetlands are vital in supporting clean water, flood protection, and habitat health. However, navigating the regulations surrounding them can be complex.

That’s where we come in. Our scientists work closely with clients and regulators to avoid and minimize wetland impacts, helping you reduce costs, streamline permitting, and keep your project moving forward. When mitigation is required, we provide integrated design and monitoring services that meet regulatory standards while supporting ecological function.

Kleinschmidt’s Wetland and Habitat Investigations Include:

• Wetland Delineations & Mitigation
• Rare Plant & Vernal Pool Surveys
• Fish & Wildlife Habitat Surveys
• Environmental Permitting at Local State & Federal Levels
• Public Outreach
• Group Facilitation
• Public Scoping Meetings
• Proposal Development for Economic Development
• GIS Data Management & Mapping

When it comes to managing river flows, our experts lead the industry in applying the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) to deliver science-based, stakeholder-informed results.

We collaborate with interagency teams to define relevant flow-related issues, streamline the study scope, and develop robust hydraulic and habitat models. From site selection and data collection to model analysis and reporting, we handle the details—so you get defensible, actionable insights that meet regulatory and ecological goals.

Working hand-in-hand with project operators and stakeholders, we help identify flows that align with your project objectives. Our IFIM results are routinely integrated into FERC license applications and used as trusted tools for broader flow management decisions across river basins.

Kleinschmidt’s Stream Flow Regulation Studies Include:

• Instream Flow Analysis
• Evaluation Criteria Definition
• Survey & Hydraulic Data Gathering
• Hydraulic & Habitat Modeling
• Cost / Benefit Analysis
• Agency Negotiations
• Expert Testimony

We conduct studies and analyses to assess, mitigate, or enhance the impacts of projects on freshwater, estuarine, and marine fisheries. Whether you’re working with warmwater, coldwater, anadromous, catadromous, or endangered species, we deliver clear, science-based insights across riverine, lake, and tidal systems.

Our clients range from developers and agencies to tribal governments, NGOs, and private landowners. No matter the project, our scientists work as part of interdisciplinary teams—collaborating with engineers, regulatory specialists, and stakeholders to find practical, sustainable solutions to complex aquatic resource challenges.

Kleinschmidt’s Fisheries and Aquatic Organism Assessments Services Include:

• Fish Population Assessments
• Fisheries Baseline Studies
• Aquatic Habitat Assessments
• IFIM Studies
• Rare Threatened & Endangered Fish Species Assessments
• Endangered Species Act Consulting
• Entrainment & Impingement Studies
• Water Quality Assessments
• Biological Monitoring
• Fish Sorting & Sampling
• Radio Telemetry/Biotelemetry
• River or Reservoir Productivity
• Estuarine Studies
• Fish Salvage/Fish Rescue
• Statistical Study Design & Models
• Fish Barrier Evaluation
• Water Temperature

With over 30 years of experience navigating Sections 316(a) and (b) of the Clean Water Act, our team brings the technical depth and interdisciplinary insight needed to confidently move your project forward.

By integrating biology, engineering, socioeconomics, and regulatory strategy, we help you define key resource issues and project constraints—then identify practical, science-based options to mitigate environmental impacts. We always aim to develop solutions that satisfy regulatory requirements and project objectives. Whether leading studies or serving as trusted peer reviewers, we deliver clear, defensible results that support compliance, reduce risk, and help build consensus.

Kleinschmidt’s Steam Electric 316(a) and (b) Compliance Services Include:

• Impingement Studies
• Entrainment Studies
• Source Waterbody Sampling (ichthyoplankton)
• Thermal Plume Studies
• Best Available Technology Assessments
• Peer Reviews

Navigating regulatory requirements for rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) species doesn’t have to slow your project down. At Kleinschmidt, we help you confidently move forward, ensuring environmental compliance.

We conduct RTE species assessments for hydroelectric and other energy projects during relicensing, decommissioning, and ongoing operations. Our team has worked across a wide geographic range to assess impacts on wildlife, fish, and plants, delivering sound science and successful outcomes.

From analyzing the effects of water level fluctuations on birds, herptiles, mussels, fish, and plants to balancing habitat needs across multiple species, we tailor every study to meet project-specific requirements. For energy developers, we also design avian protection plans addressing risks related to construction and operations, such as tree clearing and raptor interaction with transmission infrastructure.

Kleinschmidt’s Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Assessments Services Include:

• ESA Section 7 Consultation Coordination
• Biological Assessment Preparation
• Development of RTE Study Plans
• Conduct RTE Studies
• RTE Species Identification
• Preparation of Environmental Assessment & Environmental Impact Statements
• Habitat Conservation Plans
• Effects of Hydroelectric Project Operations
• Resource Balancing Assessments
• Geographic Information Systems Mapping

Understanding how in-water construction or demolition affects sensitive aquatic species is critical, especially when endangered species like Shortnose and Atlantic Sturgeon are present.

Kleinschmidt provides acoustic and biological monitoring services grounded in science and tailored to the project. Our team has supported dozens of projects throughout the northeastern U.S., helping assess and mitigate potential impacts during in-water work.

By working closely with resource agencies and engaging early in the permitting process, we help define practical monitoring plans that meet regulatory expectations without adding unnecessary cost or complexity. Our approach includes evaluating the proposed activity, understanding site-specific ecological risks, and applying acoustic monitoring techniques appropriate to the project’s scale and sensitivity.

Kleinschmidt’s In-Water Acoustic and Biological Monitoring Services Include:

• In-water Construction Sound Monitoring
• Permitting
• Data Collection and Recording
• Biological Assessment and Monitoring
• Data Visualization and Reporting
• Protection Plans
• Fish Assemblage Assessment
• Aquatic Species Impact Assessment
• Rare Threatened & Endangered Species
• Agency Consultation
• Acoustic Modeling and Monitoring
• Fish Assessment Surveys

• Geographic Information Systems Mapping

Kleinschmidt has supported offshore wind development since 2010, helping clients navigate the complex regulatory landscape required to plan, permit, and construct projects on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Our experience includes supporting the University of Maine’s 1/8-scale floating wind demonstration project and preparing multiple submittals to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to assess Wind Energy Areas off several U.S. coasts. We currently serve as the third-party contractor for the Sunrise Wind Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). We work with BOEM as the lead federal agency while coordinating with the project developer, Sunrise Wind LLC (a joint venture of Ørsted and Eversource).

Our work includes helping clients understand regulatory requirements, conducting early site characterization surveys, and supporting other critical components of offshore wind infrastructure, such as port development and supply chain permitting.

We remain engaged in shaping the industry through active participation in organizations such as the Business Network for Offshore Wind (BNOW), American Clean Power (ACP), NAEP’s Offshore Wind Working Group, the Environmental Business Council of New England, and the Maine Offshore Wind Roadmap initiative.

Offshore Wind Services Include:

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Development of Construction and Operations Plans (COP)
• Wind Energy Area/Lease Area Assessment
• Federal and State Permitting