We understand the complexities of environmental permitting and restoration, and we build those requirements into the design from the start, so you can move forward without delays or surprises.

We manage every stage of the process from initial planning through post-construction monitoring. Whether you need design implementation, procurement support, construction oversight, or long-term monitoring, we act as your strategic partner, keeping your project on track, on budget, and aligned with your goals.

Our multidisciplinary approach focuses on practical, durable solutions tailored to the unique needs of each site. By streamlining restoration efforts with an eye toward regulatory approval and long-term success, we help you achieve lasting results for the environment—and for your bottom line.

Restoration and Protection Design Services Include:

• Geomorphology/Geomorphic Assessment
• Streambed Simulation Design
• Floodplain/Side Channel Connectivity
• Bioengineering/Bank Stabilization
• Roughened Channel
• Conceptual and Final Restoration Designs
• Stakeholder Outreach and Collaboration
• Private Land Partnering
• Regulatory Consultation
• Construction Oversight and Monitoring

Over the past decade, we’ve led 17 dam-decommissioning programs—including six under FERC jurisdiction—spanning 35 structures. Our record features six full removals, 16 feasibility studies, 11 engineering designs, and construction support on four projects, plus more than 30 dam removals across nine U.S. states and one Canadian province for private owners, utilities, NGOs, and public agencies.

You get a single, coordinated team that blends civil, geotechnical, and structural engineering with nationally recognized expertise in fish migration, aquatic habitat, and fluvial geomorphology, backed by permitting pros who navigate NEPA, FERC, and state approvals while keeping stakeholders on board. The result: cost-sensitive, ecologically sound designs that clear regulatory hurdles the first time, so you can retire outdated dams or restore fish passage quickly, safely, and with measurable benefits for your organization and the river you steward.

Click here to see the Lombard Dam Removal Project Time Lapse Video.

Dam Decommissioning and Removal Services Include:

• Feasibility Studies including Alternative Analyses
• Aquatic Fisheries and Environmental Resource Studies
• Species Protection and Mitigation
• Dam Decommissioning and Stream Stabilization Design
• Permitting
• FERC Decommissioning Plan Development
• Construction Engineering Support
• Pre/Post Removal Monitoring

We help hydropower licensees and other land and water managers turn regulatory requirements into opportunities to enhance public access and outdoor experiences. Our team works closely with clients to assess recreational use, evaluate existing facilities, and design safe, accessible, cost-effective amenities supporting compliance and community enjoyment.

With deep knowledge of FERC licensing, recreation planning, and permitting, we streamline the development of outdoor recreation facilities—delivering designs that meet agency requirements, reduce long-term maintenance burdens, and create lasting value for users and owners alike. Whether upgrading existing infrastructure or building something new, we help you get it done right, efficiently, and with purpose.

Recreation Facilities Design Services Include:

• Safety
• American Disabilities Act-Compliant
• Usability Inspections
• Community Outreach
• FERC-compliant Signage & Educational Kiosks
• LEED-certified Design
• Erosion & Sedimentation Control Plans
• Post-Construction Stormwater Design
• Environmental Review & Permitting

We design bridges and culverts that do more than meet hydraulic standards—they protect communities from flooding, support aquatic ecosystems, and stand the test of time. Our hydraulic engineers apply decades of experience using Federal Highway and State DOT standards to create designs that manage flood risk, reduce erosion and scour, and allow for the natural movement of fish and other aquatic species. We blend advanced modeling technologies—including 1D and 2D simulations—with deep expertise in fish passage and stream restoration to deliver structures that work with the river, not against it.

From flood prediction to habitat enhancement, our interdisciplinary team brings precision, innovation, and environmental awareness to every project. We collaborate with leading researchers and stay ahead of industry advancements to ensure our clients benefit from the most practical solutions. Whether designing new infrastructure or upgrading existing assets, we help you meet regulatory requirements, improve ecological connectivity, and minimize long-term maintenance, so you can build with confidence and purpose.

Bridge and Culvert Hydraulic Design Services Include:

• Hydraulic Design
• Flood Risk Analysis
• Stream Restoration
• Habitat Improvement
• Scour Analysis and Countermeasures
• Bank and Channel Stabilization
• FEMA Regulatory Permitting
• Professional Course Instruction

Since 1992, our team has delivered hydrologic and fluvial geomorphologic analyses that inform reliable, forward-thinking solutions for flood management, dam operations, habitat restoration, and infrastructure design. We use advanced modeling tools—including custom-built software and commercial platforms—to analyze everything from rainfall runoff and snowmelt to flow duration, groundwater-stream interactions, and floodplain inundation. Our GIS-based catchment assessments and flow routing analyses give clients a clear, science-backed understanding of water behavior, helping reduce risk, support compliance, and guide sound decision-making.

What sets us apart is our focus on ecology and restoration. We’ve developed hydrologic models that directly tie operational decisions to fish mortality and passage, such as a predictive tool we built for Portland General Electric to model flow changes across a three-dam system. Our engineers and internationally recognized sediment transport experts bring decades of experience in stream restoration and natural channel design, specializing in high-energy rivers and sediment-imbalanced systems. Whether restoring habitat, optimizing dam operations, or designing for resilience, our integrated approach ensures your project is grounded in science and built for long-term success.

Hydrology and Fluvial Geomorphology Services Include:

• Reach Scale Assessments
• Channel Type Classifications
• Channel Unit Mapping
• Analyses of Channel Form & Hydraulic Geometry
• Streambank & Slope Stability
• Sediment Transport Engineering
• Sedimentation Studies
• Streambed Stability & Scour Assessment
• Riverbed Sediment Composition & Transport Data Collection
• Channel Migration Studies
• Large Woody Debris Surveys & Characterization

As water resource challenges grow more complex, regulators and communities are shifting toward collaborative, watershed-based planning. We help clients stay ahead of that shift by providing integrated planning, engineering, and environmental services that address immediate concerns and long-term sustainability. We guide you through a strategic, science-based process that prioritizes your goals while meeting broader watershed needs.

From focused assessments to full-scale basin-wide evaluations, our team develops practical solutions that balance flood control, water supply, water quality, habitat protection, recreation, and energy generation. We work with public agencies, utilities, and conservation groups to develop technically sound, environmentally responsible plans, built to gain stakeholder support—so you can move forward with confidence, clarity, and measurable impact.

Watershed Planning Services Include:

• Land & Water Resource Management Plans
• Shoreline Management Plans
• Recreation Studies
• Resource Valuation
• Riparian Buffer Management
• GIS Development & Analysis
• Habitat & River Restoration Planning
• Hydraulic Modeling of Riverine
• Estuarine & Lake Systems
• Wetland Delineation Assessment & Mitigation Plans
• Water Quality & Watershed Assessments
• Storm Water Management Planning
• Sediment & Erosion Control Study Plans
• Consensus Building & Facilitation

As ecosystems face mounting pressure from urbanization and climate change, municipalities increasingly turn to sustainable stormwater strategies to restore balance. We help clients design and implement Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) that manages runoff at its source—capturing, infiltrating, and reusing water through natural processes like vegetative uptake and evapotranspiration. These solutions reduce the need for costly end-of-pipe treatment systems, offering smarter, more resilient alternatives that align with local stormwater management plans.

Our approach is rooted in enhancing watershed health while delivering real-world value. By integrating innovative GSI techniques into your infrastructure, we help you reduce flooding, improve water quality, and increase community resilience while supporting economic development and environmental stewardship. Whether you’re retrofitting existing systems or developing a new stormwater strategy, we bring the expertise to make your plan sustainable, scalable, and prosperous.

Green Stormwater Design Services Include:

• Hydrologic & Hydraulic Analysis
• Conceptual & Final Design
• Construction Monitoring & Inspection
• Environmental Permitting
• Public Outreach

Whether drafting expert reports or delivering confident in-court testimony, Kleinschmidt translates intricate science into language decision-makers understand—giving your case the clarity and credibility it needs to succeed.

Our hydrologists, hydraulic engineers, fish biologists, ecologists, statisticians, and GIS specialists work as one to untangle technical issues at the heart of water-rights adjudications, habitat-impact assessments, FERC licensing actions, State Water Control Board hearings, natural-resource damage assessments, fish-passage disputes, ESA-listed species protection, and land-use challenges.

Clients turn to us because we transform data into clear, defensible arguments that resonate with judges, juries, and regulatory boards. From the Upper Klamath Basin in Oregon to the Snake, Salmon, Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, and Palouse River basins in Idaho, the Rio Chama in New Mexico, and Nookachamps Creek in Washington, we have supported the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Tribal Nations in precedent-setting proceedings.

Expert Witness and Litigation Support Services Include:

• Water Rights Adjudications
• Habitat Impact Assessments
• FERC Actions
• State Water Control Board Hearings
• Natural Resources Damage Assessments
• Fish Passage
• ESA Listed Species
• Land Use Hearings