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Service

Ecosystem Restoration

SWCA is a trusted restoration partner from design to completion and monitoring. Our technical experts provide tailored solutions to enhance ecosystem resilience through nature-based solutions in any geography.

Overview

SWCA has served as a valued environmental resources partner to private and public clients in a range of geographies for more than 40 years. Our dedicated ecological restoration and engineering teams design, permit, and build environmental restoration projects. We have the expertise and the relationships necessary to seamlessly guide clients’ projects from inception to completion. With a strong record of project delivery, our experts help our clients achieve project goals through Sound Science and Creative Solutions.

Ecosystems, with their intricate web of interactions, have the inherent ability to buffer against the shocks of a changing climate. They provide a natural solution for the protection of wildlife, and against flooding, coastal degradation, and other disasters. When aligned with climate adaptation policies, ecological restoration can enhance the natural resiliency of communities. Our experts provide support for federal, state, and local agencies, private companies, and non-profits in conceptualizing and completing resilience projects, including nature-based solutions, no matter the size.

6,100+

Restoration Projects

373

Employees with Restoration Experience

50

# of States Where SWCA has Performed Restoration Work

Our Approach

Sound Science and Creative Solutions for Ecosystem Restoration

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Funding

From a long history of partnering with organizations that have pursued or received grant funding, our team brings a unique understanding of the compliance challenges grantees face. SWCA guides grantees through the regulatory process, regardless of project type or organizational experience with federal funding and regulations.

Relevant Services:
Funding Source Identification
Grant Application Assistance
Grant Eligibility Assessment
Technical Project Support
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Planning

We help our clients understand the project site’s constraints and potential. This allows our clients to seize opportunities and avoid costly permitting or engineering problems while site planning. Decision analysis and workshop facilitation guide collaborative efforts for funding, planning, building, and operating complex projects across multiple jurisdictions.

Relevant Services:
Habitat Assessments
Watershed Planning
Flood Analysis
Post-Fire Restoration Planning
Wetland Delineations
Mitigation Bank Site Identification
Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments
Archaeological Assessments
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Permitting

SWCA has negotiated and obtained tens of thousands of environmental and cultural resources permits, approvals, and entitlements which help clients meet federal, state, and local regulations. By combining ecological and cultural expertise, our team provides time and expense efficiencies to keep projects moving, while reducing costs and maintaining compliance.

Relevant Services:
Compensatory Mitigation Plans and Designs
Ecological Restoration Permit Streamlining
Federal and State Permitting
NEPA Compliance
Resource Assessments and Agency Consultations
Statutory/Categorical Exemptions
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Design

Our engineers and designers plan a variety of restoration projects, including dam removal, floodplain restoration/reconnection, meadow restoration, channel design, daylighting, culverts, streambank stabilization, and bioengineering. Our team has developed a design process through decades of experience with fluvial geomorphic assessments and river restoration design projects.

Relevant Services:
Fluvial Geomorphic Assessments
Natural Channel Design (NCD)
Sediment Supply and Transport Modeling
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling
Fish Passage Design
River Migration Studies
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Construction

SWCA offers many services to support construction of our clients' restoration projects. Our experienced team can assist with all aspects of project management including site preparation, plant installation, construction oversight, and post construction monitoring and maintenance. Our team understands the complexity of construction projects, building every project to last.

Relevant Services:
Biological Monitoring
Construction Oversight
Environmental Inspections
Native Seeding
Sediment and Erosion Control Measures
Tree and Shrub Planting
Wetland Planting
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Maintenance

Our specialists work primarily in sensitive resource areas and have experience identifying native-desirable species and non-native-invasive species, while limiting disturbance of non-target species. We develop management plans to removes or control plants in upland, wetland, and aquatic sites. Plant management techniques include foliar low-pressure and cut-stump herbicide applications, stem injection, and biological controls.

Relevant Services:
Invasive Species and Biological Control
Herbicide Application
Permit Compliance
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Planning
Natural Area Stewardship
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Monitoring

Monitoring ecological restoration projects creates a record of natural systems’ development and guides adaptive management. Through monitoring techniques like field inspections, satellite imagery, and remote sensing, SWCA tracks changes in vegetation cover and species distribution. Monitoring ensures early detection of invasive species cover, sediment transport, species distribution, and other disturbances.

Relevant Services:
Remote Instream Monitoring
Surface and Groundwater Monitoring
Statistical Sampling Design
Vegetation Monitoring
Field Surveys

Coastal Restoration

Across the U.S., coastal wetlands are experiencing severe losses. Coastal wetlands include freshwater and saltwater wetlands that can spread for miles beyond the coast into inland areas. These wetlands are critical to the wellbeing of the environment and the people who live near them. Wetlands play a significant role in protecting upland areas from flooding, filtering water before it reaches the ocean, providing habitats for threatened and endangered species, and preventing coastline erosion.

With rising sea levels, storms, and urban and rural development, maintaining and protecting our coastal wetlands is vital to maintaining the environment.

Relevant Services

  • Coastal and Marine Fisheries
  • Coastal Mitigation Banking
  • Dune Restoration
  • Endangered Species Habitat Surveys
  • NEPA Assessment for Project Implementation
  • Permittee Responsible Mitigation Planning
  • Presence/Absence Surveys
  • Sea Grass and Oyster Habitat Evaluation
  • Tidal Marsh Habitat Assessments

Habitat Planning

Habitat loss and fragmentation pose significant threats to biodiversity and ecosystem health. Effective habitat planning is essential to support species conservation and ecological connectivity. SWCA’s habitat planning services involve strategic assessment and design to create and maintain habitats that support diverse species and ecological functions. Our experts collaborate with stakeholders to develop comprehensive plans that address habitat needs, integrate scientific research, and incorporate community input. By fostering sustainable solutions, we ensure thriving ecosystems that contribute to the overall resilience of the environment.

Mitigation Services

Development and land-use changes can have adverse impacts on ecosystems, necessitating effective mitigation strategies to ensure environmental sustainability. SWCA’s mitigation services are designed to help clients achieve regulatory compliance while promoting ecological preservation. Our experts develop and implement mitigation plans that restore, enhance, and protect habitats, ensuring no net loss of biodiversity and ecosystem function. By balancing development needs with environmental stewardship, we foster long-term sustainability and resilience.

Nature-Based Solutions

As environmental challenges become increasingly complex, nature-based solutions offer innovative and effective approaches to sustainability. SWCA leverages the power of natural processes to address issues such as climate change, habitat degradation, and water management. Our team designs and implements strategies that integrate natural systems into both urban and rural landscapes, promoting biodiversity and enhancing ecosystem services. These solutions provide sustainable benefits to communities, offering cost-effective and resilient alternatives to traditional engineering approaches.

Resiliency Planning

Environmental changes and disturbances, such as climate change and natural disasters, require proactive resiliency planning to protect communities and ecosystems. SWCA’s resiliency planning services help assess vulnerabilities and develop strategies to enhance adaptive capacity and reduce risks. Our experts incorporate climate change projections and local knowledge to build resilient systems that can withstand future challenges. By promoting long-term sustainability, we ensure that both natural and human systems are prepared for evolving environmental conditions.

Restoration Engineering and Dam Removal

River systems and aquatic habitats face significant challenges from outdated infrastructure and altered hydrology. SWCA’s restoration engineering and dam removal services focus on reconnecting river systems and restoring natural water flow. Our multidisciplinary team designs and implements projects that improve water quality, enhance fish passage, and restore aquatic habitats. By removing disruptive infrastructure, we promote ecosystem recovery and resilience, benefiting both wildlife and communities.

Vegetation Management Planning

Vegetation dynamics play a crucial role in ecosystem health and resilience. SWCA provides comprehensive vegetation management planning to maintain and enhance plant communities across diverse landscapes. Our experts assess vegetation conditions and develop management strategies that promote ecological health, prevent invasive species, and support habitat restoration. By aligning management practices with ecological objectives, we ensure sustainable and resilient ecosystems that contribute to overall environmental wellbeing.

Meet the Experts

Impact In Action

  • SWCA's services include riparian restoration, wetlands, stream design, fire restoration, and more.

  • Restoring hydrology and fluvial processes across 300 acres in south San Diego County.

  • Long term monitoring will help provide valuable insight for large-scale river restoration.

  • Deep in the woods of South Carolina, native vegetation and aquatic wildlife begin to flourish.

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Association Involvement

Ecological Restoration Business Association (ERBA)

Society for Ecological Restoration (SER)

Society of Wetland Scientists

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