SWCA Environmental Consultants

#Engineering careers at SWCA blend field observation with technical expertise to create ecological uplift. Follow along to see how Matt Daniels, senior engineering director and river restoration practitioner, applies decades of experience, mentors future engineers, and approaches every project with a thoughtful, holistic perspective. https://lnkd.in/gAdgd9UF

Today’s the day! As #DataCenters expand, balancing performance, compliance, and community impact is more critical than ever. Join our webinar at 11am MT to see how early integration of volumetric water balancing and air quality assessments can streamline design, reduce costly redesigns, and support resilient, long-term operations. Real-world case studies and evolving regulatory insights will show you how smart resource planning today sets your projects up for success tomorrow. 👉 Register at the Zoom link here!

Thrilled to share that the UN Environment Programme's Global Environment Outlook-7 (GEO-7) officially launched today! I’m proud to have served as a Coordinating Lead Author for the Freshwater chapter of this flagship assessment. GEO-7 delivers a powerful message: investing in planetary health is not only an environmental imperative, but also an opportunity to improve the lives of people. From a freshwater perspective, the findings are both urgent and hopeful. Freshwater systems are among the most degraded on the planet, affected by pollution, overuse, land degradation, and climate-driven extreme events. But freshwater is also one of the clearest areas where coordinated action can deliver rapid, measurable gains for healthier ecosystems and resilient communities. Having worked on four GEO cycles, I’ve had the opportunity to watch the assessment evolve over two decades. I remain a strong believer in the core mandate: to keep the state of the global environment under review, empowering leaders with clear, authoritative evidence to inform policy decisions. As global challenges grow more urgent and complex, that role is more important than ever. It has been a privilege to work alongside a remarkable global team, and I’m grateful for the support of SWCA Environmental Consultants in making my participation possible. This experience reaffirms why I enjoy working at the nexus of science and policy. I am deeply hopeful that GEO-7 will inform the kind of integrated, system-level changes we so urgently need. If you’re interested in exploring GEO-7, including the freshwater chapter, you checkout this short video: https://lnkd.in/detJDJca Full report located here: https://lnkd.in/d4YRsXSZ Edgar E. Gutiérrez-Espeleta, Tamiru Abiye, Shaneel Chandra, PhD, FHEA, Lindsay Beevers, Yolanda López-Maldonado, Maryam Eqan, Slobodan Gnjato, Diego Martino, Paul Lucas, Stephan Harrison, Hilary Allison FICFor, Melchior Z. Elsler, Kilian Christ, PhD, Gail Taylor, Bruno Turnheim, Henri Rueff, Nicholas King, Professor Catalina Turcu, Patrick Schröder, Adele Roccato, yunting duan, Ignacio Sánchez, David Broadstock, Jeff Seadon, Vassilis Daioglou, Tarik Alkharusi #GEO7 #UNEP #Freshwater #SciencePolicy #PlanetaryHealth #WaterResources #UNEA7

When disaster strikes—oil spills, chemical releases, or wildfires—our team is on the front lines, collecting time-sensitive environmental data critical for understanding impacts to natural resources. Our multidisciplinary experts provide strategic and technical support for all phases of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (#NRDA) process beginning with emergency response, during injury quantification and restoration scaling, and through cooperative resolution via restoration, cash settlement, or litigation. SWCA utilizes defensible scientific approaches coupled with decades of applied experience to help our clients reach favorable NRDA outcomes. https://lnkd.in/gS-guSAp

What if a flood retention pond could do more than manage stormwater—what if it could reshape how a community interacts with its landscape? In Doña Ana, New Mexico, a routine mitigation effort evolved into a 14-acre space that pairs peak-flow management with habitat restoration, outdoor learning areas, and a preserved segment of the El Camino Real. SWCA supported the RTCA Program and local partners by facilitating the Flood Team, translating complex flood modeling and design concepts into accessible visuals, and providing ecological recommendations that strengthened both resilience and function. Want to see how technical planning and community engagement came together to redefine this site? Explore the story of El Parque Alegre de Doña Ana.

Analyzing #soil structure, composition, and moisture gives us the insights needed to guide erosion control, vegetation management planning, and ecosystem restoration. Each dataset helps translate complex landscape conditions into practical strategies for maintaining soil stability and resilience, guiding habitat restoration and land management. By understanding the ground beneath our feet, we can make smarter, science-driven decisions that protect and restore natural systems while enabling projects that benefit people today. #WorldSoilDay

Beavers are #ecosystem engineers, shaping waterways, creating wetlands, and influencing the structure and function of #river systems. In river restoration, we often mimic their impact using beaver dam analogs (BDAs)—human-constructed structures that slow water, encourage sediment deposition, and reconnect floodplains. BDAs can improve stream complexity, increase groundwater recharge, and create critical habitat for fish, amphibians, and other wildlife. By strategically placing these structures, restoration projects harness natural processes to stabilize channels and restore ecological function. #WorldWildlifeConservationDay

As we wrap up another meaningful year, we’re feeling especially grateful for the resilience, strength, and flexibility of our colleagues, clients, and communities. Our team continues to deliver results, spark new opportunities for growth, and collaborate in creative, impactful ways that move projects forward.   To our clients and our team, thank you for your continued support and partnership this year. From all of us at SWCA, we wish you a joyful holiday season filled with peace and possibility in the new year.

For more than a decade, a #OneSWCA team out of our Pittsburgh office has supported a major pipeline project across multiple Ohio counties, navigating a complex environmental landscape. From mapping over 300 wetlands to surveying threatened species like the eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, eastern prairie fringed orchid, and mussels, we provided full-spectrum environmental services—from permitting and pre-construction planning to construction oversight. By balancing regulatory requirements, agency coordination, and landowner concerns, we delivered a project that protects sensitive habitats while keeping critical infrastructure moving forward. Learn more about this project and explore other projects in our portfolio.