Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there are many different types of grants available at the local, state, and federal level to fund a portion or all of the cost to implement a stream restoration project. River Mechanics works with project owners to identify grant funding opportunities, prepare applications, administer the funds, and implement the work.
We do not do the physical construction work. Our focus is on engineering, design, permitting, and other required tasks to ensure the project is ready for construction. We work with project owners to identify experienced and qualified contractors to build the project and manage the construction process.
We get this question a lot, and the answer is – it depends. Check out our recent Note from the Field here that discusses all things permitting for ecosystem restoration projects.
No, we are not the same! But we like the guys at Stream Mechanics and appreciate their contributions to the industry and their work with the Stream Quantification Tool (SQT).
The bad news first: You will likely need a floodplain development permit through the local community (city, town, or county) and it can be a lot of effort. The good news is we do this all the time and we have you covered on obtaining floodplain development permits. We have provided more detailed information on this process in a Note from the Field here.
Design-build (DB) is a project delivery method that emphasizes collaboration and flexibility by bringing the designer (engineer) and the builder (environmental contractor) together under one contract from the very beginning.
For ecosystem restoration and water resources engineering projects, a “progressive” design-build approach is typically used. Unlike traditional methods where a price is locked in before the design is fully understood, progressive design-build allows the project to "progress" through stages. This is particularly effective for complex environmental work like stream restoration, where the onsite conditions, constraints, and permitting requirements are often unpredictable.
We always prefer working with a design-build team when it is appropriate and will detail the benefits of design-build contracts for ecosystem restoration projects in an upcoming Note from the Field.
Pierre Julien described 'River Mechanics' as the scientific study of how flowing water and moving sediment interact with respect to climate, geology, watershed hydrology, and channel hydraulics. This interaction is what ultimately shapes stream and river channels, bankmorphology, floodplains, valleys, and entire landscapes. We named the firm after this discipline to emphasize that our approach and engineering practice are driven by the physical laws of nature and analytical studies.
The name is also a tribute to the foundational experiences of our founder and president, Jonathan Page (JP). While at NC State, JP took a transformative course taught by Dr. Celso Castro-Bolinaga titled River Mechanics and Sediment Transport (learn more about Celso’s work here). This class was pivotal in shaping Jonathan’s approach to:
- Incorporating complex sediment transport into real-world design
- Utilizing advanced 2-D hydraulic modeling for deeper analysis and risk management
- Moving beyond "static" designs to create dynamic, resilient ecosystems
Beyond the science and the history, we simply believe it is a great business name.
We are licensed to provide professional engineering and design services in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Our planting season in the Southeast U.S. typically runs from December 15 - March 15, to align with plant dormancy and maximize survivability of the plantings.