Ecological Solutions for Rivers and Their Watersheds

Ecological Solutions for Rivers and Their Watersheds

We are a conservation minded engineering firm that specializes in Ecosystem Restoration and Water Resources Engineering.

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Our Work Makes a Difference

Across the Southeast, we've helped return degraded streams, floodplains, and wetlands to functional ecosystems with habitat for the species that depend on them, and lasting assets for the communities around them.

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Our Work Makes a Difference

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We're Ready to Leverage Our Experience and Expertise For You

From concept and permitting through construction and monitoring, we bring the technical depth to see your project all the way through.

Got a project to discuss?

We're Ready to Leverage Our Experience and Expertise For You

From concept and permitting through construction and monitoring, we bring the technical depth to see your project all the way through.

Got a project to discuss?

about us

Delivering Ecological Solutions Through Collaboration and Client-Oriented Service

River Mechanics is a purpose-built and client-focused engineering firm that supports the ecological restoration industry. We offer a comprehensive range of professional engineering and permitting services designed to address the needs of our clients, restore resilient ecosystems, and support local communities.

COMMITTED TO OUTCOMES

We measure success by what's left behind: functional streams with habitat for bugs, fish and amphibians; floodplains that spread out and attenuate high flows; and wetlands that come back to life. That's the standard we hold ourselves to on every project, and it's how we exceed our clients' expectations

BUILT TO LAST

Rivers are dynamic systems. Regulations change. We design with both in mind, anticipating technical and permitting challenges early so the solutions we deliver are efficient to build and durable in the field.

COLLABORATIVE BY NATURE

Successful projects are a team effort. We work closely with clients, stakeholders, and regulators from the start, so projects stay on schedule, resources go further, and everyone's goals get met.

Professional Engineering Services for the Ecological Restoration Industry

We work closely with a diverse group of clients and support them in their conservation, ecosystem restoration, and water quality objectives. Through our experience and collaborative approach, we help them develop concepts, work through regulatory hurdles, and successfully implement each project.

Mitigation Providers

Environmental Consultants

Civil Engineering and Landscape Design Firms

Local, State, and Federal Government

Mining and Energy Companies

Forestry and Timber Companies

Non-Profit Organizations and Land Conservancies

Private Landowners

STREAM AND RIVER MILES DESIGNED

720

ACRES OF FLOODPLAIN RESTORATION

AQUATIC SPECIES SUPPORTED

112

ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS DELIVERED

our services

Solving Ecological Challenges Through Resilient Engineering Solutions

River Mechanics offers uniquely specialized services that address complex water resources and ecological restoration challenges.

Ecosystem Restoration

As streams, rivers, floodplains, and wetlands degrade, they lose the habitat and natural processes that make them valuable. Drawing on ecology, hydrology, hydraulics, and geomorphology, we design restoration projects that bring those functions back and hold up over time.

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Water Resources Engineering

Understanding how water interacts with a Site is critical to making good design and implementation decions. Through flood studies and 2-D hydraulic modeling, we give clients a clear understanding of flood risk and hydraulics. We carry that analysis into design with stormwater control measures, culvert replacements to improve aquatic organism passage, and erosion control plans that protect people, property, and habitat downstream.

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Dam and Barrier Removal

Clean water starts upstream. We assess watersheds, collect and analyze data, and develop plans that reduce stormwater and pollution inputs at the source to protect the health of water resources downstream.

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Our Work

Water Quality Management

Sullivan Park

Water Resources Engineering

N. Fork Reservoir

Water Quality Management

Holley Branch

Ecosystem Restoration

Foster Creek

Water Resources Engineering

Cathey’s Creek

Smith Creek Mitigation Bank

Ecosystem Restoration

Water Resources Engineering

Mills River Park

Water Quality Management

Catawba River

Pleasant Grove Mitigation Bank

Ecosystem Restoration

Georgia

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testimonials

Client Testimonials

We work with River Mechanics regularly. They create a sense of security for us knowing that the design data is accurate and ready to be constructed. They are always responsive, punctual and willing to listen and work through whatever is needed to get the job done!

Brandon Spaugh

Chief Operating Officer

North State Environmental

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River Mechanics provides high quality and responsive engineering solutions for environmental restoration and mitigation projects. We highly recommend them. They value the relationship and the project outcome.

Joe Wright

Owner

Wright Contracting, LLC

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River Mechanics is a pleasure to work with. They are quick and competent. They provide clear expectations for us on our projects and take the time to thoroughly evaluate projects and opportunities. Most importantly, their design work is second to none.

Ross Nelson

SC District Manager

Westervelt Ecological Services

When WLS contracts with River Mechanics, we know that they will deliver a stellar product and need very little oversight. We are excited to continue exploring new opportunities with River Mechanics well into the future.

Matt Butler, PMP

Senior Project Manager

Water & Land Solutions

Their knowledge and depth of expertise of hydraulics and river systems allows them to be creative in their solutions to maximize the project benefits. They have been very responsive to our unique needs and helped us deliver on very time constrained projects.

Matt Campbell, PE, PhD

President

Natrx, Inc.

We have been able to take on projects where a PE was required by partnering with River Mechanics. They fill a niche that is otherwise underserved in the stormwater and water quality space. We strongly recommend River Mechanics!

Tom Pullaro

VP of Sales

Dragonfly Pond Works

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Their understanding of mitigation banking instrument requirements is an asset that goes beyond design and helps get mitigation projects approved.

Tory Grayson, PWS

Partner

The Confluence Partners

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case studies and articles

Research

We apply the latest science and technology to our engineering design and production processes.

Featured

Check Research

Long-term Channel Geometry Adjustments for Reference Streams in the North Carolina Piedmont

Page, J. L., Doll, B. A., Kurki-Fox, J. J., Donatich, S., & Jernigan, C. (2024)

Donatich, S., Doll, B., Page, J.L., & Nelson, N. (2020)

Can the Stream Quantification Tool (SQT) Protocol Predict the Biotic Condition of Streams in the Southeast Piedmont (USA)?

Doll, B. A., Kurki-Fox, J. J., Page, J. L., Nelson, N. G., & Johnson, J. P. (2020)

Flood Flow Frequency Analysis to Estimate Potential Floodplain Nitrogen Treatment during Overbank Flow Events in Urban Stream Restoration Projects

Koryto, K. M., Hunt, W. F., & Page, J. L. (2017).

Hydrologic and water quality performance of regenerative stormwater conveyance installed to stabilize an eroded outfall