Ecological Services
Walsh's ecological experience ranges from conducting Threatened and Endangered Species surveys for single species to large scale multi-faceted restoration and habitat management projects. We address impacts with a balanced approach dependent on strong science and careful understanding of the ecology. Our team of ecologists, biologists, landscape architects, and engineers seek to understand and measure impacts, reduce and mitigate ecological damage, and develop cost-effective alternatives which protect wildlife, habitat, and open space.
We provide:
- Preliminary Site Assessments for Property Transactions
- Habitat Identification and Jurisdictional Boundary Delineation
- Regulatory and Permit Assistance
- Landscape and Ecological Master Planning and Design
- Habitat Restoration and Mitigation
- Stream Restoration
- Wildland Fire Management
- Grant Funding Assistance
Our team has performed ecological assessment and restoration services for hundreds of projects throughout the U.S. We have provided these services to private landowners, local and county governments, state and federal agencies, land developers, realtors, recreation and resort developers, the mining and oil industries and to other consulting, architecture, engineering, and planning firms.
ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECTS
Edwards Eagle River Restoration Project. Walsh is providing assessment and construction design services to the Eagle River Watershed Council for the Edwards Eagle River Restoration. With the primary goal of improving habitat and function in this reach and its floodplain, Walsh successfully integrated surface water quality, sediment control, stream health and function, aquatic, riparian and wildlife habitat, land use management, education, and recreation in to the design. Walsh assisted in obtaining a $1.39M grant from the Natural Resource Damages Fund to support funding the $4.3M project.
Jackson Creek Restoration at Home Place Ranch, Monument, CO. Walsh is finalizing design of a 1-mile restoration of Jackson Creek. As part of historic ranching activities, a portion of the creek was relocated underground. The Walsh design restores the surface drainage and creates a meandering, naturally functioning channel. The project also mitigates for impacts to Preble’s meadow jumping mouse and wetland habitats.
River Point at Sheridan Site Remediation and River Enhancements. Walsh provided design for stabilization of the Platte River and its confluence with Bear Creek associated with re-development of a brownfield site situated atop two historic landfills in Sheridan, CO. Walsh’s water quality swale design is considered “state-of-the-art” by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Water Quality Control Division.
McIntyre Gulch Enhancements. Walsh completed assessment, design, permitting, and construction drawing preparation for enhancement of the McIntyre Gulch stream corridor in Lakewood, CO. Walsh also completed floodplain analyses for the City of Lakewood, for inclusion into Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain mapping.
Burlington Mine Site Remediation and Balarat Gulch Realignment, Jamestown, CO. An ecologically based approach was used to improve water quality in receiving streams, limit the potential for future subsidence, and reduce safety hazards at the Burlington Mine Site. A centerpiece of the project, a 500- foot reach of Balarat Gulch, was realigned to avoid sub-surface mine workings that were intercepting and contaminating its flows. An innovative channel design that imitated natural channel form and function, and created aquatic and riparian habitat was applied. This project won the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board Hard Rock Reclamation Award for 2005.