Services Offered

Stream Design and Restoration

    Confluence is at the forefront of a growing movement across the country to restore streams and rivers to a state of health and biological integrity. Our channel designs balance habitat with stability and aesthetics to produce streams that look and function as though they were created by nature.

   Confluence’s stream restoration projects are highly successful because we approach stream restoration challenges from a watershed perspective. This ensures that our designs are compatible with large-scale watershed and ecosystem processes.

	Our stream channel design services are used in many applications, including:
	Fish habitat restoration
	Endangered species     protection
	Highway construction
	Utility crossings
	Sediment control
	Golf course construction
	Flood control
	Recreation

Bioengineering and Bank Stabilization

   Confluence specializes in the application of bioengineering methods to stabilize eroding stream banks and hill slopes. These methods rely on the use of live plants and other natural materials to create stable soils.

   Because plants continually grow and adapt to changing conditions, bioengineering can provide a more enduring solution to erosion problems compared to traditional riprap, gabions, or retaining walls.

   As an added benefit, bioengineered slopes are aesthetically pleasing and provide excellent habitat for fish and wildlife.

   Confluence has pioneered a variety of bioengineering methods for stream banks that have produced excellent results. These designs have been successfully tested under conditions of extreme flooding and continue to provide cost-effective erosion control and slope stabilization.

Ponds, Lakes, and Wetlands

   A pond, lake, or wetland can add value to a property by creating recreational opportunities and providing an aesthetic visual amenity. But building these water features takes more than just digging a hole and filling it with water.

   At Confluence, we design aquatic systems that are as productive and biologically diverse as they are pleasing to the eye. Our designs provide habitat that supports an abundance of fish and wildlife while blending naturally into the surrounding landscape. Confluence’s expertise ranges from designing small ponds for fishing and swimming to constructing large lakes and wetlands that support trophy fisheries and healthy waterfowl populations.

   Confluence offers habitat restoration to create productive, blue-ribbon fisheries. Prior to beginning design work, we assess the health of the entire stream to determine what factors are limiting the system. We then customize our designs to address limiting factors such as spawning, adult habitat, or food production.

Photo courtesy David Thompson

   Focusing on the stream processes that create and maintain habitat in natural, pristine streams, we build pools, riffles, and runs rather than installing artificial structures that require maintenance. This results in fishable, self-maintaining diverse habitat that supports all life stages of fish and aquatic insects. By restoring the health of the entire system, we ensure that resilient populations are established for the long term.

Permit Acquisition       Navigating through complicated environmental regulations can be a challenge on any project. Confluence can help by providing complete permit acquisition services for federal, state, and local permits. We are very familiar with government requirements and take responsibility for obtaining permits for most of the team projects in which we participate. Confluence can bring this experience to bear on your project, offering streamlined permitting services that meet budget goals and time constraints.

Construction Management

      Confluence’s project managers are experts in the specialized construction methods needed in aquatic environments. We can save time and money on projects by implementing alternative construction methods and recommending design changes that meet project goals.

   Confluence oversees 90% of the projects that we design, so our managers understand the capabilities and limitations of heavy equipment for maximum production and efficiency. In addition, our construction staff is able to make design adjustments in the field to accommodate changing site conditions and keep the project moving forward. Using Confluence’s construction management services will help get the job done as designed, under budget, and on schedule.

Water Quality Biomonitoring

      Biomonitoring refers to the study of living organisms to determine the health of a biological system. Most often, biomonitoring is used to evaluate water quality. Aquatic organisms provide an excellent indicator of the cumulative effects of water quality and ecosystem health that can not be obtained by traditional water chemistry sampling.

   Confluence provides biomonitoring services for streams and rivers based on samples from populations of fish, macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects), and periphyton (algae). By studying more than one type of organism (e.g. insects and periphyton), we can develop multiple lines of evidence for health and biological integrity of a system. Our team of experts provides the following services:

Water chemistry sampling Fish population surveys Riparian vegetation assessments Macroinvertebrate sampling and analysis Channel stability assessments Hydrology studies Habitat inventories Non-point source modeling TMDL Assessment and Development

Watershed Planning and Management

      With increasing demands on the earth's water resources, protecting our clean water is more important than ever. Confluence offers comprehensive services to address watershed planning and management needs. Our services are used by government agencies, cities and municipalities, watershed advisory groups, landowners, Native American tribes, mining and timber companies, and other industries. Confluence's experts can help:

conduct watershed assessments identify factors contributing to water quality problems establish quantifiable goals to improve water quality develop cost-effective best management practices assist with grant writing provide public outreach and education

All contents are copyright © 2000 by Confluence Consulting, Inc., and may not be reproduced in any manner without express written permission from CCI.  All rights reserved.