SWCA Environmental Consultants

From the western U.S. to Long Island, New York, wildfire planning is more important than ever. Our team is leading the development of the Southampton Pine Barrens Community Wildfire Protection Plan (#CWPP), a federally supported effort to help residents and emergency responders identify risk, reduce fuel, and improve community preparedness in the fire-prone pine barrens region. Starting this season, we’re developing mitigation recommendations and a draft plan for public feedback. SWCA's Project Manager, Arianna Porter, recently facilitated the first of three public informational meetings at the Flanders Community Center in Southampton, New York, engaging residents, fire departments, and emergency management officials on strategies ranging from home hardening to coordinated evacuation planning. The March 2025 Westhampton Pines Fire, which burned over 600 acres, underscored the importance of proactive wildfire planning and community coordination across the region. This CWPP will help these communities prepare for what could come next. Read more about the project in the East End Beacon at the link below. https://lnkd.in/gkpnDjYJ

#Mining permitting is complex, but the risks influencing project timelines, budgets, and investment confidence are often more recognizable and manageable than they appear. In our new white paper, De-Risking U.S. Mine Permitting for Investors, our experts outline practical approaches for identifying permitting risks earlier, improving project defensibility, and supporting more informed investment decisions throughout the project lifecycle. The paper details recurring pressure points that can influence permitting timelines and stakeholder confidence, along with strategies to help reduce uncertainty before issues become costly delays. From interpreting support signals to strengthening the administrative record and reducing late-stage rework, the paper explores how early planning, technical rigor, and thoughtful stakeholder engagement can support more predictable project delivery. Download the white paper here. https://lnkd.in/ghaf-hsH

Ten years ago, Marcus Gonçalves managed staff across five continents, licensing movies as inflight entertainment for international airline carriers. He was thriving, but searching for more. "I wanted to make more of a positive impact with my work," Marcus recalls. That clarity sent him back to his roots. Having studied freshwater ecology in Brazil, Marcus earned a Master's in Conservation and Restoration Sciences at UC Irvine in 2018 before joining our team in 2022, bringing a rare combination of ecological expertise and real-world business experience. Since being at SWCA, one particular moment stands out: the return of the endangered least Bell's vireo, a small grey songbird, to a #restored riparian #habitat along the Otay River. "A career-defining experience," he calls it. "One person alone does not achieve that. It takes a team. That's why I'm excited to see our Southern California team grow. Each new person's knowledge and creativity will magnify our achievements year after year." Today, he leads new business development across Southern California, manages high-profile #EcologicalRestoration projects, and continues to help grow our #SoCal restoration team. #StoriesofSWCA Explore how our Southern California team is restoring #ecosystems and learn more about Marcus: https://lnkd.in/gBeBPqsY

#Permitting and #policy decisions are increasingly central to how #mining projects are planned and advanced, shaping timelines, investor confidence, and how funding is secured over the life of a project. This week at the Current Trends in Mining Finance Conference in New York City, Dr. Andrew Harley, Mining Director, and Ross Pilotte, Policy Director, will participate in a panel on how mining companies can better connect permitting strategies with financing goals to support stronger project planning and investment outcomes.   Their panel will explore the evolving relationship between permitting, policy, and mining #finance, including what investors and funding partners are looking for as projects move through #development.   Andrew and Ross welcome the opportunity to connect at the conference and discuss how we can help bring clarity and confidence to complex development pathways.

Our #OneSWCA team is proud to sponsor and participate in the 2026 California Society for Ecological Restoration (SERCAL) Conference in Fortuna, where practitioners from across private industry, non-governmental organizations, agencies, academia, and Tribes gather to advance the science and practice of native ecosystem restoration. This year, Kayla Souza and Lauren Strong will contribute to the program with a presentation tracking how a restored South San Francisco Bay shoreline is responding to levee improvements, examining sediment dynamics, vegetation response, and shoreline stability to inform adaptive management and climate adaptation strategy. They will be joined at the conference by Jessica Hall, Lia Webb, Jessica Flester, and our West Region Technical Director, Lindsay Teunis, CERP, who serves as the current President of #SERCAL. Lindsay's leadership reflects a commitment to strengthening connections across the restoration community, diversifying the organization’s membership while supporting youth and early career engagement across the restoration industry, and building Tribal relationships to help integrate Native science and stewardship. If you will be at the conference next week, we welcome the opportunity to connect on #PublicPrivatePartnerships, #TidalRestoration, #CoastalResilience, #EnvironmentalMarkets, #WatershedScience, #30x30, #AdaptiveManagement and more!

How do development and conservation coexist? It can begin with the right team asking the right questions. On #EndangeredSpeciesDay, we reflect on the critical role science plays in protecting vulnerable species. Our #biologists, #ecologists, and environmental specialists work every day to identify, protect, and advocate for the species that share our landscapes, ensuring every project meets its responsibility to the natural world through field surveys, habitat assessments, and Endangered Species Act compliance. When sound science leads the way, development and conservation no longer have to be at odds. 📷 Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)

This April, our #SWCAGivesBack and Green Team representatives took Earth Month from coast to coast, with 39 offices across the country organizing 35 Earth Month events! From beach cleanups in Maine and Hawaii to river and stream restorations in Colorado, Wyoming, and Arizona, our employees rolled up their sleeves to protect and restore the natural spaces that matter most. In Chicago, staff volunteered with the GardenWorks Project, assembling raised garden beds and preparing plots for families facing food insecurity. In Flagstaff, our team brought our mission to life at the City's Earth Day Celebration, sharing how responsible energy development and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Whether planting trees in Las Vegas, removing invasive species along the Rio de Flag in Arizona, or exchanging plants in San Antonio, our people found meaningful ways to give back close to home. Thank you to every employee who contributed your time and care this past Earth Month. Your efforts strengthen the communities we live, work, and protect. #NeverSettle

The Duck River is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America. Winding 284 miles through Middle Tennessee, this remarkable #river is home to approximately 150 species of fish and 54 species of freshwater mussels, and serves as a drinking water source for more than 250,000 people. Recognized as a scenic treasure, economic engine, and irreplaceable natural resource, the Duck River is worth protecting for generations to come. To support long-term conservation, we're developing a Habitat Conservation Plan for the watershed. The plan is designed to minimize impacts to covered species, provide long-term regulatory certainty, and identify funding sources and implementation plans for conservation actions. But it’s not just about policy. Our experts are conducting extensive stakeholder engagement, bringing together state and federal agencies, nonprofits, conservation groups, utilities, and recreational river users to help ensure the plan reflects the priorities of those connected to this unique natural resource. Learn more about this project and many more in our portfolio.

Anna Tulley’s path to #archaeology began with a curiosity about how history, culture, and landscapes that hold stories. Today, as a Staff Archaeologist at SWCA, she helps identify and assess archaeological sites ahead of land development, supporting projects that comply with historic preservation laws while protecting cultural resources. In the field, Anna leads crews, documents sites, and contributes to projects that balance development with stewardship of the past. In the last three years, she has continued to grow as a field leader, supporting teams across a range of cultural resource investigations. As CEO Joseph Fluder III shared, “Anna has demonstrated exceptional professional growth, quickly emerging as a capable field leader who supervises crews and manages work in dynamic field settings.” An Illinois State University alum (’22) who studied #History and #Anthropology, Anna credits her time there with shaping the curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking she brings to her work every day. Read more about Anna in Illinois State University’s alumni spotlight. #StoriesOfSWCA

Recently, our #SWCAGivesBack teams showed some well-deserved love to our four-legged community members. In Tucson, employees and their dogs marched in the 5th Annual Pets of Pima Parade, raising funds for Pima Animal Care Center through donations and our matching grant. Those funds will support orphaned puppies and kittens, senior pets, and animals recovering from surgery. In Sheridan, our team organized a supply drive collecting items for the local Dog and Cat Shelter, from toys and blankets to everyday care essentials. And in Las Vegas, five employees spent the day supporting SARDUS (Service and Rescue Dogs of the United States), helping set up training trails across urban areas, wilderness paths, and the Las Vegas Strip for some very well-deserving dogs. We're proud to be an #OneSWCA team that shows up for all living things!