Water resources is of vital importance to the western USA, and continues to grow in importance worldwide. Catalyst has worked locally to globally in this market space.  We provide expert CEQA/NEPA services to the City of Los Angeles as they implement their visionary enhanced watershed management plan, and to help achieve the bold goal of recycling 100% of their wastewater by 2035.

We have worked for numerous California water agencies and districts as they balance the need for the resource against the requirements of the state, region, and other biological resource agencies. We have led environmental reviews of some of the major water resource issues facing California, including work on the Klamath River mitigating the effects of dams on salmon stocks and Native American cultural practices, and the host of issues surrounding water rights and water quality concerns in the Sacramento Delta.

We have addressed water treatment to beneficially reuse brackish water in California, the USA, Australia, Ecuador, and Colombia.  

Catalyst’s geologists and engineers conduct geomorphological and fluvial analyses including annual monitoring to evaluate potential changes in the river systems related to land use. This work has included hydroelectric and other dams across the mountains of California in the jurisdiction of the USFS, NPS, and BLM as well as local agencies.  We have analyzed environmental effects of dam safety retrofits, development and implementation of sediment management plans, and long term monitoring and restoration of aquatic habitat affected by natural (fire, landslide) and human-induced causes.

We prepare stormwater sampling programs in compliance with complex Industrial NPDES permits and conduct stormwater sampling, analysis and reporting. We work with our clients to identify solutions to discharge of known contaminants through best Management Practices. Our team also develops and implements large scale groundwater monitoring programs. We provide permitting and compliance solutions to our clients with regard to water resources including development of permit packages for 404 permits, 401 Water Quality certifications, Waste Discharge Reports and Streambed Alteration Agreements, coordination with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, assistance with project design to minimize impacts, and potential design mitigation projects, as needed.