Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

May 22, 2019

Kleinschmidt Associates enters strategic alliance with The Conservation Fund

Courtesy / Kleinschmidt Associates Kleinschmidt Associates, an engineering, regulatory and environmental consulting firm based in Pittsfield, has entered into a strategic alliance with the Conservation Fund, which has worked in all 50 states to protect more than 8 million acres of land since 1985. The image above shows a habitat restoration project undertaken by Kleinschmidt, which is based in Pittsfield.
By James McCarthy

Kleinschmidt Associates, an engineering, regulatory and environmental consulting firm based in Pittsfield, has entered into a strategic alliance with the Conservation Fund, which has worked in all 50 states to protect more than 8 million acres of land since 1985.

The two organizations said in a news release the strategic alliance outlines an understanding between the two organizations to collaborate on wetland and stream mitigation and endangered species conservation projects.

The strategic alliance outlines an understanding between the two organizations to collaborate on wetland and stream mitigation and endangered species conservation projects.

Here in Maine, Kleinschmidt played a key role in the 16-year Penobscot River Restoration Project, which culminated in June 2016 with the opening of a natural fish bypass at the Howland Dam that is 1,050 feet long and approximately 200 feet wide. The $4.8 million natural fish bypass adjacent to the decommissioned Howland Dam was designed to mimic a natural river channel. At the time it was described by a federal official as “the largest and most complex natural fish bypass in the United States” — one that provides passage to upriver spawning grounds for 11 sea-run fish species, including the endangered wild Atlantic salmon.

Photo / J. Royte, TNC Lighthawk
The $4.8 million Howland Natural Fish Bypass, shown at the left of the decommissioned Howland Dam near the juncture of the Piscataquis and Penobscot rivers, provides upriver passage for 11 sea-run fish species, including the endangered Atlantic salmon.

"Kleinschmidt Associates has a long history of designing and implementing energy and water resource projects that strive to protect and enhance natural resources," said Scott Ault, chief technical and operations officer with Kleinschmidt. "From designing effective fish passage at hydroelectric facilities to developing wetland mitigation plans for large-scale linear projects, our goal is to develop mitigation approaches that function long into the future and offset all potential impacts to natural resources. In that regard, we were naturally drawn to working with The Conservation Fund and this strategic alliance is a mechanism to formalize our relationship."

Roberta Zwier, director of mitigation solutions at the Arlington, Va.-based Conservation Fund, said the environmental nonprofit is looking forward to collaborating with Kleinschmidt “to create meaningful and lasting land, water and wildlife solutions to meet the often-complex mitigation needs of energy and infrastructure projects.”

"Our expertise in land conservation and Kleinschmidt's expertise in habitat restoration projects, particularly wetland and stream restoration, creates opportunities to increase the conservation benefit of our projects and expand the suite of services we can offer to our respective clients and partners,” Zwier said.

Here in Maine, The Conservation Fund has helped protect the nearly 27,000-acre Pleasant River Headwaters Forest near Moosehead Lake, which is one of the last remaining large, unprotected forest blocks in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness. It purchased the forestland in Piscataquis County through its Working Forest Fund for $18.5 million from Conservation Resources LLC. 

According to The Conservation Fund’s website, under its temporary ownership, it will sustainably manage the property, giving the Appalachian Mountain Club time to raise the remaining $10 million needed to bring the working forestland into permanent ownership and protection, and an additional $5 million for stewardship of the land.

Sign up for Enews

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF