Stillwater Sciences

• Targeted and holistic: We integrate geomorphic and biological research to understand critical ecosystem processes at the watershed scale, from headwaters to estuaries.
• Science-based decisions: We emphasize rigorous, often peer-reviewed science so clients and stakeholders can rely on objective information rather than positions or interests.
• Climate-aware planning: We design solutions that account for current conditions and future climate change.

Our culture and values

• Collaborative and integrative: We bring together interdisciplinary teams and are willing to rethink "how things have always been done" to find practical, innovative solutions.
• Consensus building: We work closely with agencies, industry, and non-governmental organizations to build trust and agreement around science-based management actions.
• Employee-owned: As an employee-owned company, we promote a culture of initiative, trust, and respect, and aim to maintain a fair, flexible, and fun work environment for the long term.

Current key service areas include:

• Watershed assessment – Holistic, watershed-wide evaluations from headwaters to estuaries to set context and provide key insights for management decisions.
• Fish passage – Assessing and improving passage so native fish species can access suitable habitat, a critical step in restoring aquatic ecosystem function.
• River restoration – Prioritizing, planning, and designing channel and floodplain improvements, from adding wood and boulders to re-creating wetlands, with an emphasis on ecological function.
• Environmental compliance – Targeted, streamlined, and defensible impact assessments and mitigation measures for regulatory compliance.
• Hydroelectric project licensing – Support for FERC projects, including study plan development, relicensing, compliance monitoring, and related technical studies.
• Flood protection – Planning and designing levee improvements and maintenance to meet flood control mandates while incorporating thoughtful resource protection measures that can reduce mitigation needs.
• Urban streams – Evaluating, managing, and creating naturally functioning stream ecosystems within major urban centers along the West Coast.
• Dam removal – Evaluating potential dam removals, including effects on sediment transport, water quality, and fisheries, and developing appropriate modeling and mitigation strategies.

Emerging and future service offerings

The Stillwater Sciences website identifies additional service areas as "coming soon," including:

• Water quality management
• Biological monitoring
• Endangered species support
• Habitat conservation planning
• Landscape ecology

These indicate areas of growing capability and planned future offerings.

• Phone: (510) 848-8098
• Address: 2855 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 400, Berkeley, CA 94705

Morro Bay, CA

• Phone: (805) 570-7499
• Address: 1203 Main Street, Morro Bay, CA 93442

Portland, OR

• Phone: (503) 267-9006
• Address: 5200 S. Macadam Avenue, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97239

Arcata, CA

• Phone: (707) 822-9607
• Address: 850 G Street, Suite K, Arcata, CA 95521

Los Angeles, CA

• Phone: (213) 336-0001
• Address: 304 South Broadway, Suite 202, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Boulder, CO

• Phone: (720) 656-2330
• Address: 4770 Baseline Road, Suite 200, Boulder, CO 80303

Sacramento, CA

• Phone: (916) 964-9173
• Address: 622 20th Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95811

Ventura, CA

• Address: 996 S. Seaward Avenue, Suite 102, Ventura, CA 93001

Fort Collins, CO

• Phone: (970) 840-9297
• Address: 215 W. Oak Street, Suite 900, Fort Collins, CO 80521

General inquiries

For new project inquiries or general questions, visitors can use the contact form on the Stillwater Sciences website at: https://www.stillwatersci.com/contact/

• Providing independent perspectives on strategy, governance, and sustainable growth.
• Supporting Stillwater's transition and ongoing operation as an employee-owned company.
• Helping open growth opportunities through professional networks and industry knowledge.
• Guiding management of the ESOP as the company continues to mature.

As of the most recent update, the Board includes:

• Waite Dalrymple, PE – Co-founder and former CEO of Parametrix, Inc., with extensive experience leading employee-owned environmental and engineering firms.
• Sapna Khandwala – CEO of Stillwater Sciences, with a long tenure at the company spanning field work, marketing, business development, and operations.
• Norma Camacho – Former CEO of Valley Water (Santa Clara Valley Water District), bringing deep experience in water resource management and multi-benefit projects.
• Lisa Larrabee – Former CEO of Harris and Associates and former COO of Jones and Stokes, contributing decades of corporate governance and ESOP leadership experience.
• Kris Tjernell – Founder and principal of Cottonwood Strategies LLC and former senior official at the California Natural Resources Agency and Department of Water Resources, providing public-sector policy and funding insights.

• Decreasing our carbon footprint – Identifying ways to reduce environmental impacts in offices and field operations, including purchasing carbon credits to offset remaining emissions.
• Youth education – Collaborating with schools and educators to bring science into classrooms and summer learning programs.
• Supporting diversity and inclusion – Working toward a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse workforce and promoting diversity in local communities, with a focus on outreach to young scientists and engineers in underserved and/or minority communities.
• Community engagement – Participating in volunteer activities such as beach clean-ups, food banking, and community education to stay connected to local communities.
• Annual giving campaign – Donating 1% of company profits each year to local charities selected by staff in each office. To date, Stillwater has supported more than 130 organizations.

• Program launch – The fellowship program was launched in 2023 to formally bring distinguished scientists and engineers into Stillwater projects.
• Expertise – Fellows bring expertise in fields such as ecology, hydrology, geomorphology, engineering, and climate change.
• Role in projects – Fellows collaborate with Stillwater staff and clients on a range of efforts, including:
• Restoring salmon and other aquatic habitat in the Pacific Northwest
• Assessing the impacts of drought and wildfire in the western United States
• Contributing to applied research that informs restoration and management strategies
• Knowledge sharing – Fellows also contribute to publications, webinars, and workshops, and help inform Stillwater's strategic vision for the future.

The Stillwater Sciences website maintains up-to-date information on current fellows and their affiliations.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.