We assist clients with water resources analyses as a part of planning and permitting. Many of these analyses involve permits for new water supply developments or permit renewal for existing water facilities. ERO also provides water resource analyses as a component of environmental impact statements and threatened and endangered species evaluations.

ERO assists clients with obtaining, quantifying, permitting, and protecting water supplies. We also evaluate water supply needs for healthy aquatic habitat, riparian areas, and wetlands. In addition, ERO conducts investigations to determine potential water quality and quantity impacts from residential, agricultural, recreational, commercial, and industrial developments.

ERO’s expertise in the technical, legal, and economic aspects of water rights based on federal and state law enable us to assist clients with negotiating and litigating water rights issues throughout the western United States. In addition to overall management of adjudication efforts, we evaluate water rights including historical use, consumptive use, transfers, and market value. We provide technical support and expert witness testimony for litigation or negotiation of water resource issues.

ERO provides surface and ground water quality investigations, including data collection and analysis, research, and modeling. We analyze water quality effects to and develop water quality mitigation for water-dependent ecosystems. ERO evaluates the water quality impacts on streams and lakes from roads, mines and other developments, and assist our clients with NPDES/CDPS permitting for treated water, construction dewatering, and stormwater discharge permitting. We prepare and review plans for stormwater management, erosion control, drainage, and water quality monitoring, and provide Best Management Practice recommendations to clients. ERO also evaluates and remediates impacts on ground water from leaking underground storage tanks, spills, and improper waste disposal practices.

ERO’s modeling capabilities include digital and analytical ground water flow, capture zone, contaminant transport, and surface water quality modeling. Our hydrologists use models to assist clients with:

• Expediting closure of contaminated sites
• Designing ground water remediation and control systems
• Estimating the time to clean up contaminated sites
• Determining the impact of surface water diversions and dams on downstream flow volumes and water quality
• Estimating the impact of ground water pumping on nearby wells and streams
• Estimating the impact on surface and ground water from proposed commercial, industrial, and mining facilities

ERO provides technical support and expert witness testimony for litigation or negotiation of water resource issues. Carefully documented studies of hydrology, water quality, water rights, or environmental impacts are an important foundation for resolution of water disputes in courts, administrative proceedings, or through alternative processes.

Geothermal resources in the western United States represent a viable energy source for various types of direct use heating and recreational purposes. ERO has been involved in resource characterization and testing, resource development, and water rights for geothermal projects.