Fish & Aquatic Resources

Kleinschmidt has extensive experience assessing and mitigating diverse project impacts on freshwater fisheries resources. Our biological staff has exceptional expertise in the conduct of habitat-based analyses, such as assessments using the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) and Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP), as well as population-based approaches involving quantitative sampling and analysis of fish populations. Kleinschmidt has a national reputation for its expertise in conducting instream flow assessments that lead to acceptable balances between the needs of aquatic species and consumptive or instream uses. Kleinschmidt senior fisheries biologists serve as expert witnesses and published and presented studies concerned with instream habitat use and hydrologic analysis.

Kleinschmidt’s team of fisheries biologists, hydrologists, and water resource engineers is especially well qualified for undertaking project work related to the enhancement of aquatic habitats and the resolution of fisheries-related issues. Kleinschmidt has worked with owners and resource agencies to assess opportunities for improving fisheries habitats in both riverine and lacustrine environments through the placement of instream structures and bank stabilization. Our staff is experienced in developing plans for mitigating the effects of pond level fluctuations at storage ponds and reservoirs. Kleinschmidt has also managed numerous studies concerned with issues related to riverine fish movements. Such studies have entailed comprehensive literature reviews and engineering design, as well as field investigations involving radio telemetry, hydroacoustic monitoring, and instream monitoring with nets and electrofishing techniques.

Fisheries services provided by Kleinschmidt include: