Natural Systems Design
Natural Systems Design is a Seattle-based environmental engineering and restoration consulting firm, founded in 2003, that designs river, floodplain, coastal, and fisheries habitat projects for government agencies, tribal governments, and conservation districts across Washington and Oregon.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Natural Systems Design does
Natural Systems Design, Inc. is a privately held environmental engineering and restoration consulting firm founded in 2003 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with additional offices in Bellingham and Port Angeles. The firm operates as an integrated practice combining ecology, geomorphology, hydrology, hydraulics, and engineering to design river, stream, wetland, floodplain, coastal, and fisheries habitat restoration projects for government agencies, tribal governments, conservation districts, and environmental nonprofits across Washington and Oregon.
The firm's core offerings span Rivers, Streams, and Floodplains Services; Coastal Restoration and Coastal Engineering services; Fisheries Habitat Restoration; Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessments; and Habitat Recovery Pilot Program (HRPP) permitting consulting. Its technical differentiation rests on proprietary, peer-validated methods including Large Wood Jam Hydraulic Modeling (Delft3D-FLOW based, reducing velocity RMSE by 42.8%), Engineered Hyporheic Zone Design techniques, a GIS-based Alluvial Water Storage screening framework, and emerging-contaminant attenuation assessment using high-resolution mass spectrometry. In September 2023 the firm acquired Coastal Geologic Services (CGS), extending the practice into coastal management and bringing in coastal geologists such as Jim Johannessen (200+ coastal projects) and Avery Maverick.
Commercially, NSD generates revenue through time-and-materials and fixed-fee project contracts secured via competitive bidding and direct relationships with public-sector clients. Distribution is enterprise field sales led by principals to government, tribal, and nonprofit buyers. The firm emphasizes thought leadership through an extensive technical publications library, a Speaker Series, conference participation, and press coverage, and is registered as an engineering firm in Washington and Oregon with team members holding PE, LG, PLA, and PWS credentials. The firm has remained privately held since founding with no disclosed external capital, headcount in the 11–50 band, and recognized industry credibility through ACEC and APWA awards in 2023–2024.
Natural Systems Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Natural Systems Design
- Legal name
- Natural Systems Design, Inc.
- Website
- https://naturaldes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Natural Systems Design is a Seattle-based environmental engineering and restoration consulting firm, founded in 2003, that designs river, floodplain, coastal, and fisheries habitat projects for government agencies, tribal governments, and conservation districts across Washington and Oregon.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Natural Systems Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Engineering and Restoration Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (541320)
- SIC
- Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ecological Restoration Planning & Monitoring (Habitat, Wetland, Stream) (EUAHAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hydropower Environmental & Fish Passage Solutions (EUACAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Natural Systems Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Natural Systems Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Environmental Consulting and Engineering Services: Professional consulting services provided to government agencies, tribal organizations, conservation districts, and nonprofits for environmental restoration projects. Revenue generated through time and materials contracts or fixed-fee project arrangements for engineering design, environmental assessment, restoration planning, and construction oversight services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Natural Systems Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Natural Systems Design is an environmental engineering and restoration consulting firm providing integrated science, engineering, and design services for river, stream, floodplain, wetland, coastal, and watershed restoration projects. The firm delivers site assessment, feasibility studies, alternatives analysis, preliminary and final design, permitting support, and construction administration for habitat restoration and aquatic ecosystem recovery. Services span salmonid habitat enhancement, bank stabilization, dam removal, floodplain reconnection, hyporheic restoration, and sea level rise vulnerability assessment.
Product overview
Natural Systems Design is an environmental engineering and restoration consulting firm offering a portfolio of interconnected professional services centered on aquatic ecosystem restoration. The core offerings include Rivers, Streams, and Floodplains Services, Coastal Restoration Services, Fisheries Habitat Restoration, and Coastal Engineering. The firm operates as a unified practice where expertise in geomorphology, hydrology, hydraulics, and engineering is applied across all service areas. In September 2023, NSD expanded its capabilities through the acquisition of Coastal Geologic Services (CGS), integrating coastal management expertise into its existing river and wetland restoration services. Additional offerings include Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessments, HRPP permitting consulting, technical publications, and an educational Speaker Series program. The firm is registered as an engineering firm in Washington and Oregon states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rivers, Streams, and Floodplains Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Hyporheic vertical water flux increased 89x pre-construction rate at restored sites
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Natural Systems Design
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Natural Systems Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Natural Systems Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Nooksack Indian TribecoreSponsored South Fork Nooksack River Homesteader Reach Restoration, constructed in 2024. NSD designed the habitat restoration project as part of the Habitat Recovery Pilot Program.
- Grays Harbor Conservation DistrictcoreCollaborated on Wynoochee River Watershed Tributary Restoration project and Schafer Creek Pilot Project. GHCD sponsored the restoration design and hand-built the project in summer 2022. NSD provided hands-on construction support and created effectiveness monitoring plan.
- North Olympic Salmon CoalitioncoreSponsored Snow Creek Uncas Preserve Channel Restoration Project, constructed in 2023. NSD provided design services for the habitat restoration project.
- Yakama NationcoreSponsored Tieton River, River Mile 4.3 Restoration through the Yakima/Klickitat Fisheries Project. NSD provided restoration design services. Construction currently underway in 2025.
- Cascade FisheriescoreSponsored Lower Peschastin Creek Habitat Restoration project. NSD provided design services for construction planned for 2025.
- Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement GroupcoreSponsored Lower Big Quilcene River Moon Valley Reach Floodplain Restoration project. NSD provided design services for construction planned for 2025.
- Puyallup Tribe of IndianscoreLong-standing partner on multiple projects including Clarks Creek Channel Stabilization and South Prairie Creek Floodplain Restoration. NSD developed designs and supported permitting for tribal restoration projects.
- South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement GroupcorePrimary client for South Prairie Creek Floodplain Restoration project. NSD provided complete engineering and design services for the salmon habitat restoration project.
- Seattle City LightcoreContracted by Seattle City Light for Sullivan Creek Large Wood Enhancement Project to restore instream habitat within Sullivan Creek for native fish under FERC License requirements.
- City of BellinghamcorePrimary client for Little Squalicum Estuary Project ($6.1M). NSD served as lead design firm performing coastal engineering, coastal geological analysis and design, and design team coordination. City raised money for the project and NSD created updated cost estimates.
- Coastal Geologic Services (CGS)coreCGS joined Natural Systems Design in September 2023. CGS serves coastal land managers through assessment and design projects and provides regional science studies primarily in Puget Sound. This acquisition expanded NSD's interdisciplinary team and capabilities to include coastal management and engineering.
- The Nature ConservancycoreCollaborated with NSD on research including forest management effects on snow storage study in the Eastern Cascades. NSD worked with TNC, UW, and SPU on 3 years of snow observation data collection.
- University of WashingtoncoreResearch collaborator on multiple studies including forest management and snow storage research, sea level rise vulnerability assessments, and hyporheic restoration studies.
- Seattle Public UtilitiescoreCollaborated on research including forest management effects on snow storage study in the Eastern Cascades region.
- Puget Sound PartnershipminorProduced HRPP project map highlighting NSD projects across Washington state for the Floodplains by Design webinar assessment of the Habitat Recovery Pilot Program.
- Washington Department of Fish & WildlifecoreWDFW's Habitat Recovery Pilot Program enables NSD-designed projects to receive expedited authorization. NSD projects have been prominently featured among the approximately 45 projects employing the pilot program.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Natural Systems Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Cascadia Consulting Group: PNW-based environmental and sustainability consulting firm serving government and tribal clients on related planning, climate, and natural resource projects.
Direct peers
- Aspect Consulting: PNW-based environmental and water resources consulting firm focused on hydrogeology, stormwater, and restoration - competes for similar municipal and tribal clients.
- Geomorphic Services: Small specialist firm focused on river geomorphology and restoration engineering with comparable niche services to NSD's engineered logjam and stream restoration work.
- Stillwater Sciences: Specialist fluvial geomorphology and river restoration consulting firm with strong PNW presence and academic collaboration model very similar to NSD's approach.
- Anchor QEA: Seattle-based environmental and water resources engineering consulting firm serving PNW government and tribal clients on river, estuary, and coastal restoration - directly comparable niche and geography.
Broad incumbents
- Brown and Caldwell: Environmental engineering and consulting firm focused on water and wastewater with growing stormwater and watershed restoration capabilities, serving many of the same PNW municipal clients.
- ICF International: Large consulting firm with substantial environmental and climate adaptation practice working with government agencies on restoration, water resources, and resilience projects.
- Tetra Tech: Global environmental and engineering consulting firm with a large water and restoration practice that competes for federal, state, and tribal restoration contracts across the PNW.
- SWCA Environmental Consultants: National environmental consulting firm with strong Western U.S. practice providing ecological, permitting, and restoration services overlapping with NSD's offerings.
- ESA (Environmental Science Associates): Large California-based environmental consulting firm with significant PNW practice offering planning, design, and regulatory services across restoration, water, and coastal projects - broader portfolio but overlapping client base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Natural Systems Design social profiles
Digital presenceNatural Systems Design compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Natural Systems Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Natural Systems Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Natural Systems Design subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Natural Systems Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Natural Systems Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Natural Systems Design
What does Natural Systems Design do?
Natural Systems Design is an environmental engineering and restoration consulting firm providing integrated science, engineering, and design services for river, stream, floodplain, wetland, coastal, and watershed restoration projects. The firm delivers site assessment, feasibility studies, alternatives analysis, preliminary and final design, permitting support, and construction administration for habitat restoration and aquatic ecosystem recovery. Services span salmonid habitat enhancement, bank stabilization, dam removal, floodplain reconnection, hyporheic restoration, and sea level rise vulnerability assessment.
Is Natural Systems Design a public or private company?
Natural Systems Design is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Natural Systems Design founded?
Natural Systems Design was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Natural Systems Design based?
Natural Systems Design is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Natural Systems Design make money?
One revenue line is on record: environmental Consulting and Engineering Services.
Who are Natural Systems Design's main competitors?
Cascadia Consulting Group is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Aspect Consulting, Geomorphic Services, Stillwater Sciences and Anchor QEA. Broad incumbents are Brown and Caldwell, ICF International, Tetra Tech, SWCA Environmental Consultants and ESA (Environmental Science Associates).
Does Natural Systems Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Natural Systems Design.
What industry is Natural Systems Design in?
Natural Systems Design's product category is Environmental Engineering and Restoration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHAHAF, Ecological Restoration Planning & Monitoring (Habitat, Wetland, Stream), with a secondary code of EUACAEAJ, Hydropower Environmental & Fish Passage Solutions. Its NAICS code is 541320 and its SIC code is 1623.