Balance Hydrologics

What Balance Hydrologics does

Balance Hydrologics, Inc. is a privately held environmental consulting firm founded in 1988 by Barry Hecht and Mark Woyshner in Berkeley, California. The firm provides hydrology, hydraulics, geomorphology, groundwater, wetland/floodplain, and restoration-design services to federal, state, and local government agencies, conservation districts, water utilities, and educational institutions across California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Its practice spans watershed-scale baseline studies, restoration engineering, construction-phase representation, and post-project monitoring, with project experience including dam removals (San Clemente Dam), meadow restorations (Sardine Meadow, Polaris + Pomin), and flood-control planning (Carmel River).

The firm operates a technology stack centered on physical-process modeling rather than software products: HEC-RAS (1D and 2D), SRH-2D, XP-Storm for overland flow, and the open-source Pond-IT hydroperiod model. Field-data collection is a core competency, supported by a web-accessible real-time stream and rain gaging network across California and Nevada, two FAA-certified UAV pilots, and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) capability for high-flow streamflow measurement. The Online Gaging platform posts hourly rainfall, flow, and water quality data from automated stations, and serves as both a client-deliverable and an internal data asset.

Balance monetizes through project-based professional-services engagements billed against scope, hours, and deliverables, with no disclosed pricing or subscription model. Customer acquisition runs through direct enterprise engagement with government procurement processes and nonprofit partnerships; the firm supplements this with content marketing (blog, social channels), conference participation, and an annual photo-contest community program. Current leadership includes President/CEO David Shaw (joined 2005 from UC Berkeley), VP/COO/Marketing Director Colleen Haraden, and VP/CFO Ed Ballman, who also leads technical direction for 1D/2D modeling. The firm has no institutional investors, no disclosed M&A activity, and no parent company.

Name

Balance Hydrologics

Legal name

Balance Hydrologics, Inc.

Website

https://balancehydro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Balance Hydrologics is a private hydrology and geomorphology consulting firm serving government agencies, water utilities, conservation districts, and universities across the western U.S., with offices in Berkeley, Truckee, Santa Cruz, and Healdsburg, California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Hydrology Consulting Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Hydrology consulting services
• Watershed restoration design
• Geomorphology analysis
• Stream and wetland restoration
• Environmental water resources consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hydrology Consulting Services: Professional consulting services including watershed studies, baseline hydrologic/hydraulic/geologic/water quality conditions, mitigation or restoration designs, construction-phase support, and post-project monitoring.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Balance Hydrologics is a full-service environmental consulting firm delivering hydrology, hydraulics, geomorphology, groundwater, wetland/floodplain, and restoration design services to government agencies, conservation districts, water utilities, and educational institutions. Core work spans watershed studies, baseline hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, mitigation and restoration design, construction-phase support, and post-project monitoring, supplemented by an in-house real-time Online Gaging data platform.

Product overview

Balance Hydrologics is a full-service hydrology and geomorphology consulting firm offering a portfolio of professional services rather than a single software product. Core service offerings span Geomorphology, Hydrology & Hydraulics, Design, Groundwater, Wetland & Floodplain, and Monitoring & Gaging. Its primary web-accessible platform is the Online Gaging system, which streams real-time rainfall, flow, and water quality data from automated gages. Field technology services include UAV/drone surveys and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) streamflow measurement. The firm also developed Pond-IT, an open-source pond hydroperiod model. Services are delivered through interdisciplinary teams of hydrologists, geomorphologists, and engineers across offices in Berkeley, Truckee, and Santa Cruz, California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Geomorphology Services Study of landforms and surface processes, including field-based site characterization, fluvial geomorphology analysis, and channel restoration design.
• Hydrology & Hydraulics Services Surface water and groundwater analysis including streamflow modeling, flood assessment, and hydraulic design for restoration and water resource projects.
• Design Services Restoration design engineering for streams, wetlands, and watersheds, including construction documents, nature-based and regenerative design, and 35% and 65% design phases.
• Groundwater Services Hydrogeologic assessment and groundwater resource evaluation for watershed planning and land management.
• Wetland & Floodplain Services Wetland delineation, restoration design, and floodplain connectivity analysis for habitat enhancement and flood risk reduction.
• Monitoring & Gaging Services Installation and management of real-time stream and rain gages; automated data collection posted hourly for compliance, water rights, and reservoir operations.
• Online Gaging Platform Web-accessible real-time stream and rain gaging system providing hourly rainfall totals, flow, and water quality data from automated stations across California and Nevada.
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) / Drone Surveys Aerial surveying using FAA-certified UAVs for geomorphic and hydrologic site characterization; Balance operates two UAVs piloted by certified staff.
• Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) Streamflow Measurement High-flow streamflow measurement using ADCP for depth and velocity data when conditions are too deep or fast to wade; includes bathymetric mapping.
• Pond-IT (Pond Inundation and Timing Model) Open-source model for predicting pond hydroperiod (inundation duration and timing) in Mediterranean and arid climates, supporting habitat assessments for seasonal ponds and cattle ponds.
• Pre-Fire and Post-Fire Planning Services Scientific support for post-fire watershed recovery, rapid assessment, sediment control, and community planning following wildfire events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Polaris + Pomin restoration feasibility study completed in May 2020 and by more than 10 percent under budget
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trout UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking toward Lahontan cutthroat trout recovery in the Lahontan Basin. Balance Hydrologics was hired to evaluate feasibility of implementing a physical barrier on the East Fork Carson River to create an LCT stronghold.
• California Department of Fish and WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with CDFW on fish barrier feasibility studies and LCT recovery projects in the Lahontan Basin.
• Tahoe Resource Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTahoe RCD engaged Balance Hydrologics to develop comprehensive restoration plans for the Polaris-Burton Creek wetland complex, one of the largest wetlands on the north shore of Lake Tahoe.
• California American WatercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject owner for San Clemente Dam removal and Carmel River reroute. Balance Hydrologics was owner's representative during dam removal and channel construction phases.
• State Coastal ConservancycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject owner for San Clemente Dam removal cooperatively removing the dam with CAW and CDFW.
• Inter-fluve, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Inter-fluve, Inc. on San Clemente Dam removal project. Balance joined design team because of unique expertise in step-pools to renaturalize streams.
• US Forest Service Tahoe Basin Management UnitcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead agency for Meeks Bay Restoration Project. Balance evaluated potential hydrology and water quality impacts to assist with environmental documentation.
• Tahoe Regional Planning AgencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborating agency on Meeks Bay Restoration Project.
• Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control BoardminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborating agency on Meeks Bay Restoration Project.
• Truckee River Watershed CouncilcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted Balance Hydrologics to conduct field investigations, analysis, and restoration design for Sardine Meadow, a 900-acre meadow restoration project.
• Trust for Public LandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Truckee River Watershed Council and US Forest Service Tahoe National Forest on Sardine Meadow restoration.
• US Forest Service Tahoe National ForestcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Sardine Meadow restoration. After developing restoration approaches with TNF, TRWC contracted Balance for restoration design.
• County Services Area 50coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for comprehensive flood control plan for Carmel River, including floodplain mapping update and flood protection measures evaluation.
• Jacobs EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of project team including Jacobs Engineering and Callander Associates for Yerba Buena Pedestrian Bridge Design.
• Callander AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of project team for Yerba Buena Pedestrian Bridge Design project.
• Granite ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction manager for San Clemente Dam removal project. Balance reviewed all design submittals and conducted field inspections.
• Ascent EnvironmentalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided contract vehicle for USFS Tahoe Basin Management Unit work on Meeks Bay Restoration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Inter-fluve, Inc. Hydrology and stream-restoration design firm explicitly named in Balance's data as a mutual partner on the San Clemente Dam removal; Inter-fluve contributed the step-pool and stream-renaturalization expertise that complemented Balance's hydrologic monitoring role. Highly comparable in size, geography (West Coast), and service mix.
• Stillwater Sciences: Berkeley, CA-based hydrology and river restoration firm serving California and the Pacific Northwest. Overlaps directly with Balance's hydrology, geomorphology, and stream restoration practices and competes for many of the same public-sector clients.
• Ascent Environmental: California environmental planning and consulting firm named in Balance's partnership data as the contract-vehicle provider for the US Forest Service Tahoe Basin Management Unit Meeks Bay Restoration work. Comparable West Coast environmental footprint and overlapping public-sector clientele.
• Natural Systems Design: Pacific Northwest-based ecological engineering and restoration design firm with overlapping meadow, wetland, and stream restoration capabilities; comparable staff scale and direct competition on California/Oregon/Washington restoration bids.
• Northwest Hydraulic Consultants: West Coast-based hydraulic and hydrologic engineering consulting firm specializing in open-channel flow, sediment transport, and fish-habitat hydraulics — directly overlapping with Balance's HEC-RAS, SRH-2D, and ADCP-driven work and sharing similar government and hydroelectric clientele.

Broad incumbents

• Tetra Tech: Top-10 global environmental and engineering consulting firm with a substantial water resources and ecosystem restoration practice; competes with Balance for the same municipal and federal clients but at vastly larger scale.
• Stantec: Global engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting firm; acquired Cardno's North American environmental practice and operates a sizable water resources and ecosystem restoration group that overlaps with Balance's hydrology and restoration services.
• Brown and Caldwell: Major water and environmental engineering consultancy focused on municipal water/wastewater utilities; competes for the same California water utility clients (e.g., California American Water) and adjacent hydrologic/hydraulic work though at much larger scale and broader service line.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure and environmental engineering firm with a large water and ecosystem restoration practice; routinely competes for the federal/state contracts where Balance serves as sub-consultant and bundles much broader service scope.
• Geosyntec Consultants: Specialty environmental and earth-science consulting firm with active hydrology, groundwater, and water resources practices serving overlapping public- and private-sector clients in California and the Western U.S., but with substantially greater scale and technical breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/balancehydro
• Facebookfacebook.com/Balance-Hydrologics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Balance Hydrologics