What Syblon Reid does

Syblon Reid is a Folsom, California-based general engineering contractor founded in 1955 by Ray Syblon and John Reid. The firm specializes in heavy civil, mechanical, environmental, and marine construction with a core focus on water-related infrastructure: dams, spillways, hydro generation facilities, water conveyance systems, fish passage projects, water and wastewater treatment plants, and environmental remediation for contaminants such as hexavalent chromium, perchlorate, arsenic, and acid mine drainage. Its service portfolio spans six areas: innovative approach to problem solving, heavy civil mechanical work, environmental remediation, marine work, 24/7 emergency response, and multiple project delivery methods (Best Value, EPC, CMAR/ECI, Design-Build, Negotiated Fixed Price, Unit Price, Bid-Build, and Time & Material). The company is 100% employee-owned via an ESOP established in 2007 and operates with offices in Folsom (headquarters), Fresno (Central Valley), and Caldwell, Idaho (Mountain Division), serving clients across nine Western States.

The firm distinguishes itself on non-recurring, high-hazard, high-risk construction projects using proprietary methods including the High Efficiency Electric Marine Vehicle (HEEMV), EchoBoat-240 autonomous bathymetric surveys, custom needle-beam cofferdams, and specialized work platforms capable of supporting underwater and high-altitude work. Syblon Reid serves federal, state, and local government agencies (notably the California Department of Water Resources, US Bureau of Reclamation, and various irrigation districts) as well as utility clients including Pacific Gas and Electric, executing prime contracts through competitive bidding and design-build teaming. Notable operational scale signals include the Oroville Dam Spillway Emergency Response, where Syblon Reid coordinated 50+ subcontractors, 150,000+ labor hours, and dredged 2.1M+ cubic yards of sediment, alongside a fleet of 130+ pieces of heavy equipment, multiple barges, and helicopters supporting rapid mobilization.

Revenue is generated through project-based contracts (one-time construction services plus ongoing professional services for environmental remediation and emergency response), with pricing determined per-project via competitive bidding or negotiation. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales targeting public agencies and regulated utilities, supported by long-tenured client relationships, industry association memberships (AGC, NHA, SSCA), and a charter membership in PG&E's Contractor Safety Program. Over 70 years, the firm has completed 1,350+ projects; the Montcal Joint Venture under the SBA 8(a) Mentor-Protege Program extends its reach into federal remediation set-aside contracts.

Name

Syblon Reid

Legal name

Syblon Reid

Website

https://srco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Syblon Reid is a 1955-founded, 100% ESOP-owned heavy civil contractor specializing in dams, spillways, hydro, marine, and environmental remediation projects for federal, state, and utility clients across nine Western US states, with offices in Folsom, Fresno, and Caldwell.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heavy Civil Construction (Water Infrastructure)

NAICS

Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562), Site Preparation Contractors (238910)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Decommissioning & Site Restoration (Abandonment, Remediation) (EUAAAAAO), Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Heavy civil construction
• Water infrastructure construction
• Environmental remediation services
• Marine construction services
• Emergency response construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Folsom

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Construction Services: Syblon Reid generates revenue through construction project contracts with government agencies, utilities, and private clients. Projects are delivered through various contract types including design-build, best value, EPC, CMAR, negotiated fixed price, unit price, bid-build, and time & material arrangements.
2. Environmental Remediation Services: Ongoing operational maintenance and remediation services at sites like Leviathan Mine, where Syblon Reid maintains an annual presence to perform operational maintenance requirements.
3. Emergency Response Services: 24/7 emergency response services provided as a prime contractor, coordinating labor and mobilizing equipment for urgent situations such as dam failures and storm damage.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Syblon Reid is a general engineering contractor delivering heavy civil, mechanical, marine, and environmental construction services for water infrastructure projects, including dams, spillways, hydro generation facilities, water conveyance systems, and contaminated site remediation. The firm serves federal, state, and local government agencies and private utilities across 9 Western US States through competitive bidding, design-build, EPC, CMAR, and negotiated contracts, including 24/7 emergency response.

Product overview

Syblon Reid is a heavy civil construction company providing turnkey construction services across multiple specialized areas. The company's service portfolio consists of six core offerings: (1) Innovative Approach to Problem Solving - developing technical plans with innovative means and methods for high-hazard projects; (2) Heavy Civil Mechanical - installation and rehabilitation of water control infrastructure including valves, gates, pumps, and treatment systems; (3) Environmental Remediation - treatment systems for removing contaminants like hexavalent chromium, perchlorate, and heavy metals from water sources; (4) Marine Work - specialized underwater construction using technologies like the EchoBoat-240 autonomous survey system and high efficiency electric marine vehicle (HEEMV); (5) Emergency Response - 24/7 rapid deployment services for dam failures, storm damage, and other urgent situations; and (6) Partnering With Our Clients - various project delivery methods from design-build to traditional bid-build. The company operates as a general engineering contractor primarily serving water, hydro, and environmental markets across nine Western States since 1955.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Heavy Civil Mechanical Construction General engineering contractor services for heavy civil mechanical infrastructure including installation and rehabilitation of large water control valves (penstock shut-off, butterfly, Howell-Bunger/fixed-cone, spherical), self-cleaning fish screen systems, storage tanks, pump stations, water and wastewater treatment plant process systems, trashracks, mechanical raking systems, filter systems, mechanical and yard piping, and rehabilitation of radial gates, drum gates, slide gates, low-level outlet gates, and wheel gates, delivered to government agencies and utilities.
• Environmental Remediation Services Environmental remediation services providing treatment systems to remove compounds including hexavalent chromium, perchlorate, magnesium, naturally occurring asbestos, arsenic, and heavy metals from surface water, acid mine water, and groundwater. Includes pump-and-treat systems, lead paint coating abatement, asbestos-laden material removal, and contaminated material classification, containment, and removal, delivered to government agencies, utilities, and private clients across Western US.
• Marine Construction Services Specialized in-water construction services including dredging from shore and barges, barge-mounted equipment operations, vessel exclusion barriers, emission-free tunnel entry using the proprietary High Efficiency Electric Marine Vehicle (HEEMV), EchoBoat-240 autonomous bathymetric surveys, dive-supported work, canal lining and embankment repairs, dam and spillway modifications and repairs, log and debris booms, and emergency response for government agencies and utilities.
• 24/7 Emergency Response Services Round-the-clock emergency response services delivered as a prime contractor, coordinating labor (professionals and union crafts) and mobilizing heavy equipment and emergency medical personnel to prevent and protect the public from imminent danger caused by dam failures, powerhouse fires, storm damage, and other urgent infrastructure threats, including fire damage recovery, storm damage hazard mitigation, levee repairs, canal liner and embankment repairs, flume repairs, water conveyance system repairs, landslide repairs, pipeline repairs, road repairs, and dam spillway failure repairs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,350+ projects completed across 9 Western States since 1955
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• HDR EngineeringmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2023Syblon Reid teamed up with HDR to tackle the Pyramid Dam Spillways project, working alongside the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Syblon Reid provided project management, rope access rescue services, helicopter-supported rock coring, and communications support.
• GEI Consultants, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2023In partnership with GEI Consultants, Inc., Syblon Reid was awarded an emergency design/build contract for modifications to El Dorado County Irrigation District's Caples Lake dam. GEI provided engineering consultation while Syblon Reid performed construction.
• Montcal Joint Venture (Rehbein Enterprises, Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontcal is an approved joint venture through the SBA Mentor-Protege Program between Syblon Reid (Mentor) and Rehbein Enterprises, Inc. (Protege). It is also an SBA-Certified 8(a) Joint Venture, Native American-Owned Business, Woman-Owned Business, HUBZone Firm. Provides remediation services under NAICS 562910 as a small business.
• Association of General Contractors (AGC)coreOthersMember of National Association of General Contractors (AGC of America) and AGC of California. Syblon Reid's commitment to safety has been recognized through numerous AGC awards.
• National Hydropower Association (NHA)coreOthersMember of the National Hydropower Association, a nonprofit national association dedicated exclusively to promoting the growth of clean, affordable hydropower.
• ISNetworld (ISN)coreOthersMember of ISNetworld, a global resource for connecting clients with safe and reliable contractors.
• Sustainable Supply Chain Alliance (SSCA)minorOthersCharter Supplier Affiliate Member of SSCA (formerly EUISSCA), an organization of utilities working together to advance sustainability best practices.
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Contractor Safety ProgramcoreOthersCharter member of PG&E's Contractor Safety Program and first non-Board contractor to receive Gold Shovel Standard certification for safe excavation practices.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Barnard Construction Company: Employee-owned heavy civil specialty contractor with deep dam, spillway, hydro and marine construction portfolio in the Western U.S., directly mirroring Syblon Reid's core niche of high-hazard water infrastructure.
• Shimmick Construction: California-rooted water infrastructure specialty contractor delivering treatment plants, dams, spillways and heavy civil work — a direct competitor for the same state and municipal water owners Syblon Reid serves.
• Flatiron Construction: Heavy civil contractor (HOCHTIEF subsidiary) executing dams, bridges and water infrastructure across the U.S. West, competing for the same federal and state water-conveyance and dam modification contracts.
• Orion Group Holdings: Specialty marine and heavy civil contractor delivering in-water construction, dredging and dam work — a direct functional peer for Syblon Reid's marine work service line.

Broad incumbents

• Granite Construction: Public heavy civil and materials giant with a large Western water-resources practice; broader portfolio but directly overlaps Syblon Reid's bidding universe on dams, spillways and environmental remediation.
• Kiewit Corporation: One of North America's largest employee-owned heavy civil contractors with significant water-resources and dam expertise, the most likely 'scale' competitor for design-build water infrastructure pursuits.
• Black & Veatch: Global engineering, procurement and construction firm with a sizable water and dams practice that competes for the same design-build water and environmental remediation programs as Syblon Reid.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with strong water, environment and construction services practices, competing for design-build dam and water-treatment contracts across the Western U.S. (also parent/affiliate of Shimmick).
• PCL Construction: Large employee-owned general contractor with a U.S. Civil infrastructure division pursuing dams, water conveyance and environmental remediation across the West.

Emerging players

• Stantec: Engineering services firm expanding in water infrastructure design and program management — partners with and competes against Syblon Reid on design-build pursuits and feasibility phases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/syblon-reid

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Syblon Reid