Aquatic Consultants

What Aquatic Consultants does

Aquatic Consultants, Inc. (ACI) is a privately held professional services firm founded in 1998 and headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, specializing in the design, construction, and long-term management of lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. The company integrates in-house fisheries biology expertise with an owned construction crew and heavy equipment, providing end-to-end services spanning conceptual lake and stream design, civil and geotechnical engineering, hydrology and permitting (including 404/401, HEC Dam Breach Analysis, and water rights), full construction execution, and post-construction management including aquatic vegetation control, electrofishing population surveys, trophy sport fish management, fish stocking coordination, and monthly water quality monitoring. Its customer base is vertically diversified across private landowners (ranches and residences), golf courses, resort destinations, tribal entities, and government agencies, with project execution spanning the US Southwest (New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Wyoming, Arizona) and international engagements in Costa Rica.

The business model is project-based professional services with custom-quoted engagements, typically structured as multi-year contracts that combine design-build delivery with recurring management and maintenance work. The company supplements internal capability through strategic partnerships, including Colorado Lining International as its exclusive lake liner provider, AUI Inc. for large-scale construction capabilities, Riverbend Engineering for joint habitat enhancement projects, and Gage Davis Associates for international resort design. Customer acquisition is sales-led, driven by direct client relationships, referrals from a 27-year project portfolio, industry reputation, and affiliations with organizations such as the American Fisheries Society, North American Lake Management Society, and the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society. Revenue is generated through a mix of episodic large design-build projects and steady recurring management contracts, with pricing opaque to the public and tailored to project scope, geography, and complexity.

Name

Aquatic Consultants

Legal name

Aquatic Consultants Inc.

Website

https://aquaticconsultants.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aquatic Consultants is a privately held Albuquerque-based professional services firm that designs, builds, and manages lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers for private landowners, golf courses, resorts, tribal entities, and government agencies across the US Southwest and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquatic Resource Management Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAIAD

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Engineering & Technical Consulting

SECONDARYEUAHAHAB

Aquatic Ecology & Fisheries Assessments

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Ecology, Biodiversity & Natural Resource Assessments

Keywords

• Lake construction services
• Lake management services
• Fisheries biology consulting
• Aquatic habitat design
• Stream restoration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Professional Services (Design, Construction, Management): Project-based professional services revenue model. The company provides end-to-end aquatic resource services including lake and stream design, construction, and ongoing management. Revenue is generated through individual project contracts for design/construction services and recurring management/maintenance contracts.
2. Fish Stocking Services: Fish stocking coordination services including ordering, transportation, and stocking of fish with proper permits through state agencies. Stocking recommendations based on owner goals, water volume, fish size targets, water quality, and angling pressure estimates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aquatic Consultants provides integrated lake, pond, and stream design, construction, and management services. The firm offers professional design including civil engineering, hydrology, and permitting; full construction using its own heavy equipment crew; and ongoing management including aquatic vegetation control, electrofishing surveys, trophy fish management, fish stocking, and water quality monitoring for trophy fishing lakes, landscape lakes, irrigation lakes, and stream habitat restoration.

Product overview

Aquatic Consultants is a service-based company offering integrated lake, pond, and stream design, construction, and management solutions. The core offerings include Lake Design and Construction services covering civil engineering, hydrology, lining systems, and aeration; Stream and River Design and Construction for restoration and artificial stream creation; and comprehensive Lake Management including aquatic vegetation control, electrofishing surveys, trophy sport fish management, fish stocking, and water quality monitoring. The company provides these as interconnected services where design informs construction, and ongoing management ensures long-term success of aquatic resources. Project Management services tie all phases together with weekly coordination and scheduling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lake Design
• Lake Construction Complete lake construction services including site clearing, surveying, rough excavation, dam and spillway construction, sub-base preparation, lake lining installation, shoreline treatments, aeration systems, waterworks (pumps, recirculating systems), fish habitat installation, wetland construction and planting, water features (fountains, waterfalls, bridges), and final grading.
• Lake Management Ongoing lake management services including aquatic vegetation management (biological and chemical controls), lake electrofishing surveys for population assessment, trophy sport fish management, fish stocking programs, and water quality monitoring.
• Stream and River Design
• Stream and River Construction
• Aquatic Vegetation Management
• Electrofishing Surveys
• Trophy Sport Fish Management
• Fish Stocking Services
• Water Quality Monitoring
• Project Management

Quantifiable outcome

• Trophy largemouth bass lakes producing nearly nine pound bass (Morani River Ranch)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Colorado Lining International (CLI)coreTechnology or IntegrationAquatic Consultants is proud to use Colorado Lining International as its only lake liner provider. CLI is widely known as an industry leader in geomembrane products, providing clients with expert technical support and design information to ensure economical quality solutions.
• AUI Inc.majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerACI teams with AUI for a wide range of construction services including utility and pipe related construction, structural concrete and bridge construction, concrete paving and channel construction, heavy dirtwork, asphalt paving, pipeline work, and trenchless pipe replacement technology.
• Gage Davis AssociatesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally renowned land planning firm that ACI teamed with for the Carara Bay Resort project in Costa Rica to provide design development of eight lagoons, water features, and water conveyance systems.
• Riverbend EngineeringmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Riverbend Engineering and AUI Inc. on the San Juan River Habitat Enhancement Project funded by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
• American Fisheries SocietyminorOthersProfessional affiliation with national fisheries organization.
• AZ/NM Chapter American Fisheries SocietyminorOthersRegional chapter affiliation supporting local fisheries community.
• North American Lake Management SocietyminorOthersProfessional affiliation supporting lake management best practices.
• Rio Grande Golf Course Superintendent's AssociationminorOthersIndustry association supporting golf course water management professionals.
• Native American Fish and Wildlife SocietyminorOthersOrganization supporting tribal fish and wildlife management.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pond Medics: Pond and lake management services firm offering aeration, vegetation control, and water quality services; comparable in scope but typically serves smaller commercial and residential clients.
• Aquatic Weed Control: Specialist in lake and pond vegetation management, fountain/aeration installation, and water quality services — overlapping with ACI's management and electrofishing offerings.
• Lake & Wetland Management: Lake, pond, and wetland management services company offering aquatic vegetation control, water quality monitoring, and fisheries services. Closely comparable scope to ACI's management arm.
• The Lake Doctors: Florida-based lake and pond management services firm covering aquatic weed control, algae management, and aeration services. Directly comparable in service mix though primarily East/Southeast US focused.
• Aquatic Management Group: Regional lake and pond management services firm with vegetation control, water quality testing, and consulting — overlapping service portfolio with ACI's lake management line.
• SOLitude Lake Management: Largest US lake and pond management company offering similar end-to-end services including aquatic vegetation control, water quality testing, and fisheries management. Most direct large-scale competitor to ACI across multiple geographies.

Others

• Colorado Lining International: Geomembrane liner supplier that is ACI's exclusive lake liner partner; adjacent supplier to the lake construction ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
• AUI Inc. Heavy civil and utility construction contractor that ACI teams with on construction-heavy projects; an implementation partner rather than a peer, but operates in adjacent aquatic construction space.

Broad incumbents

• Pentair: Large diversified water treatment and aquatic equipment manufacturer whose aeration, pumping, and filtration products are installed by lake/pond firms including ACI's projects; a broad incumbent in the underlying equipment layer.

Emerging players

• Bio-Tech Environmental Services: Lake and pond management services firm offering aeration, biological controls, and water quality work; smaller-scale competitor with partial overlap to ACI's management practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aci1998

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 Aquatic Consultants