EcoAnalysts Inc

What EcoAnalysts Inc does

EcoAnalysts, Inc. is a Moscow, Idaho-based ecological consulting firm founded in 1995 by Gary Lester, providing ecological field sampling, laboratory analysis, and consulting services across terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments. The company operates North America's largest taxonomy services laboratory, processing over 10,000 samples annually, and maintains two NELAP-accredited ecotoxicology laboratories in Port Gamble, Washington and Alachua, Florida, totaling 8,000 square feet of climate-controlled laboratory space with continuous-flow filtered seawater capability spanning tropic-to-arctic conditions. Service lines span aquatic resource inventories, harmful algae bloom (cyanotoxin) testing via Abraxis ELISA, fish surveys and freshwater mussel relocation, whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing for NPDES compliance, sediment and product toxicity testing under OECD/USEPA/REACH frameworks, ecological impact assessments, and scientific diving services.

The firm generates revenue primarily through professional services contracts on a project or per-sample basis, with significant reliance on federal and state environmental regulatory procurement. Its largest disclosed contract is participation in the five-year EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS 3) program with a combined maximum value of $34.9 million across three awardees. The customer base is horizontal across federal agencies (USEPA Office of Water, National Park Service), tribal governments (Yakama Nation Fisheries), municipalities (City of Othello, City of Kodiak), and industrial/enterprise buyers (Vigor Alaska, Tetra Tech). The firm holds multiple laboratory accreditations (NELAP, ORELAP, WDOE, FDOH), SFS taxonomic certifications, GSA contract holder status, and Avetta supplier registration, and pursues sales through direct enterprise outreach, conference attendance (FAWQC, SMARM, International Partnering Forum), content marketing, and a Halltech Aquatic Research equipment-rental channel partnership.

Revenue grew from $2.6 million in 2016 to $5.9 million in 2017 (127%) with operating profit improving from breakeven to 10.7%, alongside headcount expansion from 40 to 75 employees. The firm executed growth through the 2016-2017 acquisition of Ecological Specialists (freshwater mussel expertise, O'Fallon, MO), a January 2017 group hire of 10 personnel from Ramboll Environ's ecotoxicology lab, a March 2017 international consulting build-out, and the October 2022 acquisition of Hydrosphere Research Environmental Services in Alachua, FL. In January 2025, EcoAnalysts was acquired by Spheros Environmental, a Union Park Capital-backed environmental consulting platform, ending nearly 30 years of independent operation.

Name

EcoAnalysts Inc

Legal name

EcoAnalysts, Inc.

Website

https://ecoanalysts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

EcoAnalysts is a Moscow, Idaho-based ecological consulting firm operating North America's largest taxonomy laboratory and dual NELAP-accredited ecotoxicology labs, serving federal/state agencies, municipalities, and industrial clients with field sampling, WET testing, bioassessment, and cyanotoxin services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Consulting and Ecological Testing Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquatic Ecology & Fisheries Assessments (EUAHAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wastewater & Industrial Effluent Monitoring (NPDES/Permit Compliance) (EUAHACAD), Emerging Contaminants Testing & Risk Management (PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals) (EUANAJAF), Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater) (EUANAJAH)

Keywords

• Ecological consulting services
• Aquatic toxicology testing
• Taxonomy laboratory services
• Environmental field sampling
• NPDES compliance testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ecological Consulting Services: Professional consulting services including ecological field sampling, environmental impact assessments, bioassessment, habitat assessments, ecological risk assessments, and regulatory compliance consulting for government and private sector clients.
2. Taxonomic Identification Services: Laboratory-based taxonomic identification of marine, estuarine, and freshwater organisms. Revenue is generated per sample or per project, with high-volume processing capacity.
3. Ecotoxicity Testing Services: Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing, sediment toxicity testing, product toxicity testing, bioaccumulation studies, and TIE/TRE for NPDES compliance. Provided under EPA and state NPDES permits. Two labs in WA and FL provide nationwide coverage.
4. Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) Testing: Cyanotoxin testing (microcystin, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a, saxitoxin) using ELISA methods, algae identification services, and pigment/biomass analysis for water quality monitoring.
5. Backpack Electrofishing Equipment Rental: Partnership with Halltech Aquatic Research to provide electrofishing equipment rental (HT-2000 units) in the US, offered at daily, weekly, and monthly rental rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EcoAnalysts provides ecological field sampling, laboratory analysis, and consulting services across terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments. The company operates North America's largest taxonomy services laboratory (processing over 10,000 samples annually) and two NELAP-accredited bioassay laboratories providing Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing for NPDES compliance, sediment and product toxicity testing, and harmful algae bloom cyanotoxin analysis. Service offerings include aquatic resource inventories, fish surveys with mussel relocation, ecological impact assessments, and product ecotoxicity testing.

Product overview

EcoAnalysts Inc is an ecological consulting firm providing field sampling, laboratory, and consulting services across terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments. The company operates North America's largest taxonomy services laboratory and two state-of-the-art ecotoxicology laboratories (Port Gamble, WA and Alachua, FL). Core services include: Aquatic Resource Inventories, Harmful Algae Bloom Testing (using ELISA methods), Fish Surveys with salvage and mussel relocation, Aquatic and Sediment Toxicology Laboratories (offering WET testing for NPDES permits), Taxonomy Laboratory Services (identification of periphyton, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish), Ecological Impact Assessments (bioindicators, habitat assessments), Product Testing (toxicity, bioaccumulation), Backpack Electrofishing Equipment Rental, and Scientific Diving Contractor Services. Founded in 1995, the company was acquired by Spheros Environmental in January 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aquatic Resource Inventories Comprehensive surveys and assessments of aquatic environments including streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, and ocean environments, supporting land use management, restoration planning, and environmental compliance for government agencies and private clients.
• Harmful Algae Bloom Testing Laboratory testing for algae toxins in surface water using Abraxis ELISA immunoassay methods, including microcystin, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a, and saxitoxin analysis, along with algae identification and enumeration services for water quality monitoring programs.
• Fish Surveys Fish salvage, freshwater mussel relocation, and fish population monitoring services for construction projects in waterways, including electrofishing-based collection and species identification for transportation, construction, and resource management clients.
• Aquatic and Sediment Toxicology Laboratories Environmental effects testing including Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing for NPDES permits, contaminated sediment and soils testing, bioaccumulation studies, and product toxicity testing using both freshwater and marine organisms at two NELAP-accredited labs.
• Taxonomy Laboratory Services North America's largest taxonomic services laboratory providing identification of freshwater, estuarine, and marine organisms including periphyton, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, and ichthyoplankton using SFS-certified taxonomists.
• Ecological Impact Assessments Bioindicators, ecotoxicology, habitat assessments, and ecological consulting services evaluating changes in aquatic communities and environmental conditions for regulatory compliance and impact analysis.
• Backpack Electrofishing Equipment Rental Electrofishing equipment rental services using Halltech HT-2000 backpack electrofishing units for fish community sampling, fish relocation, and invasive species eradication, offered in partnership with Halltech Aquatic Research at daily, weekly, and monthly rental rates.
• Product Testing Ecological risk evaluation of chemical products on aquatic or terrestrial receptors, including acute and chronic toxicity testing, endocrine disrupting potential, bioaccumulation, and biodegradation studies following OECD, USEPA, and REACH frameworks.
• Scientific Diving Contractor Services Commercial diving services for environmental assessment and monitoring, compliant with OSHA standards and ADCI standards for scientific and safety requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• EPA NARS 3 contract valued at $34.9 million over 5 years — one of three firms awarded
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Halltech Aquatic ResearchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEcoAnalysts partnered with Halltech Aquatic Research to provide electrofishing equipment rental services in the US. The HT-2000 backpack electrofishing unit is offered for daily, weekly, and monthly rental. EcoAnalysts facilitates the rental while Halltech provides the equipment.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Environment Testing (Eurofins TestAmerica): Eurofins Environment Testing is a major US environmental analytical laboratory network offering NPDES, water quality, sediment, and toxicity testing services, competing with EcoAnalysts for NPDES WET testing contracts but at significantly larger scale across many more service lines.
• ALS Global (ALS Environmental): ALS Global is an international testing services network with strong US environmental testing capabilities, including water quality, sediment, and ecotoxicology services that overlap with EcoAnalysts' laboratory offerings, though at much larger global scale.
• Pace Analytical Services: Pace Analytical is a leading US environmental testing laboratory providing NPDES, water, sediment, and biological testing services nationwide, directly competing with EcoAnalysts for municipal and industrial compliance testing work.
• SGS Environmental Services: SGS is a global inspection, verification, and testing company with extensive environmental testing capabilities, competing with EcoAnalysts in water quality, ecotoxicology, and ecological monitoring services worldwide.
• Tetra Tech: Tetra Tech is a leading global consulting and engineering firm with deep environmental services practices, including aquatic ecology, NPDES permitting, and EPA contract work; EcoAnalysts has been a subcontractor to Tetra Tech on EPA NARS work and competes for related contracts.
• Ramboll (Ramboll Environ): Ramboll is a major international environmental and sustainability consultancy with strong NPDES permitting and ecotoxicology practices in the US; EcoAnalysts hired 10 staff from Ramboll Environ's ecotoxicology lab in 2017 and competes in overlapping service areas.
• ICF International: ICF International has substantial environmental and water resource consulting practices supporting EPA, federal agencies, and state clients with ecological assessment, water quality, and regulatory compliance services that overlap with EcoAnalysts' federal contract work.

Direct peers

• Anchor QEA: Anchor QEA is an environmental science and engineering consulting firm specializing in aquatic ecology, sediment management, and water resources, with a similar mid-sized profile and federal/state regulatory client base to EcoAnalysts.
• Smithers (Smithers Environmental): Smithers offers product ecotoxicology, environmental testing, and aquatic toxicology services, closely matching EcoAnalysts' WET testing, product toxicity, and bioaccumulation study offerings.
• Hydrosphere Research Environmental Services (HRES): HRES was a regional aquatic ecotoxicity testing laboratory in Alachua, FL that was acquired by EcoAnalysts in 2022; it represents the regional Southeast US ecotoxicology niche that EcoAnalysts now serves through its Florida lab.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecoanalysts-inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecoanalysts

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 EcoAnalysts Inc