What Hydros Consulting does

Hydros Consulting Inc. is a Boulder, Colorado-based professional services firm specializing in surface water quality and water resources engineering, planning, and management. Founded in 2010 and operating as an employee-owned company, the firm serves government agencies, local governments, federal agencies, conservancy districts, and private sector clients throughout the western United States, with engagements spanning Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. Its work centers on modeling and managing complex surface water systems, including river basins, reservoirs, and lake systems with competing demands operating within intricate policy and legal frameworks.

The firm's core technical capabilities rest on numerical modeling of surface water and groundwater systems, including reservoir operations and river basin modeling via the RiverWare platform, groundwater and conjunctive use modeling using MODFLOW and MODPATH, seasonal hydrologic and water supply forecasting using climate-driven models and datasets such as NLDAS and MERRA, and water-quality modeling of lakes, reservoirs, and rivers including sediment-water interactions and hypolimnetic oxygenation systems. The firm also provides water rights engineering using Colorado-specific tools (CDSS, StateCU, IDSCU, IDSAWAS), historical consumptive use analysis, NEPA and 401 Certification permitting support, development of decision support systems, and expert witness and litigation support services. Staff credentials include multiple PhDs and Professional Engineer licenses across several states, with co-founders Dr. Jean Marie Boyer and Dr. John Carron each bringing 30+ years of experience.

Hydros generates revenue exclusively through project-based professional services engagements. Go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct client engagement (email and website inquiry) and referrals from existing government and private-sector clients, with minimal traditional marketing. Notable engagements include technical advisory work for the State of Colorado on Colorado River Basin matters, management of the Colorado River Risk Study for the Colorado River District, and subject-expert participation in the U.S. Supreme Court case Texas v. New Mexico and Colorado (No. 141 Original). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per engagement.

Name

Hydros Consulting

Legal name

Hydros Consulting Inc.

Website

https://hydrosconsulting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hydros Consulting is an employee-owned water resources engineering and planning firm based in Boulder, Colorado, serving state, local, and federal government agencies plus private clients across the western United States with numerical modeling, water rights analysis, hydrologic forecasting, permitting, and expert witness services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resources Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Quality & Watershed/Hydrologic Modeling (SWMM/HEC-RAS, Flood/Runoff/Nutrient) (EUAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Water resources engineering
• Surface water modeling
• Water rights consulting
• Hydrologic forecasting
• Water quality modeling

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Engineering Consulting Services: Consulting services in water resources engineering, planning, and management. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements with government agencies, local governments, and private sector clients. Services include numerical modeling, expert witness work, permitting support, and strategic planning studies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Hydros Consulting provides professional consulting services in surface water quality and water resources engineering, planning, and management. Service offerings include surface and groundwater numerical modeling, climate-driven seasonal hydrologic and water supply forecasting, water rights engineering and historical consumptive use analysis, reservoir and lake water quality modeling, NEPA and 401 Certification permitting support, decision support system development, and litigation support with expert witness testimony. The firm serves government agencies, local governments, and private sector clients throughout the western United States on a project-based engagement model.

Product overview

Hydros Consulting is a professional consulting firm specializing in surface water quality and water resources engineering, planning, and management. The company provides expert consulting services rather than a discrete software product or platform. Their service offerings include surface and groundwater modeling with emphasis on basin-scale management paradigms and water rights allocation, seasonal hydrologic and water supply forecasting using climate-driven models, water rights engineering and historical consumptive use analysis, reservoir and lake water quality modeling, NEPA and 401 Certification support, litigation support, and expert witness testimony. They do not offer a branded software product, module, or platform-as-a-service offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Resources Engineering and Planning Consulting Professional consulting services for water resources planning and management, including modeling and management of complex surface water systems such as river basins and reservoir systems with numerous competing demands operating within complex policy and legal frameworks.
• Surface and Groundwater Numerical Modeling Numerical modeling of surface water systems (rivers, reservoirs, river basins) using RiverWare for reservoir operations and basin management, plus MODFLOW groundwater modeling with coupled conjunctive use analyses, stream depletion analyses, and MODPATH flow path analyses.
• Climate-Driven Hydrologic and Water Supply Forecasting Seasonal hydrologic and water supply forecasting using climate-driven models and datasets including NLDAS, MERRA, and other land and atmospheric analysis tools to support planning and operational decision-making.
• Water Rights Engineering and Historical Consumptive Use Analysis Water rights analysis using Colorado water rights engineering tools (CDSS, StateCU, IDSCU, IDSAWAS) and historical consumptive use analysis to support water rights administration, permitting, and allocation.
• Water Quality Numerical Modeling Lake, reservoir, and river water-quality modeling including sediment-water interactions, reservoir hydrodynamics, and hypolimnetic oxygenation systems for surface water quality assessment and prediction.
• Decision Support System Development Development of decision support systems for strategic planning, water supply reliability, and operational efficiency studies to support client planning and operational decision-making.
• NEPA and 401 Certification Permitting Support Permitting support for NEPA compliance, 401 water quality certifications, and development of site-specific water quality standards for water projects.
• Litigation Support and Expert Witness Testimony Expert witness and litigation support services, including staff serving as subject experts in major interstate water disputes such as the U.S. Supreme Court case Texas v. New Mexico and Colorado (No. 141 Original).

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global engineering and infrastructure firm with a large water resources practice covering hydrologic modeling, water rights, and environmental planning. Competes with Hydros on larger integrated procurements and often serves as a prime contractor while sub-contracting specialized modeling work.
• Tetra Tech: Leading environmental and water resources engineering consultancy with deep public-sector relationships in the Western U.S. Directly comparable in surface water modeling, NEPA/401 permitting, and water rights support, but operates at much larger scale across multiple sectors.
• Stantec: Global engineering consultancy with a substantial water practice providing hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, water rights, and watershed planning services. Comparable in technical service offerings but operates across many geographies and sectors.
• CDM Smith: Major water and environmental engineering firm serving municipal, state, and federal clients across the U.S. Overlaps with Hydros on water supply planning, reservoir operations, and water quality modeling, though CDM Smith typically bundles these with broader program management.
• Brown and Caldwell: Environmental engineering and consulting firm specializing in water and wastewater utilities, with capabilities in water resources planning, modeling, and permitting. Overlaps with Hydros on water supply reliability studies and reservoir operations, though focused more on municipal water/wastewater clients.

Direct peers

• INTERA Incorporated: Specialized geosciences and water resources consulting firm offering groundwater modeling (MODFLOW), surface water modeling, and water rights services. Closely comparable niche focus and similar size, with strong overlap on conjunctive-use and basin-scale analyses.
• RESPEC: Employee-owned engineering and consulting firm with water resources, environmental, and geoscience capabilities. Closely matches Hydros's employee-owned structure and mix of modeling, water rights, and applied research for government clients.
• LRE Water: Colorado-based water resources and environmental consulting firm focused on water rights, hydrology, groundwater, and permitting in the Western U.S. Highly comparable in geography, niche specialization, and client mix (state and local agencies, attorneys).
• WEST Consultants: Hydrology and water resources engineering consultancy specializing in riverine and coastal modeling, sediment transport, and HEC-RAS applications. Comparable in technical modeling depth and small-firm specialization serving Western U.S. agencies.

Emerging players

• Environmental Science Associates (ESA): Environmental and water resources consulting firm providing hydrologic modeling, NEPA/CEQA support, and water quality services to public agencies. Comparable in service portfolio and public-sector orientation, with stronger California footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Hydros Consulting