What LandStudies does

LandStudies, Inc. is a Lititz, Pennsylvania-based ecological restoration professional services firm founded in 1989 by Kelly and Mark Gutshall to deliver water-oriented environmental design, engineering, and field implementation. The company provides MS4 permit compliance, watershed planning, stream and floodplain restoration, stormwater best management practice (BMP) design, landscape architecture, and monitoring/maintenance services to municipal governments, state agencies, private developers, golf courses, healthcare and senior living campuses, and educational institutions across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the broader Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Core technical capabilities center on the proprietary "Economic Ecology" methodology (a registered trademark) and legacy sediment removal practice, which integrate hydrologic modeling, fluvial geomorphology (Rosgen Levels I-V), and native plant design to restore stream channels and floodplains to historical elevations while generating measurable pollutant load reductions and developable land yield. The firm combines in-house Professional Engineers, Registered Landscape Architects, Certified Floodplain Managers, and field operations crews, with offices in Lititz (design) and Manheim (field operations), and a pre-acquisition headcount of 11-50 that expanded to approximately 60 employees in August 2025 when LandStudies was acquired by Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc. (WSSI), a Davey Resource Group subsidiary of The Davey Tree Expert Company.

The business operates on a project-based professional services model with multi-year contract cadences and quote-based pricing, monetizing through design fees, construction oversight, monitoring, and ongoing natural landscape maintenance ($1,000-$3,000 per acre annually). GTM is enterprise field sales targeted at municipal officials, engineering firms, and state agencies responding to MS4, TMDL, and Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction mandates. The firm has secured federal and state contract pre-qualifications (PennDOT, SAM, Maryland counties) and is an approved NFWF Technical Service Provider, with notable contract wins including $3.5M in ARPA funding for the Conewago Creek project and a $293,780 NFWF grant. As of January 2025, leadership transitioned from founder Kelly Gutshall to long-tenured operator James 'Jimmy' M. Kreider as President, with Barbara 'Barb' Timmins as Director of Finance and Administration.

Name

LandStudies

Legal name

LandStudies, Inc.

Website

https://landstudies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LandStudies is a Pennsylvania-based ecological restoration professional services firm founded in 1989, providing MS4 compliance, watershed planning, floodplain restoration, and landscape architecture to municipalities, state agencies, developers, and institutions across the Chesapeake Bay watershed; acquired by WSSI/Davey Resource Group in August 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecological Restoration Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Erosion Control & Land Stabilization (BPABADAH), Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB), ROW Reforestation, Revegetation & Erosion Control (Environmental Mitigation) (EUADAOAJ)

Keywords

• Ecological restoration services
• Watershed planning services
• Stream floodplain restoration
• MS4 permit compliance
• Environmental engineering consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Lititz

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: LandStudies provides ecologically and economically beneficial solutions to water-oriented environmental challenges including floodplain restoration design and construction oversight, master planning, native plant management, and other innovative offerings. Revenue is generated through project-based professional service contracts with municipalities, government agencies, and private entities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

LandStudies provides professional ecological restoration and environmental engineering services focused on water-oriented challenges. The firm delivers end-to-end design, construction, and maintenance of stream and floodplain restoration projects, MS4 permit compliance support, watershed planning, green infrastructure BMPs, and landscape architecture for municipal, governmental, institutional, and private clients in the Chesapeake Bay watershed region.

Product overview

LandStudies is an ecological restoration firm founded in 1989 that provides a comprehensive suite of water-oriented environmental services. The company operates as a unified service organization rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, offering core services in MS4 Permit Services, Watershed Planning, Engineering and Science, Field Operations, Monitoring & Maintenance, Landscape Architecture, and Education & Outreach. These services are delivered through distinct but interconnected practice areas including Stream and Floodplain Restoration, Stormwater Management BMPs, Native Plant Design, Parks, Golf Course Services, Communities and Campuses, and Master Planning. The company also offers educational products including guided tours, an online course on Economic Ecology, and Digital Soil Monoliths visual aids. LandStudies has published two key thought leadership publications: Economic Ecology (a registered trademark) demonstrating the economic case for floodplain restoration through case studies, and Floodplain Restoration explaining stream system restoration processes. The company serves municipal, institutional, and private clients across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the broader Chesapeake Bay watershed region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MS4 Permit Services Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permit support services for municipalities, including SWMP audits, SWMP management, good housekeeping compliance, watershed action planning, MS4 permit compliance support, monitoring/outfall screening, and construction maintenance services.
• Watershed Planning Services Comprehensive watershed planning services including watershed action plans, TMDL alternatives, and strategic implementation guidance for water quality improvements across Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic watersheds.
• Engineering and Science Services Technical engineering and scientific services for water resource projects including assessment, design, engineering, permitting, and construction oversight, delivered by Professional Engineers (PE) and Certified Professional Wetland Scientists (PWS).
• Field Operations On-site implementation services for ecological restoration including construction management, planting installation, and landscape establishment, delivered from LandStudies' Field Operations office in Manheim, PA.
• Monitoring and Maintenance Ongoing monitoring and maintenance services for restored landscapes including invasive species control, ecological management, and performance evaluation of completed restoration projects.
• Landscape Architecture Professional landscape architecture services integrating native plant design, green infrastructure, and sustainable site planning for ecological restoration projects, delivered by Registered Landscape Architects (RLA).
• Stream and Floodplain Restoration Restoration of stream channels and adjacent floodplains, including legacy sediment removal, streambank stabilization, wetland creation, and reconnection of streams to their historical floodplains.
• Stormwater Management BMPs
• MS4 Services Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System compliance services supporting municipalities in meeting MS4 permit requirements and Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction goals.
• Native Plant Design Native plant landscape design services for restoration projects including meadow establishment, riparian buffers, wetland plantings, and habitat restoration.
• Parks Park planning and restoration services including ecological habitat restoration, nature preserve management, and integration of conservation with recreational amenities.
• Master Planning Comprehensive master planning services for campuses, communities, and natural areas including green master plans and long-term management strategies.
• Maintenance Natural landscape maintenance services including invasive species control, monitoring, and ongoing stewardship of restored landscapes, priced typically at $1,000 to $3,000 per acre per year depending on site conditions.
• Golf Course Services Ecological restoration services for golf courses including stream and floodplain restoration, afforestation, and sustainable golf course management practices, with notable projects at Bedford Springs Resort and Saucon Valley Country Club.
• Communities and Campuses Environmental services for residential communities, HOAs, and institutional campuses including stormwater management, floodplain restoration, and ecological restoration (e.g., Landis Homes, Brethren Village, Rock Lititz).
• Education and Outreach Educational services including guided tours, informational signage, and community engagement to highlight environmental restoration impacts and build support for projects.
• Educational Tours Educational tours of green infrastructure projects and stormwater best management practices demonstrating water quality benefits, ecological restoration techniques, and cost-effective management strategies.
• Economic Ecology Online Course Interactive online course on Economic Ecology developed in collaboration with University of Maryland's Environmental Finance Center for the Municipal Online Stormwater Training (MOST) Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• Conewago Creek: Load reductions of 10,624 lbs/yr Total Nitrogen, 3,567 lbs/yr Total Phosphorus, and 1.2 million lbs/yr Total Suspended Sediment
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc. (WSSI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2025On August 4, 2025, LandStudies officially joined Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc. (WSSI), a Davey company based in Gainesville, Virginia. WSSI is a leading natural and cultural resources consulting company with experts including scientists, regulatory specialists, engineers, permit compliance specialists, archeologists, ecosystem managers, geographic information specialists, and surveyors. LandStudies continues to operate as LandStudies in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
• Murphy and Dittenhafer, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Ryerson Station State Park feasibility study and conceptual design project with PA DCNR. Collaboration on evaluation of alternatives and conceptual design to restore and stabilize stream, floodplain, and riparian ecology.
• YSM Landscape Architects, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Ryerson Station State Park feasibility study and conceptual design project with PA DCNR. Collaboration on re-visioning circulation system and recreational offerings.
• YSM Landscape ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Climbers Run Nature Preserve Conservation & Management Plan with Lancaster County Conservancy. Development of program blending recreational uses with conservation training and demonstration.
• Recreation and Park SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Climbers Run Nature Preserve Conservation & Management Plan with Lancaster County Conservancy.
• Cornerstone DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Climbers Run Nature Preserve Conservation & Management Plan with Lancaster County Conservancy.
• Penn State University Agriculture and Environment CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Penn State University through a NFWF grant for Village Grande Ecological Restoration project. Students and professors facilitated community visioning sessions and helped design plan.
• Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + SitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Penn State University on Shavers Creek Environmental Center Master Plan. Worked with project architect on overall master plan for center improvements.
• Franklin & Marshall CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental engineers, geologists, botanists, landowners and F&M students provided eight years of scientific research and monitoring for Big Spring Run project. Collaboration with Dr. Arthur Parola at University of Louisville, and Drs. Dorothy Merritts and Robert Walter at Franklin and Marshall College on legacy sediment research.
• Derck and EdsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with planning firm on Eastern University Natural Areas Management project.
• PGA (Professional Golf Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm restoration project. Design collaboration with PGA for stream channel and floodplain restoration.
• CS DavidsoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorking with CS Davidson on York City Watershed Action Plan. Partnership providing engineering expertise alongside LandStudies green infrastructure planning.
• HRG Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineer-of-record for Conewago Creek project. LandStudies recruited by HRG Inc. to develop floodplain restoration strategy for Londonderry and Mt. Joy townships.
• C.S. DavidsoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorking with Manheim Township's Engineer C.S. Davidson on identifying Best Management Practices for Pollutant Reduction Plan.
• Rogele, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorking with the City of Lancaster and their contractors including Rogele, Inc. to design and construct stormwater BMPs.
• Chesapeake Watershed Initiative (CWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWI at Franklin & Marshall College studies legacy of human impacts on floodplains within the Chesapeake Watershed and applies findings through targeted action in Lancaster County, PA.
• Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (ACB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance leads, supports and inspires local action to restore and protect lands, rivers and streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
• Lancaster County Clean Water Consortium (LCCWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium created to promote, support and sustain stewardship of land, water and other natural resources in Lancaster County.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stantec: Large engineering and environmental consulting firm with significant water resources and ecological restoration capabilities, often competing for the same municipal stormwater projects.
• Tetra Tech: Global environmental and engineering consulting leader with a large water resources practice that competes for MS4, TMDL, and watershed restoration RFPs alongside LandStudies.
• SWCA Environmental Consultants: Environmental consulting firm supporting watershed, wetland, and ecosystem restoration programs for public and private clients across the US.

Direct peers

• Wildlands Engineering: Ecological engineering and restoration firm specializing in stream, wetland, and watershed projects with comparable mitigation banking and design-build services.
• Resource Environmental Solutions (RES): Large-scale ecological restoration company delivering stream, wetland, and habitat mitigation projects, competing for many of the same municipal and private mitigation dollars as LandStudies.
• Inter-Fluve: River and floodplain restoration consulting firm with a fluvial geomorphology focus and design-build delivery, highly comparable to LandStudies' stream restoration practice.
• Biohabitats: Ecological restoration firm founded in 1982 specializing in river, wetland, and watershed restoration with a similar design-build model and East Coast/Mid-Atlantic footprint; competes directly for municipal restoration work.
• Ecosystem Planning and Restoration: Ecological restoration firm providing stream and wetland restoration, native plant design, and mitigation services for municipalities and developers in similar Eastern US markets.

Others

• Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc. (WSSI): Acquirer of LandStudies and sister company under Davey Resource Group, providing natural and cultural resources consulting; shares the same parent and overlapping Mid-Atlantic client base.
• Davey Resource Group: Subsidiary of The Davey Tree Expert Company that now houses both LandStudies and WSSI; provides utility vegetation management and ecological services and serves as the parent platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/landstudies
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LandStudies
• Facebookfacebook.com/LandStudies-Inc-1240897155937681
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landstudies

Compliance25 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 LandStudies