Ecological Restoration and Management

What Ecological Restoration and Management does

Ecological Restoration and Management, Inc. (ER&M) is a privately held, full-service commercial landscape and ecological restoration contracting firm headquartered in Cockeysville, Maryland, and operating across the Mid-Atlantic region since 1983. The company delivers two integrated service lines: Ecological Restoration Services — covering coastal dune restoration and stabilization, non-tidal and tidal wetland creation, stream restoration, invasive species and nuisance animal control, and oyster bed and mussel restoration — and Commercial Landscaping Services, which include softscaping (trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers, wildflower meadows), hardscaping (natural stone, concrete pavers, retaining walls, water features), and specialty offerings such as rain gardens, green roof systems, and outdoor nature classrooms.

The business is built on specialized field capability rather than proprietary technology. Core technical competencies include tidal elevation and datum analysis, coir log installation, bioengineering bank stabilization, hydroseeding, herbicide certification, and operation of water-access equipment (boats, skidsteers). Project scale is demonstrated by high-visibility government contracts including the Maryland Port Administration Poplar Island restoration (approximately 40 tidal wetland cells with 550,000 Spartina plantings), the Heritage Island freshwater tidal wetland in the Anacostia River (65,000+ plugs, 3,000 shrubs, 6 acres of goose exclusion fence), the Patuxent River tidal wetland (82,000 plantings across 6 acres), and multi-state beach replenishment and dune projects spanning North Carolina to New York (600,000+ beachgrass plantings, 3 miles of sand fence). Cumulative track record includes 100+ miles of restored dunes, 100+ acres of non-tidal wetlands, hundreds of acres of tidal wetlands, and tens of miles of restored streams.

ER&M generates revenue through project-based, competitively bid contracts with both government agencies and commercial customers. Pricing is quote-based with intake budget ranges from under $5,000 to over $50,000; actual pricing reflects project scope, complexity, and labor requirements (crew wages $22-$80/hour, estimator compensation averaging up to $35/hour). The go-to-market motion is sales-led with dedicated estimators preparing bids, project managers acting as office-to-field liaisons, and a direct field-sales approach including on-site consultations and professional presentations. Customer segments are horizontally segmented across government (federal, state, local), commercial real estate and businesses (corporate parks, retail centers, hospitality, healthcare, senior living), educational institutions, and private homeowners. The firm is founder/management-owned with no disclosed institutional capital and maintains continuous operation with an 11-50 employee base.

Name

Ecological Restoration and Management

Legal name

Ecological Restoration & Management, Inc.

Website

https://er-m.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ecological Restoration and Management is a privately held Mid-Atlantic ecological restoration and commercial landscaping contractor, founded in 1983, serving government agencies, commercial clients, and homeowners with wetland creation, coastal dune stabilization, stream restoration, and landscaping services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecological Restoration and Commercial Landscaping

NAICS

Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Grounds, Landscaping & Exterior Services (BPABAAAD)

Keywords

• Ecological restoration services
• Commercial landscaping
• Wetland mitigation creation
• Coastal dune restoration
• Stream restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Cockeysville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ecological Restoration Services: Project-based revenue from ecological restoration services including wetland creation, coastal dune restoration, stream restoration, and invasive species control. Projects range from small private residences to large-scale government contracts spanning multiple acres.
2. Commercial Landscaping Services: Revenue from commercial landscaping services including softscaping (trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers, wildflower meadows, sodding) and hardscaping (natural stone, concrete pavers, retaining walls, water features). Specialty services include rain gardens, green roof systems, and outdoor nature classrooms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ER&M is a full-service commercial landscape and ecological restoration contracting firm based in Cockeysville, Maryland, serving the Mid-Atlantic region. The company delivers ecological restoration services—including coastal dune restoration, tidal and non-tidal wetland creation, stream restoration, invasive species control, and oyster/mussel habitat projects—alongside commercial landscaping services covering softscaping, hardscaping, and specialty installations such as rain gardens, green roofs, and outdoor nature classrooms.

Product overview

ER&M is a full-service commercial landscape and ecological restoration contracting firm servicing the Mid-Atlantic region. The company offers two primary service lines: Ecological Restoration Services and Commercial Landscaping Services. The Ecological Restoration division encompasses coastal dune restoration, non-tidal and tidal wetland creation, stream restoration, invasive species control, and specialized marine projects like oyster bed and mussel restoration. Commercial Landscaping includes Softscaping (plant installation and care), Hardscaping (structural landscape features), and Specialty Services (site amenities, green roofs, outdoor classrooms). Founded in 1983, the company has over 35 years of experience in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ecological Restoration Services Comprehensive ecological restoration services delivered throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, including coastal dune stabilization, tidal and non-tidal wetland creation, stream restoration, invasive species control, and shoreline protection projects for government agencies, commercial developers, and private clients.
• Commercial Landscaping Services Installation and care of commercial landscapes including softscaping (trees, shrubs, perennials, ground covers, wildflower meadows, sodding) and hardscaping (natural stone, concrete pavers, retaining walls, water features) for corporate parks, retail centers, mixed-use developments, and hospitality properties.
• Coastal Dune Restoration and Enhancement Dune re-vegetation and stabilization along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to New York, including planting, seeding, fertilizing, sand fence installation, post and rail fence installation, and dune crossover access path construction for federal, state, and local government projects.
• Non-Tidal Wetland Creation Restoration and creation of non-tidal wetland habitats including emergent wetlands, scrub shrub wetlands, and forested wetlands throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. ER&M has planted, maintained, and enhanced over 100 acres of these ecosystems.
• Tidal Wetland Creation Restoration and creation of freshwater and brackish/saltwater tidal wetland habitats using expertise in tidal elevations, ranges, and dynamic site conditions. ER&M has created, enhanced, and protected hundreds of acres of these ecosystems in the Mid-Atlantic.
• Stream Restoration Restoration of degraded stream channels and riparian habitats including invasive species control, seeding, bank stabilization via bioengineering applications and coir product installation, native plantings, and in-stream rock structures across tens of miles of streams.
• Invasive Species and Nuisance Animal Control Manual, mechanical, and chemical non-native vegetation control services. Includes nuisance animal control services such as deer fence installation, goose exclusion fencing, and individual plant protection.
• Oyster Bed and Mussel Restoration Creation of oyster beds using reefballs and loose shell, and ribbed mussel biofiltration structure installation for water quality improvement in tidal waters.
• Specialty Landscape Services Site enhancement services including site amenities (benches, trash cans, planter pots), arbors and trellises, rain gardens, green roof systems, and outdoor nature classrooms for commercial, educational, and senior living clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully planted, seeded, and fertilized over 100 miles of newly created or restored dunes along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to New York
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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.

• Design/Build TeamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerER&M frequently participates as part of design/build teams, providing construction services alongside designers and engineers. They contribute design input and construction expertise for ecological restoration projects, working collaboratively with design partners to optimize project outcomes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bartlett Tree Experts: National tree care and arboriculture firm with some landscape services. While not a direct restoration competitor, comparable as a regional specialist to national platform play in the broader green services space.
• Davey Tree Expert Company: Large national environmental services firm offering tree care, landscape management, and utility vegetation management. Comparable on commercial landscape maintenance and increasingly active in ecological restoration markets.
• BrightView Landscape Services: Largest U.S. commercial landscaping provider with national footprint. Competes for the commercial softscape/hardscape component of ER&M's work but lacks ER&M's restoration specialization, making it both a competitor (commercial landscaping) and potential acquirer.
• Yellowstone Landscape: Multi-regional commercial landscaping provider serving commercial real estate, municipalities, and developers. Comparable on commercial grounds maintenance but does not offer ecological restoration.
• Tetra Tech: International environmental consulting and engineering firm with significant water resources and ecological restoration practices. Comparable for large federal restoration contracts at the engineering level.
• Stantec: Global environmental consulting firm with restoration practice. Competes for design/engineering phases of restoration projects and could partner with or acquire specialty contractors like ER&M.

Direct peers

• Biohabitats: Ecological restoration firm with deep experience in wetland, stream, and coastal habitat restoration across the Mid-Atlantic and nationally. Directly comparable niche specialist competing for similar government and commercial restoration contracts.
• Wildlands Engineering: Specialty ecological restoration contractor focused on stream and wetland restoration in the Mid-Atlantic/Southeast. Overlaps with ER&M on riparian and tidal wetland mitigation work for government clients.
• Ruppert Landscape: Large Mid-Atlantic-based commercial landscape construction and maintenance firm. Directly comparable on the commercial landscaping side with overlapping geography (Maryland/Virginia/DC).

Emerging players

• Environmental Services Inc. (ESI): Regional environmental contracting firm offering wetland, stream, and habitat restoration in the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable niche player competing for similar government and private restoration work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Ecological Restoration and Management