5 Smooth Stones Restoration

What 5 Smooth Stones Restoration does

5 Smooth Stones Restoration (5SSR) is a privately held professional services firm specializing in applied fluvial geomorphology and river restoration. Founded in January 2015 by David Bidelspach in the United States and expanded into Canada in 2018 through a parallel partnership with Brad Fairley, the firm delivers consulting, engineering, and design-build services across the full project lifecycle — from watershed assessment, geomorphic survey, and fisheries impact assessment through 30/60/90/final design, permitting, construction oversight, and post-construction as-built survey. The US entity (5SSR USA) is wholly owned by the Bidelspach family while the Canadian entity (5SSR Canada) is jointly controlled by Fairley and Lucas Warner, who joined as a partner in 2021 to strengthen western Canada presence. Together, the principals have completed more than 300 restoration projects spanning 29 US states, 6 Canadian provinces/territories, and Costa Rica.

The firm's core technology is built on AutoCAD for 2D drafting and 3-D design, complemented by flood modeling, sediment sampling, and digital surface manipulation tools used to load designs directly into construction equipment. Its recognized technical differentiator is a 3-D design process for river restoration that allows rapid iteration through design alternatives to optimize outcomes and lower project costs — a methodology in which Bidelspach is described as an industry leader. Service lines also include fish habitat banking, expert witness testimony, forensic fatal flaw analysis, QA/QC for other firms, grant-writing assistance, and education/outreach, reflecting the firm's S.H.A.R.E.D. philosophy of knowledge sharing grounded in a faith-based mission.

5SSR generates revenue through project-based professional service contracts with federal, provincial, state, and municipal government agencies, conservation authorities, and private resource/infrastructure companies (pipelines, mining, railways). Customers include the North Texas Municipal Water District, Cities of Kitchener, London, and Oshawa, TC Energy (Nova Gas Transmission Ltd.), Canadian Pacific Railway, Canadian National Railway, and Coalspur Mines. Go-to-market is direct enterprise/professional engagement rather than traditional marketing, with a stated preference for teaming with existing partners to offer turnkey design-build solutions. The firm holds no external institutional investment and operates with 1-10 employees.

Name

5 Smooth Stones Restoration

Legal name

5 Smooth Stones Restoration Inc. (Canada)

Website

https://fivessr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

5 Smooth Stones Restoration is a privately held professional services firm providing applied fluvial geomorphology, river restoration, fish habitat banking, and fisheries impact assessment consulting to government agencies, municipalities, and resource companies across the United States and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Consulting — River and Stream Restoration

NAICS

Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (54137)

akta.pro primary industry

Wetlands & Waters of the U.S. Delineation / Riparian Assessments (EUAHAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Erosion Control & Slope Stabilization (Softscape/Planting Solutions) (HSAIABAI), Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review) (IMAFAOAK)

Keywords

• River restoration services
• Fluvial geomorphology consulting
• Stream restoration design
• Fish habitat banking
• Watershed assessment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Livermore

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Project-based consulting and engineering services for river restoration, geomorphic assessment, and habitat restoration. Revenue is generated through professional service contracts with government agencies, municipalities, and private sector clients. The company offers both consulting-only services and design-build construction solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

5 Smooth Stones Restoration (5SSR) is a professional consulting firm specializing in applied fluvial geomorphology and river/stream restoration. The firm delivers end-to-end services spanning watershed and geomorphic assessment, restoration design (30% through final construction documents), fisheries impact assessment and permitting, fish habitat banking, AutoCAD 2D/3D drafting, flood modeling, risk analysis, and turnkey design-build construction oversight. Services are delivered to government agencies, municipalities, conservation authorities, and private-sector resource and infrastructure companies across the US and Canada.

Product overview

5 Smooth Stones Restoration (5SSR) is a professional services firm specializing in applied fluvial geomorphology and river restoration. The company operates two regional divisions (5SSR USA and 5SSR Canada) offering comprehensive consulting and design services. The service portfolio spans the full project lifecycle from watershed assessment, geomorphic surveys, and impact assessments through restoration design (30%, 60%, 90%, and final design phases), permitting, and construction oversight. Canada operations focus on five core service lines: Policy and Protocol Development, Geomorphic Assessment and Stream Restoration Design, Fisheries Impact Assessment and Permitting, Fish Habitat Banking, and Expert Witness/Advice. USA operations offer a broader range of services including watershed analysis, velocity and flow measurements, sediment sampling, AutoCAD drafting and 3-D design, flood modeling, risk analysis, design-build construction, and forensic analysis. The company differentiates through its S.H.A.R.E.D. philosophy emphasizing knowledge sharing and technical excellence in river restoration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy and Protocol Development

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aquatic Habitat CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLucas Warner works with Aquatic Habitat Canada to review existing Canadian regulations governing aquatic habitat restoration projects and develop recommendations to improve and facilitate aquatic habitat restoration work in Canada.
• McMaster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrad Fairley and his wife have funded a Research Chair in Fluvial Geomorphology at McMaster University, supporting academic research and education in the field.
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLucas Warner was invited to participate in DFO's Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) review of the Pathways of Effects as a technical expert, and worked for DFO to develop a standardized framework for impact assessment.
• Technical Field Partners (Wetlands, Vegetation, Wildlife, GIS)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner5SSR has established strong partnerships with experts in wetlands, vegetation, migratory birds, wildlife, and GIS/data management fields to provide comprehensive services on projects requiring interdisciplinary expertise.
• Wildland HydrologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDave Bidelspach was mentored at Wildland Hydrology by Dave Rosgen, establishing a professional relationship that contributed to technical expertise development.
• North Carolina State University (Stream Restoration Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDave Bidelspach spent five years with the Stream Restoration Program at NCSU, where he was mentored by Dr. Greg Jennings and provided assessment, design and construction oversight services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tetra Tech: Leading environmental and water resources consulting firm with significant stream and river restoration capabilities, federal contracting vehicles, and multi-disciplinary delivery beyond 5SSR's scope.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with an environmental services practice spanning watershed assessment, water resources, and habitat restoration for government and enterprise clients worldwide.
• KCI Technologies: Engineering, planning, and construction firm with environmental and water resources practices offering stream restoration, geomorphic assessment, and permitting services comparable to 5SSR's portfolio.
• WSP: Global engineering consultancy with strong water, environment, and earth sciences practices, including stream and river restoration services that overlap with 5SSR's offerings.
• Jacobs: Global professional services firm with a Critical Mission Solutions and environmental services practice that competes for large-scale water resources and ecosystem restoration contracts, particularly with US federal agencies.
• Stantec: Global engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting firm with extensive water resources, watershed, and ecosystem restoration practices serving government and enterprise clients across North America.
• Geosyntec Consultants: Specialty environmental consulting firm with water resources, stream restoration, and ecosystem practices serving government and private-sector clients across North America.

Direct peers

• Anchor QEA: Environmental engineering and science consulting firm with strong water resources, habitat restoration, and fisheries practices. Comparable to 5SSR in restoration design and regulatory permitting, with broader multidisciplinary capabilities.
• Inter-Fluve: Specialized river and stream restoration consulting firm offering geomorphic assessment, natural channel design, and habitat restoration services. Highly comparable to 5SSR in niche focus, methodology, and target clients across the western US.
• Wildland Hydrology: Dave Rosgen's natural channel design methodology firm where 5SSR founder Bidelspach was mentored. Operates in the same applied fluvial geomorphology niche, combining training, consulting, and project design in river restoration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5-smooth-stones-restoration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 5 Smooth Stones Restoration