Green Earth Operations, Inc.

What Green Earth Operations, Inc. does

Green Earth Operations, Inc. (GEO) is a Seattle-based environmental science and engineering firm founded in 2014 that delivers professional services across the project lifecycle — from concept planning and analysis through design development, construction documents, and construction observation — for water, ecology, and sustainable infrastructure challenges. Core offerings include hydrology analysis and design (using SWMM and Civil 3D modeling), ecological system design (wetlands, riparian corridors, habitat structures), green stormwater infrastructure and Low Impact Development design, water structure hydraulic design, and critical areas permitting. The firm operates a portfolio of at least five proprietary technologies — Active Island Technology™, Gravity Swales™, Waterfall Treatment System (WTS), Phosphorus Elimination System (PES), Advanced Bioretention System (ABS), and Lucas-PWD Planter Trench System — several with trademark registration and documented field performance (e.g., PES achieving >90% phosphorus removal at Doctors Lake; over 100 Lucas-PWD systems installed in Philadelphia).

GEO generates revenue exclusively through project-based professional service fees, working primarily with municipal and government clients (city planning bureaus, water utilities, hydraulic bureaus) supplemented by select real estate developers, institutional campuses, NGOs, and large enterprise engagements (e.g., China Mobile). The go-to-market is enterprise field sales through direct project engagements, supported by long-standing co-development partnerships with leading landscape architecture firms (SWA Group, Terrain Studio, American G&D Group) and environmental consultants (Herrera Environmental Consultants). GEO is internationally active across Washington, Florida, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, multiple Chinese cities, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Canada, and is recognized as one of few foreign firms with comprehensive end-to-end experience in China's Sponge City program. Leadership comprises Mark Merkelbach (CEO/Principal) and Dr. William C. Lucas (Principal), supported by a small team of senior engineers, financial staff, landscape designers, and wetland ecologists.

Name

Green Earth Operations, Inc.

Legal name

Green Earth Operations, Inc.

Website

https://greenearthops.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Green Earth Operations is a Seattle-based environmental science and engineering firm providing planning, analysis, and design services for water, ecology, and sustainable infrastructure. It serves municipal agencies, developers, and institutions with proprietary stormwater and wetland technologies, including notable Sponge City program work in China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Engineering Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Reporting, Dashboards & Regulatory Submittals (Automated Reports, e-Reporting) (EUAHAKAL), Geotechnical, Hydrogeological & Seismic Engineering (Slope Stability, Ground Support, Dewatering) (IMAKAOAN)

Keywords

• Environmental engineering services
• Green stormwater infrastructure
• Wetland habitat restoration
• Water quality treatment design
• Ecological engineering consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

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. Environmental Consulting and Engineering Services: Provides specialty services in environmental science, civil engineering, ecological engineering, stormwater management, and habitat restoration. Revenue generated through professional service fees for planning, analysis, design development, construction documents, and construction observation across project lifecycle.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Green Earth Operations (GEO) is an international environmental science and engineering firm providing specialty services in hydrology analysis, ecological system design, green stormwater infrastructure, water structure hydraulic design, and construction observation. The firm delivers professional services across the project lifecycle — from concept planning and analysis through design development, construction documents, and construction observation — with expertise in SWMM stormwater modeling, wetland and stream habitat restoration, water quality treatment, and sustainability analysis. GEO also develops and deploys proprietary technologies including Gravity Swales™, Active Island Technology™, Phosphorus Elimination System, and Waterfall Treatment System for clients across the US, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Canada.

Product overview

Green Earth Operations is an environmental science and engineering firm (not a software/product company) providing professional services centered on water, ecology, and sustainability. The company offers a portfolio of core service offerings including hydrology analysis and design, ecological system design, green stormwater infrastructure, construction observation, and water structure hydraulic design. Their proprietary technologies include Gravity Swales™ for bio-retention treatment, the Phosphorus Elimination System (PES) for wastewater phosphorus removal, Active Island Technology™ for canal restoration, Advanced Bioretention Systems (ABS), and the Waterfall Treatment System (WTS). Services are delivered across multiple project types including wetland restoration, Sponge City planning (primarily in China), LID design, environmental permitting, and habitat restoration. The firm works with landscape architects (notably SWA Group) and engineering partners to deliver projects globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hydrology Analysis and Design Services Provides hydrology analysis and hydraulic design services for water management projects, including stormwater modeling using SWMM and Civil 3D tools, for municipal and developer clients.
• Ecological System Design Design of ecological systems including wetland habitats, riparian corridors, and wildlife habitat structures such as large woody debris installations, for environmental and developer clients.
• Green Stormwater Infrastructure Low Impact Development (LID) and green stormwater infrastructure design including bioswales, bioretention facilities, permeable pavements, and raingardens for urban and campus clients.
• Construction Observation Construction oversight and observation services for environmental and stormwater infrastructure projects, provided for clients across multiple geographies.
• Water Structure Hydraulic Design Design of water control structures including weirs, dams, and hydraulic structures for flood control and water management, for municipal and developer clients.
• Sponge City Planning and Design Comprehensive support for China's Sponge City program including stormwater infrastructure planning, analysis, LID design, and construction support for municipal governments.
• Critical Areas Permitting Wetland and stream permitting services including JARPA applications, Clean Water Act Section 404/401 permits, ESA consultations, and local jurisdiction critical area permits.
• Wetland and Stream Studies Wetland delineation, watershed planning, site selection, mitigation banking strategies, and construction oversight for wetland and stream ecology projects.
• Active Island Technology™ Floating wetland ecosystem technology using micro-bubble diffused air system and hanging Dynamic Media™ columns for canal and river restoration, supporting attached growth treatment for nitrogen and BOD reduction.
• Gravity Swales™ Bio-retention technology using high performance media combined with TSS removal technology for stormwater quality treatment at campus and urban scale.
• Phosphorus Elimination System (PES) Vegetated vertical filtration system using engineered media for high phosphorus load removal from wastewater treatment facilities, achieving over 90% removal efficiency.
• Waterfall Treatment System (WTS) Proprietary waterfall treatment system that creates wetland ponds, pumps water from deep pipes to underground storage, then through filtration for TSS reduction.
• Lucas-PWD Planter Trench System

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ lbs phosphorus removed with 92% removal efficiency at Doctors Lake PES
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered operational, minor, core and major.

• Sustainable Water Investment Group, LLC (SWIG)operationalOthers · 1 January 2020SWIG operates the Doctors Lake PES system through 2023. System has removed over 3,000 lbs of phosphorus with 92% removal efficiency.
• Chung Yuan Christian University, TaiwanminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Academic engagement where GEO's Mark Merkelbach gave web-based lecture to landscape architecture department's Contemporary Eco-City class on stormwater planning and Sponge City program.
• Herrera Environmental Consultants, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Strategic partnership for comprehensive stormwater and environmental projects. Herrera Environmental provides additional environmental consulting expertise on Sponge City infrastructure planning projects in China including Zhenjiang Sponge City Infrastructure Planning (22 sq km area).
• SWA GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration with SWA Group as landscape architect partner on major wetland and stormwater projects including Changsha Baxizhou Islands, Wusong Riverfront, Longmu Bay Beach Resort, and Bavi Resort. GEO provides hydraulic and ecological design while SWA provides landscape architecture.
• Terrain StudiomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Terrain Studio (landscape architect) on Xing Yuan New Town hydraulic design project. GEO provides hydraulic engineering design for over 20 hydraulic structures in the 27.7 km2 development.
• American G&D GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with American G&D Group for Ningbo Confluence Park Ecological Planning project. GEO provides habitat design strategies and environmental expertise.
• Herrera Environment Consultants, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Jiangsu University and Yudai River Surface Water Treatment Design. Herrera provides environmental consulting while GEO designed the Gravity Swales™ stormwater treatment system.
• China Eco-city Academy Co.,ltdmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient and implementation partner for Wuhan Sponge City project. GEO provides SWMM modeling and Waterfall Treatment System design services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: One of the largest global infrastructure consulting firms with a strong water and environment practice serving public and private clients. Competes with GEO for large-scale municipal stormwater, Sponge City-style, and climate-resilience programs, though at much greater scale and breadth.
• Arcadis: International design and consultancy with sizable water, resilience, and environmental practices serving municipal and developer clients. A broader incumbent operating in many of the same geographies and capability areas as GEO.
• Brown and Caldwell: Large US water and environmental engineering firm focused on wastewater, stormwater, and water resources for municipal utilities. Operates at a much larger scale than GEO but competes for the same municipal and developer-led stormwater and water-quality mandates GEO targets.
• CDM Smith: Major environmental and water infrastructure consulting and engineering firm serving municipal and federal clients worldwide. Particularly relevant given that GEO Principal Dr. William C. Lucas previously consulted at CDM, and CDM competes for the same hydraulic modeling and water-quality design work GEO delivers.
• Stantec: Global design and engineering firm with strong environmental services, water resources, and community development practices. Competes with GEO for municipal stormwater, wetland mitigation, and sustainable infrastructure engagements.
• Tetra Tech: Global consulting and engineering firm with deep practices in water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure for government and commercial clients. A broader incumbent competing with GEO for municipal stormwater, LID, and watershed restoration work.
• WSP: Global professional services firm with a major environment and water business serving public agencies and developers on stormwater, climate adaptation, and sustainability work. A broader incumbent active in many of the same markets GEO serves.

Others

• SWA Group: Internationally recognized landscape architecture and urban design firm and a long-standing strategic partner of GEO on Baxi Island, Wusong Riverfront, Longmu Bay, and Bavi Resort. Comparable as a co-deliverer on large wetland and waterfront master plans rather than a direct competitor in stormwater engineering.

Direct peers

• Geosyntec Consultants: Geoenvironmental and water-resources engineering consultancy serving municipal, industrial, and developer clients on stormwater, sediment, and remediation work. Highly comparable to GEO in the integration of geotechnical, water-quality, and ecological engineering on urban infrastructure projects.
• Herrera Environmental Consultants: Seattle-based environmental science and engineering firm specializing in stormwater, watershed, and restoration planning. Herrera is both a direct competitor and a documented strategic partner of GEO on Zhenjiang Sponge City and Jiangsu University projects, making it the closest comparable on services, geography, and customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-earth-operations-inc

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 Green Earth Operations, Inc.