The Challenge
The Trinity River Restoration Program is a congressionally mandated multi-decade effort led by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in collaboration with state and federal resource managers and Klamath Basin tribes, to restore the function and form of an important salmon fishery in Northern California that has been detrimentally impacted by historic mining and current dam and water management activities. Water management actions and restoration efforts are guided by and tiered to a 2000 Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and a 2009 Environmental Impact Report under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The Trinity River Restoration Program’s restoration actions include managing dam releases for fish habitat restoration; actively restoring the mainstem Trinity River and its tributaries through removal of legacy mine tailings; lowering the floodplain and removing riparian encroachment to promote river geomorphology and processes; and adaptive management.
Our Solution
Spheros Environmental (formerly Ironwood) has been the Program’s lead permitting, monitoring, and facilitation consultant since 2019, and has supported the development, analysis, and implementation of 10 restoration projects as of 2025. We are the sole-source contractor providing comprehensive permitting support, natural resource studies, and NEPA/CEQA compliance for TRRP projects.
Sole-Source Contractor
Results +What makes this unique
Spheros Environmental’s integrated approach enables TRRP to advance complex restoration projects efficiently while maintaining compliance with federal, state, and tribal requirements. By combining technical expertise in permitting and ecological monitoring and coordinating cultural resource studies, we help restore critical fish habitats and improve river health. Our role as a trusted sole-source partner ensures continuity and precision in managing multi-agency restoration efforts.
Our team prepares up to three environmental assessments annually, conducts wetland delineations, sensitive species surveys and habitat assessments, and develops supporting documentation for federal and state permits. We also assist with mapping and monitoring wetland and riparian vegetation communities, ensuring restoration activities meet ecological and regulatory standards.
Project Experts
