The ESS Group, Inc. Water Resources Unit specializes in the complete analysis of aquatic ecosystems and in solving water quality problems for both natural and man-made waterbodies. ESS has performed numerous diagnostic and feasibility studies for lakes and ponds, riverine systems, and stormwater conveyance systems, with an emphasis placed on the comprehensive evaluation of the system as part of a watershed.

ESS has the in-house experience and capability to evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of a system in order to identify existing problems. From these evaluations, ESS scientists, engineers, and regulatory specialists provide management recommendations that are cost-effective and compliant with
regulatory requirements.

ESS Aquatic Ecosystem & Water Quality Expertise

• Watershed Delineation and Characterization
• Surface Water and Groundwater Monitoring and Assessment
• Drinking Water Supply Protection
• Pollution Source Investigation
• Nutrient Loading Analysis, Modeling, and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Development
• Hydrogeologic Assessments and Hydrologic Modeling 
• Watershed Build-Out Analysis 
• Biological Assessments
• Aquatic Invertebrate Sampling and Analysis
• Fish Surveys
• Plankton Analysis
• Aquatic Restoration Program Design and Permitting
• Management Alternatives Analysis
• Funding Options Review and Grant Application Assistance

ESS has successfully completed more than 50 Massachusetts Watershed Initiative (MWI) and other state-funded watershed management and ecosystem restoration projects under the direction of various state agencies and municipalities. Critical tasks for these projects include diagnostic/feasibility studies, water quality monitoring and modeling, biological assessments, and design and permitting of structural and non-structural Best Management Practices (BMPs). ESS regularly provides technical assistance to various State Agencies, municipalities, lake and watershed associations and private developers on water quality, habitat and watershed protection issues.

In conjunction with MassDEP, ESS was the first consulting firm in New England to apply DNA Ribotyping as part of the nonpoint source assessment process, allowing the speciation and confirmation of bacterial pollutant sources and the design of appropriate BMPs. ESS has designed successful stormwater BMPs for towns throughout the Commonwealth, such as Westport on the Westport River, Hull at Straits Pond, and Littleton at Mill Pond. These projects typically include habitat enhancements such as provisions for fish passage and wetland restoration, as well as complex regulatory permitting and substantial community outreach.