Coastal & Estuarine Restoration

At ESA, we approach coastal and estuarine restoration projects with long-term sustainability in mind.

We take a holistic view of the project, collaborating with agencies and stakeholders to integrate the physical and biological processes into our design solution.

ESA pioneered some of the earliest wetland restoration planning efforts on the West Coast. We have led the planning and design of the two largest tidal wetland restorations on the Pacific Coast, the former salt ponds located along the Napa River (10,000 acres) and the South San Francisco Bay. Further north, we have completed award-winning estuarine restorations in Oregon near Tillamook and Astoria, and are currently completing a 1.5-mile shoreline enhancement of Birch Bay in northern Washington.

Our experts have published tidal wetland restoration design guidelines for San Francisco Bay and the Columbia River that are now widely used by restoration practitioners throughout the United States. We also published a set of design guidelines for natural infrastructure approaches to flood and erosion management.

We have designed some of the most notable managed shoreline retreat projects on the West Coast, including Surfer’s Point and Pacifica Beach, each designed to reduce coastal hazards and maximize recreational opportunities. Along the Gulf of Mexico, we have worked with the Gulf States, counties, parishes, and federal agencies to plan and prioritize coastal restoration projects funded by the RESTORE Act.

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