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Projects
Where natural resource strategy meets real-world implementation.
Collaborative Conservation at Work
At NRS, we partner with clients across the country to navigate the complex intersection of science, policy, and land stewardship. From endangered species recovery and habitat conservation planning to technical risk assessments and regulatory strategy, our work is rooted in collaboration, credibility, and real-world impact. The following projects highlight our track record of helping industry, government, and nonprofit partners find practical, science-based solutions to some of today’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Leon-Cowhouse Flood Mitigation Initiative
To address persistent and devastating flooding in Coryell County and surrounding communities, NRS partnered with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the American Conservation Foundation, and RRG Professional Engineering to support a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy across the Leon River Watershed (LRW) and Cowhouse Creek Watershed (CCW). Funded by the Texas General Land Office, the multi-year project focuses on rural and underserved regions frequently impacted by flood events.
Our work is centered on two major components: the development of linked surface and groundwater flow models to better understand and predict flooding, and the implementation of a region-specific Flood Emergency Warning System (FEWS), combined with community-based education and stakeholder engagement. The integrated modeling approach will not only support emergency preparedness but also contribute to long-term water resource planning in light of ongoing drought conditions and aquifer depletion.
To address persistent and devastating flooding in Coryell County and surrounding communities, NRS partnered with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Blackland Research and Extension, the American Conservation Foundation, and RRG Professional Engineering to support a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy across the Leon River Watershed (LRW) and Cowhouse Creek Watershed (CCW). Funded by the Texas General Land Office, the multi-year project focuses on rural and underserved regions frequently impacted by flood events.
Our work is centered on two major components: the development of linked surface and groundwater flow models to better understand and predict flooding, and the implementation of a region-specific Flood Emergency Warning System (FEWS), combined with community-based education and stakeholder engagement. The integrated modeling approach will not only support emergency preparedness but also contribute to long-term water resource planning in light of ongoing drought conditions and aquifer depletion.
In collaboration with local officials, Fort Hood leadership, and community stakeholders, the NRS team helped assess flood risk, prioritize sensor placement, and support development of a mitigation plan tailored to the region’s unique hydrological landscape. The project also includes a public engagement component, educating residents on high-water safety and gathering input through stakeholder meetings and surveys to ensure the plan reflects both expert insights and lived experiences
Our work is centered on two major components: the development of linked surface and groundwater flow models to better understand and predict flooding, and the implementation of a region-specific Flood Emergency Warning System (FEWS), combined with community-based education and stakeholder engagement. The integrated modeling approach will not only support emergency preparedness but also contribute to long-term water resource planning in light of ongoing drought conditions and aquifer depletion.
To address persistent and devastating flooding in Coryell County and surrounding communities, NRS partnered with Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Blackland Research and Extension, the American Conservation Foundation, and RRG Professional Engineering to support a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy across the Leon River Watershed (LRW) and Cowhouse Creek Watershed (CCW). Funded by the Texas General Land Office, the multi-year project focuses on rural and underserved regions frequently impacted by flood events.
Our work is centered on two major components: the development of linked surface and groundwater flow models to better understand and predict flooding, and the implementation of a region-specific Flood Emergency Warning System (FEWS), combined with community-based education and stakeholder engagement. The integrated modeling approach will not only support emergency preparedness but also contribute to long-term water resource planning in light of ongoing drought conditions and aquifer depletion.
In collaboration with local officials, Fort Hood leadership, and community stakeholders, the NRS team helped assess flood risk, prioritize sensor placement, and support development of a mitigation plan tailored to the region’s unique hydrological landscape. The project also includes a public engagement component, educating residents on high-water safety and gathering input through stakeholder meetings and surveys to ensure the plan reflects both expert insights and lived experiences
Galveston Island: Mitigation Bank Assessments
In 2020, NRS collaborated with a team of consultants to evaluate two properties on a Texas Gulf Coast island for their potential designation as jurisdictional wetlands under the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) definition, and to determine their viability as conservation banks for endangered species.
NRS was contracted to assess the ecological integrity and market potential of multiple sites for use in long-term conservation efforts. The NRS team conducted a thorough technical (desktop) review, performed field surveys, and mapped key habitats and species. This comprehensive assessment helped identify strategies to meet the client’s dual goals: ensuring permanent preservation of sensitive lands while exploring options to generate near-term revenue through conservation banking.
Note: Due to contractual confidentiality requirements, client-specific details and project costs are not disclosed.
NRS was contracted to assess the ecological integrity and market potential of multiple sites for use in long-term conservation efforts. The NRS team conducted a thorough technical (desktop) review, performed field surveys, and mapped key habitats and species. This comprehensive assessment helped identify strategies to meet the client’s dual goals: ensuring permanent preservation of sensitive lands while exploring options to generate near-term revenue through conservation banking.
Note: Due to contractual confidentiality requirements, client-specific details and project costs are not disclosed.
Lesser Prairie-Chicken Conservation Initiative
In 2012, NRS launched a five-year collaboration with the American Habitat Center to support the development of a multi-state hybrid Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the lesser prairie-chicken (LEPC). Our team provided strategic guidance and technical expertise throughout the preparation of relevant NEPA documentation to advance this large-scale conservation effort.
American Burying Beetle Trapping Study
NRS facilitated a client-funded research initiative led by Oklahoma State University to evaluate the effectiveness of American Burying Beetle (ABB) trapping methods. Acting as the primary liaison between the client and university researchers, NRS coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to secure the necessary research permits. This collaboration ensured regulatory compliance and enabled the client to continue well site development within ABB habitat areas.
Texas Conservation Plan & ESA Section 10 Permit for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
Drawing on experience from landmark projects such as Fort Hood’s Recovery Credit System and policy work at Camp Lejeune, NRS was retained by the Texas Oil and Gas Association (TxOGA) to assist in the development of the Texas Conservation Plan (TCP) for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (DSL). This collaborative initiative brought together the Texas Comptroller’s Office, landowners, environmental organizations, and key industry stakeholders to develop a novel conservation strategy to protect the DSL while minimizing disruptions to oil and gas production in the Permian Basin.
At the time, the DSL, a small reptile inhabiting the shinnery oak dunes of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, was under review for federal protection due to a nationwide legal settlement requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to evaluate over 250 species for potential listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With over 100 of those species directly affecting Texas, the DSL was at the forefront of concern, especially given the potential economic impacts of restricting oil and gas development in one of the nation’s most productive energy regions.
Recognizing the lack of adequate scientific data on the species, NRS coordinated with TxOGA to commission research from Texas A&M University’s Institute of Renewable Natural Resources and the University of Texas. This effort enabled rapid deployment of survey teams to collect critical ecological data. That information was used to help inform FWS’s listing decision and later served as the foundation for the TCP.
Beginning in June 2011, NRS and its partners held dozens of meetings in Austin, Midland, and elsewhere, to develop the TCP. This unique plan, a hybrid of conservation mechanisms under ESA Section 10, sought to balance environmental protection with practical implementation. It included transitional mitigation tools that preserved landowner anonymity, minimized disruptions to ongoing energy operations, and outlined a recovery framework in case of listing.
Despite the TCP’s robust strategy, the DSL was officially listed as endangered in 2024. However, the groundwork laid by the TCP continues to influence how agencies and stakeholders navigate conservation planning in the Permian Basin. NRS’s role in developing the TCP exemplifies the firm’s ability to build consensus-driven, science-based solutions that bridge the gap between regulatory compliance and real-world operations.
At the time, the DSL, a small reptile inhabiting the shinnery oak dunes of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico, was under review for federal protection due to a nationwide legal settlement requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to evaluate over 250 species for potential listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With over 100 of those species directly affecting Texas, the DSL was at the forefront of concern, especially given the potential economic impacts of restricting oil and gas development in one of the nation’s most productive energy regions.
Recognizing the lack of adequate scientific data on the species, NRS coordinated with TxOGA to commission research from Texas A&M University’s Institute of Renewable Natural Resources and the University of Texas. This effort enabled rapid deployment of survey teams to collect critical ecological data. That information was used to help inform FWS’s listing decision and later served as the foundation for the TCP.
Beginning in June 2011, NRS and its partners held dozens of meetings in Austin, Midland, and elsewhere, to develop the TCP. This unique plan, a hybrid of conservation mechanisms under ESA Section 10, sought to balance environmental protection with practical implementation. It included transitional mitigation tools that preserved landowner anonymity, minimized disruptions to ongoing energy operations, and outlined a recovery framework in case of listing.
Despite the TCP’s robust strategy, the DSL was officially listed as endangered in 2024. However, the groundwork laid by the TCP continues to influence how agencies and stakeholders navigate conservation planning in the Permian Basin. NRS’s role in developing the TCP exemplifies the firm’s ability to build consensus-driven, science-based solutions that bridge the gap between regulatory compliance and real-world operations.
Northern Long-eared Bat Listing Review
NRS conducted a thorough analysis of existing literature on the Northern Long-eared Bat (NLEB), compiling key scientific findings and regulatory insights. The team prepared and submitted formal comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the public comment period for the species' proposed listing under the Endangered Species Act, helping to inform the agency’s decision-making process with well-supported, science-based recommendations.
Rapid Risk Assessment for Freshwater Mussels in the Brazos River Basin
On behalf of the Brazos River Authority, NRS partnered with the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources to conduct a rapid risk assessment focused on three freshwater mussel species: the Texas fawnsfoot, smooth pimpleback, and false spike. NRS led the policy and technical evaluation, analyzing the potential regulatory and operational implications of the species' biological status within the basin.
Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Strategy Review
NRS conducted a detailed review and assessment of documents produced by the Colorado Habitat Exchange Working Group and its support staff. This evaluation included policy, financial, operational, and scientific components, providing strategic insights to support effective habitat conservation planning for the greater sage-grouse.
Fort Hood & the Recovery Credit System (RCS)
Although Natural Resources Solutions, L.C. (NRS) was not formally established until 2008, its founding members were integral to the early development of the Recovery Credit System (RCS) at Fort Hood Military Reservation in Central Texas. Collaborating with then–Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, military leaders at Fort Hood, Texas A&M University, local landowners, and other key stakeholders, they helped create an innovative, market-based conservation tool that has since been recognized nationally for its effectiveness.
The RCS was designed to address the challenges posed by the presence of the federally endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler (GCW), whose habitat overlaps with Fort Hood’s 217,000-acre training grounds. In the 1990s, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated critical habitat on the base, approximately one-third of Fort Hood’s land was restricted from military training. By March 2005, the Service issued a biological opinion requiring the Army to pursue off-site conservation to offset habitat impacts caused by training exercises.
Recognizing the need for a solution that supported both military readiness and species recovery, Commissioner Susan Combs convened a multi-stakeholder working group to explore incentive-based conservation strategies. The outcome was the Recovery Credit System—a pilot program launched in 2006 to generate conservation credits through private landowner partnerships. The program targeted a six-county area surrounding Fort Hood, encompassing approximately 2.5 million acres of privately owned land.
Under the RCS, private landowners voluntarily implemented conservation practices such as invasive brush removal and habitat enhancement in exchange for financial compensation. These conservation actions were verified and overseen biologically by Texas A&M University and the Environmental Defense Fund. In return, the Army received recovery credits from USFWS, which allowed the lifting of training restrictions on parts of the base and ensured compliance with the Endangered Species Act.
The Recovery Credit System (RCS) established a precedent-setting, market-based model for conservation that reshaped how environmental stewardship and military readiness could coexist. Designed to promote the recovery of endangered species, the RCS extended conservation efforts beyond the boundaries of the military base by actively engaging private landowners in incentive-driven habitat management. This innovative approach provided the U.S. Army with a practical mechanism to mitigate unavoidable environmental impacts associated with its training activities. At the same time, it laid the foundation for a formal credit trading system—one that has since gained recognition and credibility among conservation experts, landowners, and policymakers alike.
The success of this pilot project reflects NRS’s early and continuing commitment to collaborative, pragmatic conservation. It also exemplifies the firm’s strength in building consensus among diverse stakeholders and developing creative, policy-aligned solutions to complex environmental challenges.
The RCS was designed to address the challenges posed by the presence of the federally endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler (GCW), whose habitat overlaps with Fort Hood’s 217,000-acre training grounds. In the 1990s, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated critical habitat on the base, approximately one-third of Fort Hood’s land was restricted from military training. By March 2005, the Service issued a biological opinion requiring the Army to pursue off-site conservation to offset habitat impacts caused by training exercises.
Recognizing the need for a solution that supported both military readiness and species recovery, Commissioner Susan Combs convened a multi-stakeholder working group to explore incentive-based conservation strategies. The outcome was the Recovery Credit System—a pilot program launched in 2006 to generate conservation credits through private landowner partnerships. The program targeted a six-county area surrounding Fort Hood, encompassing approximately 2.5 million acres of privately owned land.
Under the RCS, private landowners voluntarily implemented conservation practices such as invasive brush removal and habitat enhancement in exchange for financial compensation. These conservation actions were verified and overseen biologically by Texas A&M University and the Environmental Defense Fund. In return, the Army received recovery credits from USFWS, which allowed the lifting of training restrictions on parts of the base and ensured compliance with the Endangered Species Act.
The Recovery Credit System (RCS) established a precedent-setting, market-based model for conservation that reshaped how environmental stewardship and military readiness could coexist. Designed to promote the recovery of endangered species, the RCS extended conservation efforts beyond the boundaries of the military base by actively engaging private landowners in incentive-driven habitat management. This innovative approach provided the U.S. Army with a practical mechanism to mitigate unavoidable environmental impacts associated with its training activities. At the same time, it laid the foundation for a formal credit trading system—one that has since gained recognition and credibility among conservation experts, landowners, and policymakers alike.
The success of this pilot project reflects NRS’s early and continuing commitment to collaborative, pragmatic conservation. It also exemplifies the firm’s strength in building consensus among diverse stakeholders and developing creative, policy-aligned solutions to complex environmental challenges.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker Impact Assessment
NRS conducted a comprehensive document and policy analysis of Camp Lejeune’s endangered species and environmental program to evaluate how conservation efforts for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker may influence military readiness. The assessment identified both existing and potential impacts on the base’s training mission, providing insight to help balance ecological stewardship with operational priorities.
Salado Salamander: Critical Habitat Designation & Species Status Assessment
In 2020, NRS was contracted to support both regulatory and non-regulatory efforts related to the Salado Salamander across portions of Bell and Williamson Counties, Texas.
Phase I involved evaluating federally designated critical habitat areas and developing a scientifically defensible critical habitat map grounded in the best available research. NRS reviewed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s scientific and technical documentation, coordinated stakeholder input, and led the preparation of public comments in response to the proposed habitat designation. NRS also conducted a comprehensive review of the accompanying Economic Analysis and supported stakeholder communications, including public meetings.
Phase II focused on supporting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in developing the Species Status Assessment (SSA) for the Salado Salamander. NRS collaborated closely with stakeholders to compile, analyze, and present technical and scientific data, and played a central role in engaging with USFWS to ensure accurate interpretation of the findings. Phase II is currently nearing completion.
Phase I involved evaluating federally designated critical habitat areas and developing a scientifically defensible critical habitat map grounded in the best available research. NRS reviewed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s scientific and technical documentation, coordinated stakeholder input, and led the preparation of public comments in response to the proposed habitat designation. NRS also conducted a comprehensive review of the accompanying Economic Analysis and supported stakeholder communications, including public meetings.
Phase II focused on supporting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in developing the Species Status Assessment (SSA) for the Salado Salamander. NRS collaborated closely with stakeholders to compile, analyze, and present technical and scientific data, and played a central role in engaging with USFWS to ensure accurate interpretation of the findings. Phase II is currently nearing completion.
Dunes Sagebrush Lizard: Species Status Assessment & Technical Support
In 2020, NRS was contracted by the American Conservation Foundation (ACF) following the transfer of an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 10 permit for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (DSL) from the Texas Comptroller. NRS worked closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to support the DSL Species Status Assessment (SSA) Working Group by providing the best available scientific data regarding threats to the species.
As part of the project, NRS led high-level discussions and negotiations with the USFWS and managed a broad and diverse stakeholder group throughout the development of a comprehensive conservation plan—one that remains in operation today. NRS’s role included extensive scientific, policy, and technical analysis to support both regulatory compliance and long-term conservation outcomes.
Note: Due to contractual confidentiality requirements, client-specific details and project costs are not disclosed.
As part of the project, NRS led high-level discussions and negotiations with the USFWS and managed a broad and diverse stakeholder group throughout the development of a comprehensive conservation plan—one that remains in operation today. NRS’s role included extensive scientific, policy, and technical analysis to support both regulatory compliance and long-term conservation outcomes.
Note: Due to contractual confidentiality requirements, client-specific details and project costs are not disclosed.
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