Our Approach
Our mantra: right the wrongs of the past and leave the river better than we found it
Our deep experience, passion and track record sets us apart. We design community river projects that leave rivers in better condition, elevate the recreational experience and unlock their full potential. Our projects connect communities to rivers through recreation while bringing transformative change for the people, water, and local economies.
The Mclaughlin Difference
We’re in this business because we believe in power of urban river
restoration to deliver positive environmental, social and economic benefits.
Check in with our team to kick off your whitewater project.
Our Team
We’re consumed by water. Our team has been engineering urban river restoration projects and providing strategic direction for whitewater enthusiasts and grassroots river advocates for decades. And we’re not just engineers, we’re avid whitewater paddlers and surfers. Rick McLaughlin and Ben Nielsen lead our team of more than a dozen professional engineers with diverse river and civil design experience. We’re also backed by Merrick, a large multidisciplinary engineering firm, which extends our capabilities to include the full spectrum of water resources and civil engineering services.
Rick McLaughlin, PE, Practice Lead
Rick is known for his unique ability to apply innovative, efficient, and holistic solutions to complex projects. He blends experience in traditional water resources and environmental engineering with a life-long interest in whitewater boating and river restoration. Rick has been the Engineer of Record for nearly all the constructed projects referenced throughout this website.
Ben Nielsen, PE, LEED AP,
River Design Lead
Ben specializes in open channel hydraulics, recreational whitewater, wave design, fish passage, bank stabilization, and hydraulic modeling. His passion for surfing, kayaking, fly fishing, and the river environment complement his technical expertise. Ben’s collaborative approach and ability to work with communities, owners, and stakeholders supports the planning and design of transformative river projects.
Unlock Your River
We use the power of our methodology and award-winning expertise to design and build sound solutions that shape the future of communities and their rivers.