Since 1985, Canadian dam owners and developers have turned to Kleinschmidt to maximize clean, reliable energy from every drop. Based out of our hubs in Peterborough, Ontario, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, our local engineers leverage Kleinschmidt’s extensive North American network to deliver the three outcomes clients appreciate most: clear permitting pathways, smart capital decisions, and designs that last for decades, not just at startup.
Our journey began along the banks of the Magaguadavic River, where we tapped into the potential of the St. George Pulp & Paper station and later crafted J.D. Irving’s new 15 MW powerhouse, which continues to set the regional standard for efficiency. Driven by the same promise, we turn complex hydro challenges into reliable assets that enhance communities and protect the environment.
Whether you need a feasibility assessment or a complete upgrade, let’s unlock the full value of your hydropower resources—together.
Over the past five years, Kleinschmidt Canada has delivered more than 150 projects that keep water-power assets safe, profitable and environmentally responsible.
We work at the intersection of regulatory requirements, environmental science, and engineering solutions.
Hydropower specialists focusing on developing engineering, regulatory and environmental solutions.
From modernizing legacy facilities to designing new projects from the ground up, we bring deep technical expertise and a practical, problem-solving mindset to your project. Our focus? Helping you reduce costs, boost revenue, and deliver reliable power for future generations.
Clients trust us because we get it right the first time. Our reputation is built on clarity, precision, and the ability to navigate hydropower development’s complex technical, regulatory, and legal terrain. Every project is staffed with seasoned professionals, and your core team stays with you from start to finish.
Sorting through regulatory agency jurisdictions and their requirements, regardless of the project size or complexity, is often daunting. This is an area where experience matters!
Our staff is well-versed in the site plan and submittal requirements for all agencies, allowing us to provide “one-stop shopping” for most projects. Inherent in our permitting approach is our role as mediator and negotiator to ensure projects meet the client’s purpose and need, while satisfying regulatory requirements. We advocate a proactive, cooperative approach to most permitting projects, involving jurisdictional agencies at the onset of the design and implementation stages. We are here to help you turn regulatory red tape into a clear, navigable path.
With experience on 275+ fisheries projects, Kleinschmidt combines biological, regulatory, and engineering know‑how to design fish passage and hatchery systems that keep your hydropower facility compliant, protect aquatic life, and advance your project with the assurance of an industry‑leading team.
We are widely respected for the conceptual and final design work of fish passage facilities and hatcheries, as well as the biological assessment of fish passage and entrainment at hydropower facilities. Our integration of fisheries biologists, regulatory specialists, and engineers provides an exceptional capability for solving problems involving mitigating fisheries impacts and enhancing fisheries resources.
Our engineers and independent consultants have translated hundreds of dam inspections into clear, cost‑smart action plans, helping owners secure spillways, gates, and entire structures while staying compliant. We work with our clients to determine the most cost-effective means to help owners ensure the safety of their dams. Our extensive experience in identifying, studying, and preparing solutions to complex dam issues ensures that your project is in the best hands.
Kleinschmidt has transformed tough land and water resource challenges—whether ecosystem assessments, habitat and river restorations, watershed or reservoir management, dam removal, fish passage, or wetland impact studies—into sustainable, cost‑smart wins by embedding biologists, planners, and engineers on one seamless team that streamlines permitting, trims budgets and timelines, and delivers resilient solutions that safeguard both your project and the environment.
Managing the sheer volume of data collected through hydroelectric operations and regulatory compliance can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. At Kleinschmidt, we help you turn complex data into clear insights and actionable solutions. Our data specialists, GIS analysts, modelers, and statisticians partner with you to transform your information into a powerful asset, streamlining operations, strengthening compliance, and uncovering trends that drive more intelligent decisions.
At Kleinschmidt, our team is proud to be a leading provider of hydrologic and hydraulic engineering services. We focus on cutting-edge solutions for modelling river systems, hydraulic design, and flood inundation mapping for many projects throughout Canada. Our highly skilled engineering team works collaboratively to deliver superior problem-solving capabilities and communicate results effectively to our clients.
In Canada, managing water resources means balancing infrastructure needs with protecting vital ecosystems. At Kleinschmidt, our hydrologic, hydraulic, and civil engineers collaborate closely with fisheries and environmental scientists to deliver integrated, ecosystem-based solutions that support sustainable development and environmental stewardship across Canadian watersheds.
From feasibility studies and hydrologic modeling to detailed design, permitting, and construction support, we help clients confidently navigate complex projects. Whether restoring aquatic habitat, enhancing flood resilience, or creating public access to waterways, we use local data and proven tools to develop efficient, cost-effective designs that meet the needs of federal, provincial, and municipal regulators and the communities they serve.
We are an employee-owned environmental and engineering consulting firm where employees have a say in growing and shaping the company.
Working at Kleinschmidt allows me to directly apply my passion for aquatic ecology and problem-solving in a meaningful and rewarding way.
We are an employee-owned environmental and engineering consulting firm where employees have a say in growing and shaping the company.
I am passionate about Hydro, plain and simple. From the spectacular renewable power of large hydro to the challenges of making small hydro work in today’s world, the down-to-earth people involved in this industry are special to deal with and every new challenge has a unique solution still to be discovered in a century-old industry. Hydro has never failed to capture my passion. It’s work that is worth getting up in the morning for!
We are an employee-owned environmental and engineering consulting firm where employees have a say in growing and shaping the company.
I am excited to leverage my academic knowledge and hands-on experience to contribute to meaningful engineering projects while growing within a collaborative team environment.
