Hello and Welcome!
Bill Coughlin founded WSW as an opportunity to design-permit and build his own restoration and reclamation projects. To represent his commitment to professionalism first hand. To offer an alternative option to corporate entities. Weather collecting hydrologic data for Federal, State or Local Permits, to designing and building projects, he is involved every step to ensure quality. Please see our Project List in the About Us section, our hope is that the work we have completed speaks for itself. Our commitment is to keep improving, and applying that to each new project we are involved with.
We apply the most-recent-proven-approach to the following diverse disciplines:
Design
Permit
Compliance Monitoring
Stream Restoration Design and Construction
Mine Reclamation Design and Construction
Monitoring Reports
Wetland Delineation and Construction
Pond Design and Construction
Water Right Procurement
Stormwater Management
Rivers Trails and Open Space Design and Construction
Professional Teaching
Public Relations
The Clean Water Act has created the opportunity to do beneficial work in our watersheds. The WSW symbol represents quality that we are proud to put our name on. Bill is the grandson of Irish immigrants and grew up in South Buffalo, NY. Bill learned to respect honest work, growing up working for his father. He takes personal satisfaction prioritizing integrity within projects. WSW is rare in this field, as we do the design, procure the appropriate permit, and then build the projects we're involved with. We base our designs on natural dynamics of water, each project being unique, and not forcing some cut and paste principal that ultimately fails. We apply water science and work with the natural dynamics of moving water, not against it. We approach water projects humbly, and only apply what may have the longest term structural integrity within a naturally changing, dynamic system.
WSW combines common sense, fluvial geomorphology, construction management and working with nature rather than against it, to create projects that last. Solving problems by finding solutions. Applying Bill's experience to the benefit of the field he's passionate about.
Bill resides in Ridgway, CO and has built projects all over the San Juan Mountains. He has also worked in Alaska and Guam and many other areas.
WSW began in 1999 as Bill’s vision to apply his knowledge and experience to solving problems created in the past by applying relevant principals of reclamation and restoration.
Bill grew up close to the Love Canal catastrophe, which helped shape the Clean Water Act and his career objective. Subsequently, Bill worked on contaminant studies in the Great Lakes, analysis of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, and hydrologic analysis of the effects of climate change in the Arctic. He's had the privilege to work with and learn from excellent scientists and operators to efficiently apply science to solve problems.
Bill's objective has been to work at resolving man-made problems into positive, functional solutions. He sees WSW’s niche as an all-encompassing restoration company that seeks always to replicate nature in restoring balance.
Copyright © 2026 Western Stream Works - All Rights Reserved.
We are a self made private company and apply the most-recent-proven-approach to the following diverse disciplines:
Compliance Monitoring
Permit Acquisition
Design
Build
Stream Restoration Design and Construction
Mine Reclamation Design and Construction
Monitoring Reports
Wetland Delineation Design and Construction
Pond Design and Construction
Water Right Procurement
Stormwater Management Design and Construction
Rivers Trails and Open Space Design and Construction
Professional Teaching
Public Relations
Certifications:
Stream Restoration Specialist: WSW awarded Federal recognition, based on experience and quantity of successful stream projects, which was required to be selected to oversee the largest Consent Decree Stream Project in Guam, which was challenged by hurricanes within coral substrate in remote Oceana. WSW applies fluvial geomorphology within stream channel designs and completes successful construction design-building improvements during project completion.
US Army Corps of Engineers: Stream Restoration Consultant, WSW uniquely qualified to Design, Procure Nationwide Permits, to build by actively manage and operate required equipment within permit compliance, to vegetate and to monitor project success within Army Corps Standards under the Clean Water Act.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Wetland Delineator and designated Wetland Scientist, uniquely qualified to design and build required wetland mitigation or wetland creation projects.
MSHA: Underground and Surface, Mining Safety and Health Administration Certification, required for performing services as a Hydrologist underground within active mine locations.
HAZWOPER Hazardous Material and OSHA related Certification
State of Colorado, Certified Industrial Wastewater Operator
State of Colorado, Certified Potable and Distribution Operator
State of Colorado, Certified Professional Erosion Control Specialist and Inspector
State of Colorado, Certification to write SWMP: Stormwater Management Plans
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