A Big Move for the Forest Service and a Big Opportunity for the West

The U.S. Forest Service is relocating its headquarters to Salt Lake City, marking a significant shift in how federal land management agencies operate in the West. By moving leadership closer to the lands, communities, and infrastructure challenges they serve, this change has the potential to improve coordination, responsiveness, and long-term outcomes.

Why This Matters for Utah

Utah is uniquely positioned for this transition. Approximately 23 million acres—about 65% of the state—are federally managed. Of that, roughly 8 million acres are National Forest lands. These lands span an incredibly diverse landscape, from high alpine forests and mountain watersheds to arid deserts and rapidly growing communities.

This diversity brings both opportunity and complexity. Managing water resources, mitigating flood risk, supporting recreation, and protecting natural systems all require thoughtful, locally informed solutions. Having federal leadership based in Utah helps bring decision-making closer to these real-world conditions.

What This Means for Small Businesses

For small businesses that support federal agencies, this shift is more than symbolic; it represents real opportunity.

Closer proximity to leadership can lead to:

  • Stronger relationships with agency staff
  • More efficient communication and coordination
  • Increased visibility into upcoming projects and priorities
  • Faster, more informed decision-making

As the Forest Service transitions to a more state-focused model, we anticipate greater collaboration at the local and regional level, particularly in areas like watershed management, stormwater infrastructure, and resilient site design.

How HCF Can Support this Change

At HCF, we specialize in water resources, drainage, and resilient site design. Our experience supporting federal, state, and local agencies positions us to contribute meaningfully as this transition unfolds.

We are particularly interested in supporting projects related to:

  • Stormwater management and drainage analysis
  • Flood mitigation and resilience planning
  • Infrastructure design in complex natural environments
  • Permitting and regulatory coordination

Let’s Connect

As the Forest Service establishes its presence in Salt Lake City, we see this as a pivotal moment for collaboration across the A/E/C industry.

We’re actively looking to connect with:

  • Federal partners navigating this transition
  • Prime consultants seeking experienced small business teammates
  • Agencies needing responsive, technically strong support on the ground

If you’re working in this space, we’d welcome the opportunity to connect and explore how we can work together.

HCF is Licensed in 6 States!

HCF is now officially licensed to provide civil engineering services in Wyoming, joining our existing licensure in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, and Kansas. From the Rockies to the plains, we’re proud to support infrastructure and development projects across the Mountain West and beyond.

Whether it’s stormwater management, flood mitigation, utility design, or FEMA-compliant technical documentation, our team is here to deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions tailored to local needs.

 Let’s talk about how we can help move your next project forward.

📍 Now licensed in: UT | ID | NV | WY | CO | KS

 

2D Water Modeling – HCF Lunch & Learn

Bryson Price, a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) and a water resources EIT, led a company-sponsored Lunch & Learn on 2D hydraulic modeling in HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System). He broke down how this advanced simulation method divides landscapes into grid-like cells to show how water flows across terrain. With detailed animations and real-world examples, Bryson explained how 2D models offer more nuanced and accurate results, perfect for complex floodplain analysis. HEC-RAS is the most common tool used for flood mapping, dam breaches, and bridge scour, offering flexible, multi-sided computational cells to map flow over complex terrain. Thanks to Bryson for making a complex topic both accessible and engaging!💧💧💧

Sediment Transport in Stream Design – HCF Lunch & Learn

We recently had the pleasure of learning from our water resources engineer, Easton Perkins, EIT, during a company-sponsored Lunch & Learn. He shared insights from a Sediment Transport course he took through Utah State University‘s Department of Watershed Sciences. He highlighted how rivers shape themselves—and how engineers can design with nature in mind. A great reminder that understanding critical processes leads to more resilient, sustainable solutions.

We recently had the pleasure of learning from our water resources engineer, Easton Perkins, during a company-sponsored Lunch & Learn. He shared insights from a sediment transport course he took through Utah State University’s Department of Watershed Sciences. He highlighted how rivers shape themselves—and how engineers can design with nature in mind. A great reminder that understanding critical processes leads to more resilient, sustainable solutions.