Established in May 2013, Oxbow Ecological Engineering, LLC is an award winning engineering consulting firm that specializes in restoring, enhancing, and conserving river, riparian, wetland, and wildland ecosystems. Oxbow Ecological Engineering, LLC applies a comprehensive approach to assessment, analysis, design, and planning, and integrates civil engineering and ecological principles to create unique restoration and enhancement solutions. Based out of Flagstaff, Arizona, Oxbow Ecological Engineering, LLC endeavors to focus on projects in the southwest and intermountain west.
George F. Cathey, PE is the founder and principal engineer at Oxbow Ecological Engineering, LLC. Since 2003, he has been working as an civil engineer specializing in ecological restoration, and has significant experience surveying, designing, bidding, and administering construction activities for restoration projects. Over the years he has collaborated with a diverse group of restoration stakeholders including non-profit organizations, volunteers, landowners, A/E firms, and construction contractors as well as local, state, federal, and tribal agencies. He really enjoys this work and feels fortunate to be able to combine his passions for wildlife, the outdoors, and engineering.
New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resource Department’s (EMNRD) 2016 Excellence in Reclamation Award for outstanding work on the Spencer Mine Safeguard and Reclamation Project in McKinley County. This annual award recognizes excellence in coal, hard rock and aggregate mine reclamation and abandoned mine land reclamation projects. Oxbow Ecological Engineering, LLC, was honored for its innovative landforming design to restore a damaged alluvial fan complex (a.k.a. bajada) at the abandoned Spencer Uranium Mine near Grants, New Mexico. OEE developed a regenerative erosion control design to restore natural alluvial fan morphology & function. Design elements included a spoil, infrastructure, and road removal plan, headcut and gully stabilization plan, and re-contouring plan to encourage dispersed flow and stormwater infiltration.
B.S. in Civil Engineering (graduating summa cum laude in 2000) & M.S. in Civil Engineering (with environmental engineering emphasis in 2002) from the University of New Mexico.
California (#C69688), Arizona (#52164), New Mexico (#21540), Texas (#109570), Utah (#9130926-2202), Colorado (#49161), Nevada (#22786), United States Council for International Engineering Practice (USCIEP) International Registry of Professional Engineers (#43594)
Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP #0152); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Remote Pilot (Certificate #4312992)
American Ecological Engineering Society (AEES) Member; American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Member; Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Member
2% for Conservation Business Member, Trout Unlimited Endorsed Business Member, Quivira Coalition Member, Arizona Riparian Council Member, Cool Effect™ Carbon Offset Program Supporter, RiversEdge West Member, Arizona Wildlife Federation Member, Ducks Unlimited Member, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Member, Arizona Elk Society Member, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Member, The Nature Conservancy Member, Audubon Society Member
Utah State University Low Tech Process Based Restoration (LTPBR) of Riverscapes: Introduction, Implementation, & Adaptive Management Courses; FAA Part 107 Test Prep & Training Course for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS); Culvert Design for Fish and Aquatic Organism Passage (ASCE Webinar Series); Wildland Hydrology Short Courses: Applied Fluvial Geomorphology (Level I); River Morphology and Applications (Level II); River Assessment and Monitoring (Level III); and River Restoration and Natural Channel Design (Level IV); Arizona Floodplain Management Association HEC-RAS Short Course; Streambank Soil Bioengineering Workshop (Attended and Taught)
AutoCAD Civil 3D (Drafting and Civil Engineering Design), HEC-RAS (Hydraulic Modeling), RIVERMorph (Stream Restoration and Assessment), Global Mapper (GIS), Pix4D (Photogrammetry Software), DJI Phantom 4 Pro V.2 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), Trimble Integrated GNSS Surveying Systems (Survey Grade GPS Equipment), Total Station, Laser Level, VisualAnalysis (Concrete, Steel, & Timber Structural FEA Modeling)
