Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), the nation’s largest ecological restoration company, has been awarded a $20 million design-build contract by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) for the Meadow Fork Clogged Stream Project. The award is one of the first under WVDEP’s new design-build pilot program, signaling a milestone for both the agency and RES.

The Meadow Fork project will address legacy impacts from abandoned mine lands (AML) by closing 16 mine portals and two vertical openings, reclaiming six hazardous water bodies, and restoring 16,671 linear feet of clogged stream. The work also includes reclamation of nearly 2,900 linear feet of unreclaimed highwall and remediation of a coal refuse site within the stream channel. The project will improve public safety, reduce flooding risk, and restore water quality in the Meadow Fork watershed.

In its selection letter, the WVDEP Selection Committee also praised RES’ “detailed technical approach” and the team’s engagement during interviews and proprietary meetings, noting that RES left a “positive impression” and demonstrated the qualifications needed to deliver success in this inaugural program.

“After meeting with resource agencies in more than a dozen states that manage abandoned mine lands,” said Roger Wiederkehr, RES president and CEO, “we’ve heard a consistent message: agencies want to eliminate AML hazards, restore land to safe and productive use, and make every dollar of available funding deliver measurable results. Projects like Meadow Fork show how design-build delivery can make that happen—turning complex environmental challenges into long-term community assets.”

“This award marks an important step forward for RES and for reclamation in West Virginia,” added Hannah Kalk, RES Northeast General Manager. “Our turnkey design-build approach brings together planning, engineering, and construction under one contract to deliver measurable outcomes faster and more efficiently. We’re honored to partner with WVDEP on this pilot program and look forward to making Meadow Fork a model for future projects.”

As prime contractor, RES will provide project management, stream design, value engineering, construction, estimating, and right-of-entry acquisition services. Work is scheduled to begin in Spring 2026.