Aridlands, LLC
Aridlands, LLC is committed to providing rigorous actionable information about the status of natural resources to facilitate client decision-making.
Aridlands was started in 2004 as Aridlands Natural Resource Consulting. In 2017, its name was shortened while the services it offers were greatly expanded.
Aridlands, LLC, is the only environmental consulting company in western Colorado to offer high-resolution multi-spectral remote sensing, using a drone-mounted platform, under the supervision of a certified Senior Ecologist (the highest level of certification credentialed by the Ecological Society of America).
Richard Alward, PhD (Owner & Senior Ecologist)
Richard brings over 30 years of ecological expertise to Aridlands, LLC. This experience includes well respected research, university and middle school teaching, field station administration, policy development, and service as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
For the last 14 years, he has been observing and conducting ecological research on the impacts of development on native ecosystems, especially habitat areas supporting important wildlife and rare and endangered plants in western Colorado and eastern Utah. Much of his work occurs on public lands on behalf of private developers – including energy, mining, and water-related projects.
His interest in bringing a scientist’s perspective to natural resource policy brought him the opportunity to serve on the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for nine years. He was first appointed by Gov. Ritter in 2007, and re-appointed twice by Gov. Hickenlooper, to provide expertise in soil conservation and reclamation.
Work and science has introduced Richard to many great experiences in Canyon Country and in the Great Plains, and as far afield as Australia, Antarctica, and Swaziland. Prior to moving to Grand Junction, he earned a Ph.D. in Ecology from Colorado State University, and both an M.S. and B.S. in Biology from the University of Nebraska.
