St. Pete environmental services firm acquired

Environmental Science Associates says it acquired Janicki Environmental, a St. Petersburg-based, six-person firm known for its work in aquatic science and the study of estuaries.

Janicki will join ESA's Southeast region, according to an ESA press release. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

"The added expertise this team brings will greatly strengthen ESA's aquatic science and water quality and quantity capabilities, as well as expanding services for clients in the water, transportation and natural resources management markets," ESA officials say in a news release.

Founded in 1969, ESA of San Francisco says it has grown into a environmental services company of more than 700 employee-owners who provide planning, design, permitting, mitigation and habitat restoration services for projects serving communities, infrastructure, open spaces and natural lands. The firm has offices in Tampa, Sarasota, Pensacola and Palm Beach County.

Janicki, founded in 1999, is known for its "highly specialized expertise in environmental and ecological analysis, especially related to water quality," ESA officials say. "The acquisition is a natural next step for both firms as the two have teamed together on multiple projects across the Southeast for more than two decades."

Janicki co-founders Tony Janicki and Susan Janicki, and Ray Pribble, along with the firm's team members, will all hold senior-level environmental scientist roles, ESA officials say.

The addition of Janicki will deepen ESA's expertise in several key service areas such as estuarine and freshwater ecology, watershed management, and limnology and lake restoration, says Chris Fitzer, ESA's Fish and Aquatic Science practice leader.

The Janicki team will also bring many desired technical, in-house capabilities such as "mechanistic and statistical modeling, so that we can address issues associated with minimum water levels, total maximum daily loads, and water supply," Fitzer says. "This will provide huge benefits for our clients from coast to coast."