Lee Rice started Leonard Rice and Associates in Denver in 1970. In 1972, the firm was incorporated as Leonard Rice Consulting Water Engineers, Inc. and referred to itself as LRCWE (pronounced lerk-wee). Since 2001, we have operated as Leonard Rice Engineers, Inc., a registered trade name (LRE). LRE celebrated its 40^th anniversary in 2010.

Early clients included the Denver Regional Council of Governments, the Urban Drainage Flood Control District, and the Agricultural Ditch and Reservoir Company. From 1973 to 1975, LRCWE had an office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, completing a project for the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority. This project was one of the first times LRCWE applied computer modeling to water resource engineering.

By 1980, the firm had a staff of about 20, many of whom were working for the State of Wyoming on the Wind River reserved rights litigation. Staff size decreased during the regional economic slow-down in the mid-1980's. At the same time, significant new projects were added in Arizona and Montana - for clients we still work for today. Ground water geology and engineering was firmly established as a LRCWE expertise in 1986. Computers were routinely used by the mid-1980s to model hydrology, hydraulics, and water rights administration. Water rights matters were the main thrust of LRCWE's work in the late 1980s.

In 1989, the firm added a civil engineering group, adding the ability to design a project to deliver the water we had helped our clients acquire. Initially, major LRCWE design projects were located in the ski and gaming towns of western Colorado. Staff size was again about 20 people by the early 1990s.

In the late 1990s, LRCWE added water quality and permitting expertise, and has developed strong teaming arrangements with water treatment, structural, and electrical engineers. The firm has recently taken a more active role as Prime Consultant, managing engineering and planning projects for State government agencies, developers, local governments, and private owners.

The firm ownership has evolved from a single owner in 1970 to more than 20 shareholders in 2012. We continue to invest in developing our next generation of leaders through participation in professional associations and through firm-wide training. Staff size has reached 50, and LRE continues to emphasize expertise and professional registration: more than two-thirds of our technical staff are registered professional engineers or professional geologists.

LRE's 41 years have been full of change and new opportunities. What remains constant is our commitment to contribute to our community by providing professional services to top-notch clients.