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As interest in the practice of stream restoration increases, cases of restoration projects gone awry are on the rise. Experience teaches that successful restoration requires a multidisciplinary approach focusing on the cause and nature of instability rather than practices or techniques that merely treat symptoms of instability. In order to accurately diagnose the river and prescribe appropriate restoration alternatives, practitioners must first acquire a basic knowledge and understanding of the principles and processes governing stream morphology.
This course is designed to provide a solid foundation of knowledge in the science of applied fluvial geomorphology that practitioners can build upon as they seek to better understand natural channel stability and the variables determining river form. Participants will explore the application of essential tools that provide a means to interpret existing conditions, predict future behavior, and determine potential for restoration. Since effective application of these tools requires persistent field observations and measurements, participants will spend ample time in the field applying the concepts and principles discussed in the classroom.
Featured Topics
- Nature of Stream Flow - The Impact of Storms and Flooding
- Stream Dynamics, Morphology and Classification
- Streambank Stabilization: An Ecological Approach
- Site Evaluation
- Data Collection
- Developing Design Criteria
- Project Site Visits
What are the steps involved in implementing successful stream restoration projects? How do I distinguish system wide instability from local instability? Or apply a model of channel evolution and stream classification in site analysis and design? What field measurements are needed and how do I take them? What appropriate stabilization techniques should be implemented, and how do I select the most beneficial plant species for my restoration project?
The program will cover all aspects of stream restoration from performing site assessments, developing self sustaining design alternatives, and preparing plans and specifications for construction to providing construction oversight, and performing post construction monitoring and maintenance. A field day will provide participants with instruction on performing morphological measurements, which are crucial to accurate site assessment and developing viable restoration solutions. Expert instructors will also discuss the applications and limitations of various geotextiles, plant materials and soil bioengineering techniques commonly used in stream restoration projects.
Instructors
Christopher Miller, M.S., a Plant Materials Specialist with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. He provides technical assistance on plant use, selection, and establishment, wetland restoration, stabilization of critically eroding sites, and soil bioengineering applications for streambank restoration.
Dr. Claude Epstein is a Professor of Environmental Studies at Richard Stockton College in New Jersey. He has vast experience as a Hydrogeological Consultant, with research interests in Wetlands Hydrology, Land Use and Floodplain Morphology and Coastal Plain Hydrology.
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