Defining a Stream Restoration Body of Knowledge as a Basis for National Certification
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
J. Hydrulic Eng.
Publication Date
1-1-2013
Keywords
Defining a Stream, stream restoration body, national certification
Abstract
The practice of stream restoration has become widely accepted as an essential component to improving ecosystem function and enhancing aquatic biodiversity (Wohl et al. 2005). Despite the abundance of projects being implemented, a lack of definitive training requirements, design procedures, and monitoring protocols remain for the practice of stream restoration. Given the lack of consistency, many restoration projects end in frustration, excessive costs, and poor results (e.g., Williams et al. 1995; Kondolf 1998; Johnson and Brown 2001; Roni et al. 2002; Wohl et al. 2005; Bernhardt et al. 2007; Roni et al. 2008). The fact that method and experience are both varied and even poorly defined in a new and emerging profession is not surprising; however, the combination of diverse and inconsistent training and methodology makes progress in transforming the practice of stream restoration into a mature profession difficult. The widespread practice of restoration, now a billion dollar a year industry in the United States (Bernhardt et al. 2005), coupled with highly inconsistent results, demands its conversion into a profession with broadly accepted principles and methods of tested reliability.
Recommended Citation
Niezgoda, S.L., P.R. Wilcock, D.W.Baker, J.M. Price, J.M. Castro, J.C. Curran, T. Wynn-Thompson, J.S.Schwartz, F.D.Shields, in press, 2013.Defining a stream restoration body of knowledge as a basis for national certification. J. Hydrulic Eng.,
