River Restoration

Stresses on rivers and streams

Point-source pollution

Nonpoint-source pollution

Overgrazing

Drainage and channelization

Suspended sediment

Sediment deposition

Dams

Alteration of flow patterns

Boat traffic

Acid

Fishing

Fluvial Restoration Objectives

A fluvial ecosystem exists with a dynamic equilibrium of its physical components, which results in a dynamic equilibrium of the biological components.

Fluvial Restoration Objectives

1. Restore natural sediment and water regime.

2. Restore a natural channel geometry, if restoration of water and sediment regime alone does not.

3. Restore the natural riparian plant community, which becomes a functioning part of the channel geometry and floodplain/riparian hydrology.

(Only necessary if it does not restore it self as a result of numbers 1 and 2 above).

4. Restore native aquatic plants and animals, if they do not recolonize on their own.

Complete river restoration includes three elements:

In-stream

Riparian zone

Watershed

Nonstructural techniques

Nonstructural techniques include administrative or legislative policies that stop or regulate some activity

Withdrawal of water

Land use practices that degrade fluvial systems

Such regulation may involve:

In-stream flow

Flow regime

Floodplain management

Fencing

Structural techniques for fluvial restoration

Channel modification

Levee removal and modification

Side channel/off channel habitat

Riparian restoration and management

Fish passage restoration

Nutrient supplementation

Beaver reintroduction

Gravel cleaning and replacement

Instream structures

Boulder clusters

Large wood and logjams

Drop structures

Porous weirs

Bank protection

Instream sediment basins

Salmon Creek, Jefferson County