Investigating Streams And Rivers

Aldo Leopold, father of the "land ethic," once said, "The time has come for science to busy itself with the earth itself. The first step is to reconstruct a sample of what we had to begin with." The concept he expressedâ€"restorationâ€"is defined in this comprehensive new volume that examines the prospects for repairing the damage society has done to the nation's aquatic resources: lakes, rivers and streams, and wetlands. Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems outlines a national strategy for aquatic restoration, with practical recommendations, and features case studies of aquatic restoration activities around the country. The committee examines: Key concepts and techniques used in restoration. Common factors in successful restoration efforts. Threats to the health of the nation's aquatic ecosystems. Approaches to evaluation before, during, and after a restoration project. The emerging specialties of restoration and landscape ecology.

Stream reconnaissance is a fundamental component of this new approach to river engineering, management and restoration because it provides the basis for a broad understanding of the relationships between channel form and flow and sedimentary regimes of the river, with the potential to establish this understanding within the context of the catchment and fluvial system. Widespread implementation of approaches based on minimising natural forms and prompting morphological recovery demand that large numbers of stream reconnaissance surveys be performed quickly and with limited resources, and there simply are not enough senior geomorphologists to go round. Hence this handbook is designed to assist less experienced individuals to perform this task accurately and reliably.

Provides instructions for projects and activities that explore river and stream habitats and explains why these environments should be preserved and protected.