River Restoration Training and Education Links
March 2006
What follows is not a comprehensive list of web sites pertaining to “river
restoration,” or even of university-affiliated river restoration efforts.
Instead, it is an effort to identify educational programs with a specific
focus on this topic, preferentially at colleges and universities in the United
States, that either provide some guidance as we develop a prospective program
at the University of Washington or can offer alternatives for students who
are unwilling to wait for the establishment of an as-yet nonexistent program.
Even in pursuit of these limited objectives, however, the list is incomplete.
A number of individual (and groups of) faculty at graduate programs around
the country have been successful at assembling research projects and course
lists from existing offerings at their campus, thereby providing their students
with bona fide graduate training in the subject—even though the student’s
degree does not indicate this emphasis (and an internet search does not find
it). There is no attempt here to identify these individual people and programs.
This list also includes some additional river restoration sites that are
judged relevant by virtue of their focus or general significance in the field.
Omissions are certain to exist here, and they are unintentional. Please use the “Contact us” page to forward any missing links.
1. Degree- or certificate-granting college/university programs
http://www.nced.umn.edu/stream_restoration_ip.html
Home page for the Stream Restoration Integrated Project, part of the NSF-funded
National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics and housed at the University of
Minnesota. The motivation for this project is “the collision of social
demand for stream restoration with a limited understanding of stream disturbance
and restoration dynamics. The science basis for stream restoration is weak,
the success of existing projects is poorly known, and the connection between
research and practice is poorly developed. Progress requires a two-way collaboration
between those developing new knowledge and those applying it.” The goal
is “to advance the science and practice of stream restoration by conducting
and coordinating research and by working with agency and industry partners
to identify information needs, develop improved tools, and transfer this
knowledge into practice.”
As part of this project, planning is in progress for a post-baccalaureate “Certificate
in Stream Restoration Science and Engineering” (http://www.nced.umn.edu/sr_certificate_uofm),
based on the completion of six courses including a capstone field short course.
The intended clientele are either nonmatriculated professionals or graduate
students already enrolled in an MS or PhD program. The “foundation course” will
be taught for the first time in Fall 2006, with the capstone planned for
May 2007.
http://www.cnr.usu.edu/default.asp?category=departments§ion=awer&content=index
Home page of the Aquatic, Watershed, and Earth Resources Department at Utah State University, whose mission is “to foster the discovery, learning and application of knowledge about aquatic and earth resources and their related ecosystems to promote stewardship of the environment. This mission demands the development of relevant research endeavors to enhance our understanding of ecosystems, rigorous educational programs to produce the next generation of scientists and managers, and effective extension and outreach programs that are responsive to public needs.” Although not specifically focused on river restoration, such activities are clearly a central theme in the department’s mission, which grants degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
2. Other college/university programs—primarily research or extension-oriented,
and without a specific restoration degree program for matriculated student
http://depts.washington.edu/uwren/index.htm
Home page for The University of Washington Restoration Ecology Network (UW-REN),
which seeks “to integrate student, faculty and community interests
in ecological restoration and conservation. The core of the UW-REN mission
is to advance higher education in restoration while helping the Pacific
Northwest region meet the growing needs and challenges of ecological restoration.” UW-REN
offers an undergraduate certificate in restoration ecology, the Restoration
Ecology Certificate (REC), to students from any UW program (http://depts.washington.edu/uwren/certificate/certificate.htm).
It allows students to demonstrate a substantial background in restoration
ecology within the context of their degree program; the REC is not associated
with any particular degree program and is awarded only to undergraduate
matriculated students. Historically, UW-REN has emphasized plant, soil,
and wetland systems; rivers have not been a dominant aspect of the program.
http://www.esr.pdx.edu/epp/
Home page for Portland State University’s Environmental Professional
Program, which offers extension courses for professionals and other nonmatriculated
students. Within this program, although not readily found on this website,
is the beginnings of a “River Restoration Professional Certificate
Program,” co-sponsored by PSU’s Environmental Sciences and Resources
Department (a degree-granting entity) and River Restoration Northwest, a
private nonprofit organization. The River Restoration Professional Certificate
program includes five core courses: Introduction to River Management and
Science; Stream Ecology; Stream Assessment and Reconnaissance Tools; Stream
Restoration; and Restoration Teambuilding, Management and Communications.
For certificate credit, students must also complete two electives from the
tracks of biology, design, or construction management. Some additional information
is available at http://rrnw.org/sympcourse.html.
http://streams.osu.edu/index.php
The STream Restoration, Ecology, & Aquatic Management Solutions (STREAMS)
Project is a multi-agency initiative whose goal is to provide education,
information, technology and communication on stream management strategies.
It is housed at The Ohio State University. It is affiliated with (but not
part of) the Ecological Engineering program at OSU (http://ecoe.osu.edu/index.htm),
which coordinates student programs and offers 4 courses, but does not grant
degrees.
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/wqg/sri/
Home page for North Carolina State University’s Stream Restoration
Institute, whose mission is “to improve water quality and aquatic ecology
through research, demonstration projects, and education of the public.” Part
of the cooperative extension service for the university, it offers multiple
3-day courses but no systematic degree-granting program.
http://restoration.clemson.edu/htm/mission.htm
Home page for the Clemson University Restoration Institute, whose mission
is “to advance knowledge in integrative approaches to the restoration
of historic, ecological, and urban infrastructure resources. The institute
will drive economic growth through the creation, development, and production
of restoration industries and technology, patented advanced materials,
cost-effective and environmentally sensitive land development and restoration
practices and policies, and the development and renewal of restoration-related
professional disciplines and highly trained workforce. Through its design
studios and research laboratories at Clemson University and the Low Country
of South Carolina, the Institute will provide hands-on research and educational
opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students through internships
and industrial fellowships.”
Under degree programs, this site notes that “Clemson has a number of
degree programs that support restoration.” What follows is a list of
34 departments, including such intriguing entries as “English,” “History,” and “Nursing.”
http://www.rivers.gov.au/training/index.htm
Web page for the training and education program in Austrailia’s National
Rivers Consortium, whose role is “coordination and leadership in river
restoration and protection, through sharing and enhancing the skills and
knowledge of its members. The Consortium funds activities in the areas of
policy and management, training and education, knowledge exchange, and demonstrating
best practice catchment and river management.” Through the consortium,
a Postgraduate Certificate in River Restoration and Management is available
from Charles Sturt University (http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/pg/sci/pgc_rrm/ ) as a one-year part-time distance education course.
3. Non-university organizations
http://www.rrnw.org/index.htm
Home page for River Restoration Northwest, a nonprofit scientific and educational
organization, whose mission is “to advance the science and standards
of practice of river restoration through an interdisciplinary approach.” Its
primary external activity is managing an annual conference (the Northwest
Stream Restoration Design Symposium) and is not directly affiliated with
any university.
http://www.therrc.co.uk/what_is_it.htm
Introductory page to the River Restoration Centre, a United Kingdom-based
organization that is “a national information and advisory centre
on all aspects of river restoration and enhancement, and sustainable river
management. The Centre provides a focal point for the exchange of information
and expertise relating to river restoration and enhancement in the UK.
Our primary role is to disseminate information on river restoration and
enhancement projects and to provide advice on site-specific technical issues
through a network of experienced river restoration practitioners.” It
has offered one- and two-day “training workshops,” although
none are listed for the last several years.
4. Other—the National River Restoration Science Synthesis
http://nrrss.nbii.gov/
Home page for the National River Restoration Science Synthesis, whose goal
is to analyze the extent, nature, scientific basis and success of stream
river restoration projects, and to present this information in a way that
is useful to scientists, restoration practitioners, and those making policy
decisions on what kinds of projects ought to receive priority for funding
and implementation.
Publications from this effort include:
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/environment_sciences/report-43758.html
Summary
discussion of: Bernhardt et al., 2005, Synthesizing U.S. river restoration
efforts. Science 308:636–637 (the full reprint is available
at http://www.nrrss.umd.edu/Publications/Bernhardt_et_al_2005_Science.pdf)
From the summary: “The term river restoration applies to activities
such as restoring wetlands to filter pollution, reforesting riverbanks to
curb erosion, recreating the natural river channel to reduce downstream flooding,
and removing dams to allow fish to migrate freely up and downstream. According
to the authors of the paper, at least $14–15 billion has been invested
in river restoration since 1990 —an average of $1 billion per year.
That’s a lot of individual efforts—the average cost per project
is just $45,000. California, the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and the Pacific
Northwest are hotspots of restoration work.”
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/308/5722/636
Journal web site of the summary for Bernhardt et al., 2005, Synthesizing
U.S. river restoration efforts. Science 308:636–637.
"The authors of this Policy Forum developed a comprehensive database of >37,000
river restoration projects across the United States. Such projects have
increased exponentially over the past decade with more than a billion dollars
spent
annually since 1990. Most are intended to enhance water quality, manage
riparian zones, improve in-stream habitat, allow fish passage, and stabilize
stream
banks. Only 10% of project records document any form of project monitoring,
and little if any of this information is either appropriate or available
for assessing the ecological effectiveness of restoration activities.”
http://www.restoringrivers.org/PDF/Palmer
%26 Allan_Federal Policy %26 Restoration_IS%26T 2006.pdf
Reprint of Palmer, M.A., and Allan, J.D., 2006, Policy recommendations
to enhance effectiveness of river restoration. National Academy of Science
journal,
Winter 2006:40–48. This overview of the state of river restoration,
drawing heavily from Bernhardt et al. (2005), makes four "national-level” recommendations:
1. Federal agencies must be directed to adopt and abide by standards for successful river and stream restoration.
2. A coordinated tracking system for restoration projects must be implemented.
3. Undertake a national study to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration projects.
4. Use existing funding for river restoration more efficiently and supplement funding.