Related Content
Library Documents
- Oregon Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Guide. The Oregon Plan
- A Classification of Natural Rivers
- A new method for reporting and interpreting textural composition of spawnin
- Action plan for the restoration of the South Fork Trinity River watershed a
- An ecosystem approach to salmonid conservation. TR-4501-96-6057.
- CARCD's Guide to Watershed Project Permitting for California
- California Salmonid Stream Restoration Manual (Third Edition)
- California Watershed Assessment Manual
- Copeland Creek Restoration Project Monitoring Plan
- Electronic Field Office Technical Guide
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Implementation of Watershed Restoration
Watershed assessment, implementation of restoration projects, and monitoring for project effectiveness are all vital components of habitat restoration. Watershed assessments are important to determine where data gaps exist and to prioritize restoration projects within the watershed. Assessments can be watershed-wide, encompass a sub-watershed, or cover a specific area within a watershed that is of special interest – for example, a parcel of land under consideration for acquisition by state or local natural resource agencies. Assessments provide baseline information about an area that includes previous research, data gaps, and current conditions. When an assessment for an area is complete, further study may be warranted if data gaps are identified. Restoration project planning should occur after baseline conditions are known and should be watershed-wide in scope. Individual projects should be carefully planned for maximum effectiveness by restoration professionals based on the most current research, but in many cases, well-trained volunteers can accomplish implementation of restoration projects. Implementation may involve several steps, for example, invasive plant removal several times in the months prior to planting.
Some restoration projects may begin two or three years prior to actual planting. To ensure that genetically appropriate material is planted, seed and other plant material is collected in nearby areas. Some plants are then grown in a nursery while others may be planted directly on-site.
Monitoring is a vital aspect of habitat restoration that is often overlooked and can be difficult to fund. By monitoring restoration projects, it is possible to determine whether the methods used are effective in achieving restoration goals. Monitoring programs should measure quantifiable parameters such as seedling survival, water temperature, turbidity, presence of native animals, or cover of exotic vs. native plant species. Monitoring protocols for vegetation surveys, stream surveys, wildlife surveys and many other aspects of restoration have been developed and are available to guide monitoring programs. The results of monitoring programs should be continually compared with goals for each project and adaptive management measures should be implemented to ensure that goals are reached.
