River Restoration

The complex challenges involved with restoring degraded river systems requires an understanding of not only the science of restoration ecology, but also the management practices and social factors that lead to successful project implementation. This interdisciplinary course is designed to give students an overview of the natural and social elements of ecological restoration: • Gain the ability to understand a simple stream restoration project and be able to discuss how to implement and monitor the project. • Describe river behaviour and response to alterations across different spatial and temporal scales. • Understand and be conversant in describing interactions between physicochemical and ecological processes in rivers. • Improved speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills in the context of interdisciplinary river system restoration issues. • Exposure to the primary scientific literature and current world themes in river restoration research • Understand the context and philosophy of “restoration” as well as what purposes, ethics, and reasonable expectations guide most active management.