Geomorphic and Ecological Fundamentals for River and Stream Restoration
http://sagehen.ucnrs.org/courses/geomorph.htm
This five-day introductory course emphasizes understanding geomorphic and ecological process as a sound basis for planning and designing river restoration, covering general principles and case studies from a wide range of environments. Incorporating insights from recent research in fluvial geomorphology and ecology, the course emphasizes developing predictive connections between objectives and actions, learning from built restoration projects, and developing restoration strategies and innovative management approaches to address underlying causes of channel or ecosystem change, rather than prescriptive approaches.
The course integrates perspectives from leading academic researchers to consulting practitioners in river restoration, and across that spectrum it draws on a range of approaches from state-of-the-art hydraulics and sediment transport, historical geomorphic-ecological process analysis, urban-infrastructure-focused approach, to resource-focused approaches. In addition to field techniques, the course uses spreadsheet models to calculate sediment transport and channel design based on this analysis, map and aerial photo analysis, and sequential problem solving in approaching restoration of fluvial processes. The course includes field trips to the Truckee River and streams in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and workshops on stream restoration problems faced by participants for discussion and ideas on analytical approaches and resources.
This course is one of several related introductory courses taught by a consortium of leading researchers and practitioners (in various combinations) across the US, drawing upon common teaching methods and emphasizing analysis of geomorphic and ecological process as a sound basis for planning and designing river restoration. The introductory courses emphasize integration of hydrology, hydraulics, sediment transport, geomorphology, aquatic ecology, fisheries, and riparian ecology, and include field activities in degraded, unimpacted, and reconstructed channels. An advanced course focuses explicitly on geomorphic, sediment transport, and riparian vegetation principles applied to channel design (URL below).
The California course, now in its 15th successful year, is held at Sagehen Creek Field Station, 15 mi north of Lake Tahoe, and 45 minutes from the Reno airport. The station combines a beautiful natural setting with excellent research and teaching facilities, free wireless internet, and excellent meals. Sagehen Creek is steps away from the teaching facilities, and provides an excellent on-site laboratory to illustrate many of the concepts taught in the course. Participants can stay on-site ($20/night) or commute from hotels in Truckee (15 minutes). With on-site lodging, the total cost including lodging, all meals for five days, registration, course materials, text, and continuing education credit from University of California is an excellent value at only $2,080 inclusive for the week.
The course is taught by leading researchers and practitioners, who are applied scientists focusing on bringing science together with practice to solve typical environmental problems. The course brings cutting-edge expertise and methods to bear on planning, design, and evaluation of river restoration. Collectively, the instructors have broad experience on rivers in North America, Europe, and Asia, including analysis and project design in the Lake Tahoe basin and throughout California.
Principal Instructors:
Matt Kondolf, Professor of Environmental Planning and Geography at UC Berkeley, with experience in planning and evaluating river restoration, sediment management in regulated rivers, and habitat needs for spawning by salmon and trout.
Peter Wilcock, Professor of Geography and Environmental Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, authority on sediment transport and integration of fluvial geomorphic analyses in river restoration design and planning, leader of the Stream Restoration program at the National Center of Earth-Surface Dynamics.
Mary Power, Professor of Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley, well-known for her pioneering work on stream food webs, aquatic ecology, and implications for restoration planning.
Sarah Kupferberg, a stream ecologist affiliated with the UC Berkeley Dept. of Integrative Biology and Questa Engineering, is an authority on river-breeding amphibians, and has studied effects of flow regulation and geomorphic change on populations downstream of hydroelectric dams.
Desiree Tullos, Assistant Professor of Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University, a leading researcher on interactions of hydrology, water quality, and ecology in river restoration, and developing strategies to assess and minimize environmental impacts of dams, notably in China.
Don Erman, Professor of Ecology at University of California Berkeley and Davis (retired) conducted numerous influential studies of aquatic ecology on Sagehen Creek through the 1980s and 1990s, including studies with Ned Andrews (USGS) linking geomorphic processes with aquatic ecology.
Mitch Swanson, president of Swanson Hydrology and Geomorphology, a leading designer of stream restoration projects, who has conducted analyses of stream processes and implemented successful stream and meadow restoration projects throughout the Lake Tahoe basin, the Russian River, and elsewhere.
Scott McBain, principal of McBain and Trush, has led restoration efforts on large and small rivers in California and elsewhere in western North America, including the Trinity, San Joaquin, and Tuolumne, emphasizing restoration of geomorphic and ecological processes.
Other Instructors
Tom Taylor, fish ecologist, Entrix consultants
Dave Shaw, Balance Hydrologics, Truckee, stream gauging/sediment sampling/surveying
Ken Adams, geologist, Desert Research Institute, geologic context of Tahoe region
Jonathan Long, Lake Tahoe Science Center, Tahoe basin restoration overview
Matt Kiesse, River Run Consultants, historical analysis of Truckee River
Chad Gourley, Otis Bay Consultants, planning and design of restoration of Truckee River
Jim Litchfield, Fluid Concepts, design of Wingfield Park (Reno), other whitewater parks
Text and Course Materials
Included in the course fee is the text, Tools in Fluvial Geomorphology (John Wiley & Sons 2003), lecture notes, and two CDs of spreadsheets for calculating sediment transport and channel dimensions, along with pdfs of relevant papers and reports.
Advanced Design Course:
Open to participants who have taken one of the introductory courses.
Logan, Utah, August 10-14 http://www.cnr.usu.edu/streamrestoration
If you have questions please contact Kristen Podolak at kpodolak@berkeley.edu or 703-201-1821.
This five-day introductory course emphasizes understanding geomorphic and ecological process as a sound basis for planning and designing river restoration, covering general principles and case studies from a wide range of environments. Incorporating insights from recent research in fluvial geomorphology and ecology, the course emphasizes developing predictive connections between objectives and actions, learning from built restoration projects, and developing restoration strategies and innovative management approaches to address underlying causes of channel or ecosystem change, rather than prescriptive approaches.
The course integrates perspectives from leading academic researchers to consulting practitioners in river restoration, and across that spectrum it draws on a range of approaches from state-of-the-art hydraulics and sediment transport, historical geomorphic-ecological process analysis, urban-infrastructure-focused approach, to resource-focused approaches. In addition to field techniques, the course uses spreadsheet models to calculate sediment transport and channel design based on this analysis, map and aerial photo analysis, and sequential problem solving in approaching restoration of fluvial processes. The course includes field trips to the Truckee River and streams in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and workshops on stream restoration problems faced by participants for discussion and ideas on analytical approaches and resources.
This course is one of several related introductory courses taught by a consortium of leading researchers and practitioners (in various combinations) across the US, drawing upon common teaching methods and emphasizing analysis of geomorphic and ecological process as a sound basis for planning and designing river restoration. The introductory courses emphasize integration of hydrology, hydraulics, sediment transport, geomorphology, aquatic ecology, fisheries, and riparian ecology, and include field activities in degraded, unimpacted, and reconstructed channels. An advanced course focuses explicitly on geomorphic, sediment transport, and riparian vegetation principles applied to channel design (URL below).
The California course, now in its 15th successful year, is held at Sagehen Creek Field Station, 15 mi north of Lake Tahoe, and 45 minutes from the Reno airport. The station combines a beautiful natural setting with excellent research and teaching facilities, free wireless internet, and excellent meals. Sagehen Creek is steps away from the teaching facilities, and provides an excellent on-site laboratory to illustrate many of the concepts taught in the course. Participants can stay on-site ($20/night) or commute from hotels in Truckee (15 minutes). With on-site lodging, the total cost including lodging, all meals for five days, registration, course materials, text, and continuing education credit from University of California is an excellent value at only $2,080 inclusive for the week.
The course is taught by leading researchers and practitioners, who are applied scientists focusing on bringing science together with practice to solve typical environmental problems. The course brings cutting-edge expertise and methods to bear on planning, design, and evaluation of river restoration. Collectively, the instructors have broad experience on rivers in North America, Europe, and Asia, including analysis and project design in the Lake Tahoe basin and throughout California.
Principal Instructors:
Matt Kondolf, Professor of Environmental Planning and Geography at UC Berkeley, with experience in planning and evaluating river restoration, sediment management in regulated rivers, and habitat needs for spawning by salmon and trout.
Peter Wilcock, Professor of Geography and Environmental Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, authority on sediment transport and integration of fluvial geomorphic analyses in river restoration design and planning, leader of the Stream Restoration program at the National Center of Earth-Surface Dynamics.
Mary Power, Professor of Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley, well-known for her pioneering work on stream food webs, aquatic ecology, and implications for restoration planning.
Sarah Kupferberg, a stream ecologist affiliated with the UC Berkeley Dept. of Integrative Biology and Questa Engineering, is an authority on river-breeding amphibians, and has studied effects of flow regulation and geomorphic change on populations downstream of hydroelectric dams.
Desiree Tullos, Assistant Professor of Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University, a leading researcher on interactions of hydrology, water quality, and ecology in river restoration, and developing strategies to assess and minimize environmental impacts of dams, notably in China.
Don Erman, Professor of Ecology at University of California Berkeley and Davis (retired) conducted numerous influential studies of aquatic ecology on Sagehen Creek through the 1980s and 1990s, including studies with Ned Andrews (USGS) linking geomorphic processes with aquatic ecology.
Mitch Swanson, president of Swanson Hydrology and Geomorphology, a leading designer of stream restoration projects, who has conducted analyses of stream processes and implemented successful stream and meadow restoration projects throughout the Lake Tahoe basin, the Russian River, and elsewhere.
Scott McBain, principal of McBain and Trush, has led restoration efforts on large and small rivers in California and elsewhere in western North America, including the Trinity, San Joaquin, and Tuolumne, emphasizing restoration of geomorphic and ecological processes.
Other Instructors
Tom Taylor, fish ecologist, Entrix consultants
Dave Shaw, Balance Hydrologics, Truckee, stream gauging/sediment sampling/surveying
Ken Adams, geologist, Desert Research Institute, geologic context of Tahoe region
Jonathan Long, Lake Tahoe Science Center, Tahoe basin restoration overview
Matt Kiesse, River Run Consultants, historical analysis of Truckee River
Chad Gourley, Otis Bay Consultants, planning and design of restoration of Truckee River
Jim Litchfield, Fluid Concepts, design of Wingfield Park (Reno), other whitewater parks
Text and Course Materials
Included in the course fee is the text, Tools in Fluvial Geomorphology (John Wiley & Sons 2003), lecture notes, and two CDs of spreadsheets for calculating sediment transport and channel dimensions, along with pdfs of relevant papers and reports.
Advanced Design Course:
Open to participants who have taken one of the introductory courses.
Logan, Utah, August 10-14 http://www.cnr.usu.edu/streamrestoration
If you have questions please contact Kristen Podolak at kpodolak@berkeley.edu or 703-201-1821.