Stream Restoration

Stream (or river) restoration is a term used to refer to a range of actions and activities intended to create or recover environmental resources and ecological services associated with stream corridors. Doug Shields’ work with streams dates from research he conducted with the U. S. Corps of Engineers on the effects of construction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway on stream water quality. Later work focused on development of environmental design criteria for flood control channels, levees, and streambank protection. Working at the Environmental Laboratory of the Waterways Experiment Station (now called ERDC) allowed him to gain nationwide experience. After transferring to the National Sedimentation Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Service, Shields conducted original, field-scale research in stream habitat restoration and erosion control and produced several major design guideline documents. Currently he consults on stream issues occurring in a variety of geographic settings.

If you are interested in engineering issues coincident with stream restoration, please consider joining the Stream Restoration Interest Group.