Blog 5 - - - Section 24

24 – Restoring Rivers

Humans and natural life are reliant on fresh water systems, such as streams and rivers. Human actions have fouled these resources and action has to be taken to restore essential ecological and social factors. Problems with water systems range from the cleanliness to water shortages from over extraction. This problem impairs 1/3 of the U.S. water ways. The degradation of waterways are putting vital functions, such as flood mitigation, clean drinking water, nutrient and sediment filtration, and the ability to support fisheries and wildlife at risk of disappearing. The poor initial understanding of tributaries and riparian forests during early cities, riverside communities, has been the main source of this problem. Restoration projects are currently engaged, but not to the large extent required to make progress. Positive progress was being made since the 1960’s, until 2004 hit, when it became negative again. This problem is occurring from over development and increased runoff from landscape alterations. Both allow more water to flow faster, unfiltered by nature, and add to the pollution of a stream. The largest effects still remain defused source pollution and warm water “flash floods”, which are warmed from large amounts of heated paved surfaces, killing life in the streams by steep temperature changes. In response to these new problems, the U.S. has enforced stricter runoff laws, more erosion control, and incentives for prevention. This stream saving technology and efforts initial sound good, but problems continue to destroy bays and other runoff gathering points, despite the one billion that has already been injected into the program. Studies and information have to have a more streamline approach to share information and progress that is being made. Some steps being taken include coordinated efforts on the best approaches, previous efforts. National standards will be able to measure the effectiveness of restoration projects, and aid in choosing the best solutions, for given areas. Lastly, national tracking systems to monitor progress and results. The solution will have to consist of federal, state and local efforts to succeed. Promotion of synergy between the three will need to work, to find the ecological solution. Studying pre and post assessments of reconstructed areas is need to improve future efforts, and need to be available to the public. Simple restructuring can provide the bases of a successful river reclaim program. Tracking progress of restoration systems is vital for sharing new techniques and knowledge. Progress will allow the effectiveness of certain techniques to be shared throughout the country. Recording projects and proven techniques will lead to better, more efficient, spending of provided funding. The whole system of projects will begin to work together as one large effort, once again improving water quality of streams and rivers.


This article was interesting in bring up the facts of our past take on our vital systems today. The point that throwing money at a problem won’t fix anything was also a valuable topic. The main factor was organization and working together makes all the difference. Everyone has to be involved to make the changes needed, and for progress in new techniques to be made. Lacking in this system, even on a small scale, has very wide spread impacts, spread as far as the water source flows. Careful monitors and public awareness still remains the key factors for successes.