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Stream restoration is sometimes the only viable option for:
- Streams unable to ecologically recover from a degraded habitat
- Streams that undermine infrastructure such as roads, paths, sewer lines, bridges, or buildings
Because restoration projects are so expensive, monitoring must occur to ensure that the restoration is effective and meets specific project goals.
Watersheds with restoration priority are first identified through the Countywide Stream Protection Strategy. Watershed studies further identify specific project areas.
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Example Restoration Project Goals
Specific goals for restoration are identified for both overall ecological benefits to the watershed and benefits to individual projects.
DEP's general goal for restoration projects is to enable degraded streams to support more diverse and vibrant biological communities. Each restoration project is designed to address specific goals that are established to remediate identified problems affecting the stream's ability to support aquatic life. Other goals include overall ecological benefit to the watershed. These defined goals are targets against which a monitoring plan is developed to measure the success (or failure) of each project.
Sample restoration project goals include:
- Improve the benthic macroinvertebrate population
- Create amphibian habitat
- Create permanent or temporary pools
- Improve fish population/density
- Remove fish blockage
- Create or improve wetlands
- Restore stream habitat
- Riparian reforestation
- Reduce thermal impacts on stream
- Reduce stream bank erosion
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Monitoring Methods
Various monitoring methods may be used for any particular restoration project. The methods used depend on the project goals. For example, if the project goal was to improve fish population, fish sampling would be required for the site.
Monitoring is done to verify the degree to which the project goals are met and to assess the success of the restoration project. It is conducted during a preconstruction period and then 1, 3, and 5 years after construction. The results of the monitoring are reviewed, and restoration plans for the future are revised as necessary.
Additional Resources
Maryland Water Monitoring Council (MWMC) plays a lead role in getting government, academic, and scientific partners together to discuss the varying approaches to stream restoration effectiveness monitoring. In October 2008 the MWMC held a stream restoration monitoring effectiveness charette called "Effectiveness Monitoring for Stream Restoration—Can We Improve Methods, Process and Communication?" Partners from all across the region gathered to share ideas.
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