Restoration Ecology of Rivers

Worldwide, people are becoming aware of the degraded condition of many rivers, and they are increasingly turning to river restoration to help river systems return to a more natural state. As a result, restoration ecology is becoming an important science in the management of the rivers worldwide. In this article, we discuss the present state of restoration ecology. We begin with a synopsis of some common causes of river degradation and the motivation for attempting river restoration. We then discuss the ideal goals for ecological restoration of rivers and how this process is necessarily constrained in human-dominated systems. River restoration in human-dominated systems is presented as a three-step process: planning, implementation, and monitoring. We conclude with an overview of future challenges for restoration ecology and some possible innovations to help address those challenges.