How to Restore a River Ecosystem

The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines the restoration of a damaged river ecosystem as its return to "a natural, self-regulating system that is integrated ecologically with the landscape in which it occurs." River restoration projects worldwide are vital because they can help alleviate global warming, according to Eco Restore. Before starting such a project yourself, learn all you can from already-existing knowledge about the practice of river restoration.

Instructions

• 1

  Inventory damages to the river ecosystem as well as possible ways to reverse them. For example, you might note a loss of fish biodiversity from certain pollutants. You then can identify specific ways to prevent and remediate these pollutants and reintroduce the fish species in question.

  According to the European Centre for River Restoration, the most successful river restoration projects "establish a clear set of aims at the outset" as well as a "vision plan without undue regard to constraints of funding, etc." This plan can be scaled down in the face of any unavoidable constraints, and scaled up when and as constraints are overcome.

• 2

  Identify stakeholders, advocates and funders and enlist them in your vision plan. River ecosystem restoration is no task to take on all by yourself, but it is highly likely that others also will see the benefits of it. You might need to join forces with nongovernmental or nonprofit organizations, create a new group, work with government agencies or businesses, engage in all of the above or do something else altogether. In building support for the restoration, you will also need to anticipate opposition and decide on tactics for disarming it.

• 3

  With all of the individuals and groups involved in the restoration plan, decide cooperatively upon its scale and content, using measurable, feasible goals to make it a reality. Examine case studies of other river restoration projects for concrete examples of such goals. Adapt the lessons of these case studies to the unique problems and opportunities present in your own river ecosystem.

• 4

  Once you and your allies have accomplished the restoration, take action to preserve it. Without such action, all your hard work may be set back. Pay special attention to ongoing causes of humanmade degradation. For example, you may need to schedule regular litter cleanups, while working to eliminate the sources of the litter. As such problems are alleviated, the restored river ecosystem can become more and more self-sustaining.