Enhancing Riparian Restoration Projects to Provide Improved Physical and Ecological Functions: a Primer for Engineers. Instructor: Dr. Richard A. Fischer, Research Wildlife Biologist, River Research & Design, Inc. Workshop Overview: Through lectures and case histories, this 1-½ day course is directed toward individuals involved in riparian projects (e.g., erosion control, streambank stabilization, revegetation) and is designed to convey basic concepts to engineers who wish to enhance their designs to provide a broader multi-function approach. I will discuss tools, techniques, and designs associated with restoration and management of riparian zones that not only have erosion control benefits, but also provide numerous ecological functions. There is growing interest in enhancing erosion control designs to provide more physical and ecological functions, but information on these tools and techniques is not always readily available. Course participants will receive a comprehensive CD that includes numerous technical publications addressing individual tools and techniques for stream and riparian restoration. The course format will include 8 hours of lecture (4 hrs per morning on Days 1 and 2) and 4 hours in the field the afternoon of day 1. Workshop Objectives: To conduct a tutorial on ecology, restoration and management of riparian areas for a wide array of functions and processes (e.g., water quality improvement, flood storage capacity, habitat and movement corridors, and aesthetics). In this training workshop, students will learn: Why riparian zones are important landscape components Types of buffer strips in different landscapes How riparian buffer strip width influences various ecological functions Available regional and national programs for buffer strip establishment How to design riparian buffer strips for various functions How to obtain numerous publications addressing tools and techniques on stream/riparian restoration Workshop Agenda: DAY 1 - Morning Student and Teacher Introductions Importance of Stream and Riparian Corridors Overview of Riparian and Stream Ecology Why is quality important? Ecological and Physical Functions and Processes Importance to birds, mammals, and other vertebrates Wetlands and Riparian Areas - definitions, impacts and loss, protection measures Riparian Buffer Strips and Corridors Importance Types of Buffer Strips and how they function Selecting the type of buffer strip for objective (erosion control, habitat, movement corridors, etc.) Regional/National Programs addressing buffer strips Questions/Answer Session DAY 1 - Afternoon Trip to local watersheds to look at a variety of topics. This typically involves beginning at the top of the watershed and working down the gradient to lower order streams. We will view and discuss how the riparian area changes as we move through the watershed, and discuss such topics as impacts, restoration challenges, water quality issues, bank erosion problems and potential fixes, adjacent land uses, and habitat/movement corridors. DAY 2 - Morning Riparian Area Management - Prescribing Designs of Buffer Strips and Corridors for Multiple Functions and Processes Assessment techniques and application Case Study examples of riparian projects Question/Answer Session and Wrapup CLICK HERE TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION