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Ecosystem Effects of Urban Stream Restoration

EPA Grant Number: F5E11146
Title: Ecosystem Effects of Urban Stream Restoration
Investigators: Sudduth, E
Institution: Duke University
EPA Project Officer: Manty, Dale
Project Period: September 1, 2005 through August 31, 2008
Project Amount: $111,172
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2005)
Research Category: Academic Fellowships

Description:

Objective:

This study will examine the effects of changes in channel shape and structure on ecosystem function in restored reaches of urban streams by comparing them to unrestored, stormwater-managed, and reference reaches.

Approach:

The primary questions to be answered are:

Expected Results:

In general, the ecosystem function of a restored site will depend upon how degraded the site was prior to restoration and to what extent this was addressed in the restoration design. A stream whose primary impairment is severe water quality problems due to non-point source pollution will have a very different response to a full channel reconstruction than a stream whose main impairment was channel straightening 50 years previously. In some cases, the most important factor in determining ecosystem function may be improved OM retention due to the restoration activities. In other cases, it may be a still unaddressed impact in the catchment, such as changes in stormwater runoff due to urbanization. It is also possible that the most important determining factor of ecosystem function may be remaining impacts from the restoration process itself.

Supplemental Keywords:

stream restoration, stream ecology, urban ecosystems, stormwater management, channel reconfiguration, ecosystem function, organic matter processing, litter retention rates, litter breakdown rates, whole stream metabolism, gross primary production, ecological effects, , Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Water, Scientific Discipline, Restoration, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Environmental Monitoring, environmental rehabilitation, streams, riparian ecosystem integrity, aquatic ecosystems, environmental stress, rivers, dissolved organic matter, restoration strategies, urban river restoration, groundwater recharge

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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