Restoring Ecological Health and Resilience to Damaged Rivers on a Changing Planet

Luther Aadland, Ph.D.
River Ecologist
Stream Habitat Program
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Abstract:

Rivers and watersheds have been dramatically altered through land-use changes, channelization, dam and levee construction, and increasingly, climate change. This has resulted in hydrologic and geomorphic changes, fragmentation of habitat and energy flow patterns, and impaired water quality leading to alarming extirpation and extinction rates of aquatic species. Most river management has been directed at altering and constraining hydrologic, geomorphic, and biological processes. In many cases, this strategy has resulted in further problems. While interest in river restoration has grown, it has not kept pace with ongoing degradation. In addition, restoration efforts have not always addressed underlying problems or have failed to restore fundamental ecological process and resilience. The long-term success of restoration will hinge on the extent to which human constraints are relaxed, ecological processes restored, and migratory pathways re-established. Case examples including channel and floodplain restoration, dam removal, and fish passage will be discussed in this context.

Bio:

Luther has worked as a river ecologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the past 24 years. During that time, his work, research, and publications have included a wide variety of topics that integrate physical and biological processes of rivers and the design of river restoration, naturelike fish passage, dam removal, erosion control, and flood damage reduction projects. Primary goals of these projects have been to work with natural river processes, restore ecological functions, and eliminate or reduce maintenance needs and costs. Luther also teaches workshops on applied fluvial geomorphology, dam removal, fish passage, river assessment, aquatic habitat, and river restoration.