Lessons Learned from Southwestern U.S. Stream Restoration

PRESENTERS:
Kumud Acharya, Ph.D., Associate Research Professor, Div. of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, NV, Mark Stone, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Water Resources Engineering, University of New Mexico, NM, and Julianne J. Miller, Research Hydrologist, Div. of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, NV

Stream restoration techniques in the arid and semi-arid Southwest U.S. are relatively immature compared to more humid regions of the country where a majority of the stream restoration projects and research have been conducted. Many of the concepts such as bankfull discharge that are used in wetter regions cannot be directly transferred to this unique region, because the underlying physical and biological processes that shape Southwest streams are different. Further, the range of ecosystem services provided by Southwest streams are poorly understood and often underappreciated.

The objective of this short course is to describe the lessons learned from Southwestern stream restoration in managing and restoring streams in the arid and semi-arid Southwest. We will focus on the case studies of the Las Vegas Wash and the Rio Grande. Topics to be covered will include: (1) hydrology and ecosystem services of dryland streams; (2) geomorphic responses to modified hydrology; (3) setting restoration goals and priorities; (4) instream flows; (5) streambank protection; and (6) habitat design.