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Stream , Riparian , and Watershed Restoration Chapter 8

British Columbia’s forests provide a wealth of economic, social, and environmental benefits. Over the last century, however, as the extent of forest development has expanded, so too have forestry-related disturbances that require restoration. Ecological restoration1 is the process of assisting in the recovery of ecosystems that have been damaged, degraded, or destroyed (Society for Ecological Restoration International 2004). Initially, the principal focus of restoration in British Columbia was on fish and fish habitat. More recently, concerns have broadened to encompass a wider range of ecological and social values (e.g., threatened or rare species, climate change mitigation). This chapter provides a review of the various watershed, riparian, and stream restoration approaches that have been applied over the last 20 years in British Columbia. Although previous habitat restoration and compensation programs for mining, highways, and hydroelectric projects also contribute to this body of knowledge, the focus here is on methods applied in British Columbia to address forest disturbances. This chapter provides a history of watershed restoration in British Columbia, outlines watershed restoration planning principles, and then specifically discusses various hillslope, road, riparian, floodplain, and stream channel restoration approaches that have been applied in the province. The chapter concludes with a discussion of several emerging watershed restoration topics. Note that content for this chapter was drawn from many key references, as well as the personal experiences of the authors and their colleagues. Furthermore, some of the generalizations in this chapter may not be applicable to all areas of the province. As with every developing science, several schools of thought have emerged on restoration, and thus the methods covered in this chapter may not be universally accepted by all practitioners. Readers are encouraged to review the many supporting documents cited in this chapter and to review the specific watershed qualities and issues discussed to determine whether the information presented applies to their particular watershed restoration issues.