A Handbook for Stream Enhancement & Stewardship

Decades, or even centuries, of changing and competing land uses have left many of the world's streams degraded, in poor health, and out of balance with the ever-shifting dynamics of their watersheds. This is a basic resource intended to help individuals, groups, organizations, companies, communities, and governments plan and carry out environmentally sound, cost-effective stream corridor assessment, enhancement, and stewardship programs. Using the watershed as the basic unit of reference, the Handbook provides ideas and information with which readers can assess and document local stream conditions, learn about and evaluate methods of enhancement, devise and implement enhancement plans, and then maintain the stream and stream corridor in its enhanced state of better health and balance. While not a comprehensive technical manual for professionals trained in stream restoration, this resource does provide a solid foundation by which volunteers may become informed observers, advocates, and organizers of stream enhancement programs and participants in their implementation.