People view rivers with different visions.
A fisherman visualizes a vicious strike while the tourist sees a shady picnic or a cool swim. The hydrologist sees hydraulic control where the boater pictures riding the perfect wave. A farmer envisions the blood of a healthy and productive field, while an engineer considers stormwater quality, flood hazard and pier scour. Being many things to many people has not come easy for our nation ' s rivers, and a toll has been taken as natural processes occurring in and around rivers have been altered to accommodate human use. But physical, social, economic, and political constraints make restoration to pristine, pre-settlement conditions impractical or impossible.