Virtually all watersheds have been modified or degraded by human development often resulting in loss of high-quality water, productive soil, and loss of diverse plant and animal communities.
Watershed restoration is a fundamental element of the new ecosystem management philosophy.
The authors and editors of this practical guidebook answer these questions, and outline an approach to watershed restoration that combines educating communities about the importance of healthy watershed, a standardized scientific approach to restoration, learning from existing case studies, and the principles of adaptive management. In addition to providing the scientific, social, and policy frameworks for conducting restoration, the book spotlights how citizen groups, communities, conservation coalitions, private interests, and management agencies are working together to restore watersheds. Case studies address urbanized watershed, farmlands, forestlands, rangelands, and large river systems from New England to California. A critique of these restoration projects summarizes the approaches that offer the best opportunities for long-term success.