Benefits of Stream Restoration Need Documentation

Jim Gracie, President of the Maryland Stream Restoration Association has organized a blue ribbon committee to identify research needs for stream restoration monitoring.  It seems that the benefits of stream restoration are not well-quantified nor are they widely acknowledged.  This really came to the forefront of restoration practitioners the development of Maryland’s Watershed Implementation Plans for restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.  As a result, stream restoration will not play a large part in the restoration program to meet requirements.  The committee, including nationally prominent and local practioners, academics, government regulators and resource managers will identify what research and monitoring programs need to be developed and implemented to demonstrate the benefits of stream restoration. Participants are Allen Gellis , United States Geological Survey; Margaret Palmer, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Studies; Peter Wilcock, Johns Hopkins University; David Rosgen, Wildland Hydrology;  Todd Nichols, Maryland State Highway Administration; Steve Stewart and Rob Ryan, Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability; William Stack, Center for Watershed Protection; and Eileen Straughan, Scott Lowe, Larry Lubbers, and Jim Gracie of the Maryland Stream Restoration Association.