Bernhardt, E.S., Palmer, M.A., Allan, J.D., Alexander, G., Barnas, K., Brooks, S. 2005. Synthesizing U.S. River Restoration Efforts. Science. AAAS, Washington, DC. Volume 308, Number 5722. Pages 636-637

Methods, restoration, stream, water quality, monitoring

A description of a comprehensive database of >37,000 river restoration projects across the United States is presented. Such projects have increased exponentially over the past decade with more than a billion dollars spent annually since 1990. Most are intended to enhance water quality, manage riparian zones, improve in-stream habitat, allow fish passage, and stabilize stream banks. Only 10% of project records document any form of project monitoring, and little if any of this information is either appropriate or available for assessing the ecological effectiveness of restoration activities.