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2021 BLM Low-Tech Riverscape Restoration Workshop |
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Sponsored by:
This workshop series will be a mix of self-paced virtual sessions, some optional virtual discussion sections, and an an all day field workshop. Participants can mix and match what they participate in to fit their schedule. Details are below, but crucial dates are:
- September 7, 2021 (9 AM to Noon MST) - Virtual Discussion on Modules 1 & 5
- September 21, 2021 (9 AM to 2 PM MST) - Virtual Discussion on Modules 2, 3 & 4
- October 5, 2021 (All Day with Evening Event) - Field Construction Workshop in Miles City, MT
The virtrual modules can be completed at any time (prior to corresponding discussion session)
This workshop was solicited by BLM's Alden Shallcross, the State Lead - Montana/Dakotas Aquatic Habitat Management Program. The workshop was made possible thanks to the generous support of the BLM Monata/Dakotas, and a grant to Utah State University's Restoration Consortium and Joe Wheaton's ET-AL lab. The workshop content grew out of over 20 [LTPBR workshops]({{ site.baseurl }}/workshops/) taught by Utah State University and the online modules were developed in [2020]({{ site.baseurl }}/workshops/2020/SGI/) for an NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife workshop series.
The virtual portions of this workshop will introduce BLM staff and partners to ‘low-tech’ process-based approaches for restoring streams and their associated riparian areas (riverscapes) to benefit fish, wildlife, and working lands. Participants will learn principles guiding low-tech process-based restoration and become familiar with simple, hand-built tools, including Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) and Post-Assisted Log Structures (PALS), intended to mimic and promote specific ecosystem processes. Participants will gain basic skills in the planning, design, and implementation phases of project development. Course content is supported by a published [Design Manual]({{ site.baseurl }}/manual/).
To make participating remotely and/or from home more manageable, we have spread our curriculum out over four days with lots of time for breaks and self-paced exercises. There is no substitute for the field experience, but we will try our best to simulate some of that virtually.
Everyone participating in the Field Workshop must complete Modules 1 (Intro) and 5 (implementation). Beyond that, Modules 2 (science), 3 (planning), and 4 (design) are targeted at participants wishing to work as LTPBR practitioners. You can take all the modules, or just the ones relevant to you. All workshop materials, exercises and presentations are available online for a self-paced delivery by module at any time. but the virtual workshop gathering will provide pacing, panel discussions and engagement with other professionals and participants.
- Module 1: Introduction to Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration - Day 1 - August 11 (3/4-day)
- Module 2: Underlying Science & Case Studies for Low-Tech - Day 2 - August 12 (half-day morning)
- Module 3: Planning Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration - Day 2 - August 12 (half-day afternoon)
- Module 4: Designing Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration - Day 3 - August 13 (3/4 day)
- Module 5: Implementing Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration - Day 4 - August 14 (half-day morning)
Registration was free, but is now closed. Participation was limited to 1000 participants.
Module 1 - Intro
Slides , Recorded Lectures and Exercises
Module 2 - Science
Slides , Recorded Lectures and Exercises
Module 3 - Planning
Slides , Recorded Lectures and Exercises
Module 4 - Design
Slides , Recorded Lectures and Exercises
Module 5 - Implementation
Slides , Recorded Lectures and Exercises
Mandatory Texts - A hard copy of both the manual and pocket-guide will make your participation in the virtual workshop webinars easier, but free digital versions are available below. If you do not have hard copies, please have a PDF open in the background. For the field workshop, participants will be provided a hard copy of the Pocket Guide:
For the workshop, we rely on the a [Design Manual]({{ site.baseurl }}/manual) and the [Pocket Guide]({{ site.baseurl }}/resources/pocket), which free electronic versions are below. Print copies of manual are available for ~ $60 on Amazon or on BookBaby and waterproof versions of the pocket guide can be purchased here.
- Wheaton J.M., Bennett S.N., Bouwes, N., Maestas J.D. and Shahverdian S.M. (Editors). 2019. [Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes: Design Manual. Version 1.0]({{ site.baseurl }}/manual). Utah State University Restoration Consortium. Logan, UT. 286 pp. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19590.63049/2.
- Wheaton JM, Wheaton A, Maestas J, Bennett S, Bouwes N, Shahveridan S, Camp R, Jordan C, Macfarlane W, Portugal E, Weber N. 2019. [Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration of Riverscapes: Pocket Field Guide]({{ site.baseurl }}/resources/pocke). Utah State University Restoration Consortium. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28222.13123/1.
Ecologist, Adjunct Professor
Professor of Riverscapes
Ecologist
Ecologist, Adjunct Professor
Aquatic Ecologist, Adjunct Professor
Author, Environmental Journalist, & Beaver Believer
Ecologist
Fluvial Geomorphologist
Professor of Physical Geography
Fish Ecologist
Professor of Riverscapes
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The target audience for the virtual field workshop is Montana-Dakota BLM Field Staff and their conservation partners interested in improving the health of riverscapes BLM manages with low-tech PBR.
The target audience for the field workshop series was primarily NRCS staff, and key partners. NRCS SGI states will select key representatives involved in mesic restoration to participate. Anticipated NRCS participants include state/area/local specialists (biologists/engineers) and select field staff. States may also opt to invite key partners who are invested locally in helping get mesic conservation on the ground. The overall goal is to build a cadre of staff in each State to evaluate the technique and serve as local sources of expertise across the range. To keep the hands-on exercises effective, we limited invitation only enrolment to roughly 45 participants per workshop.