Aaron Hanson Thesis Book.pdf - NDSU - North Dakota State ...

theoretical premise researchRestoring Streams in an Urbanizing WorldUrbanization will continue to damage sensitive water ecosystems due to anincrease of urban runoff entering river systems. These impacts will affectthe hydrology and geomorphology of streams, resulting in detrimentalalteration of the ecology in waterways. In order to combat this trend, riverrestoration has been an increasingly popular management strategy forimproving physical and ecological conditions of degraded urban streams(Bernhardt & Palmer, 2007).According to Palmer (2007), the goal of urban river restoration shouldbe to restore the essence of the ecological structure and function, whichcharacterize non-urban streams, and to reestablish the natural temporaland spatial variation in ecological attributes to stable conditions (p. 747).Findings from the National River Restoration Science Synthesis (NRRSS)indicate that restoration projects across the United States fall into fourmain categories: stormwater management, bank stabilization, channelreconfiguration and grade control, and riparian replanting and management.ThoughtsIt is pleasing to see that projects fall into one of the four main categorieslisted by NRRSS; however, not all projects incorporate improving vitalbiological communities or ecosystem functioning, which are important to ahealthy river. My design thesis will focus on using an ecological solutionthat will go beyond the four main categories mentioned by NRRSS.Further research will determine the most important management strategyfor the Mississippi River at St. Cloud; however, using each of the four mainprinciples will allow for the best design solutions for St. Cloud’s riverfront.Realizing The Importance of RiversAfter degrading urban rivers through years of abuse, it is encouragingto see that people have realized the economic and community value ariver can bring. According to Ecological Riverfront Design, “Cities arerediscovering their rivers. For At least the past 30 years, cities and townshave been turning back to their rivers, transforming industrial and derelictland into new parks, residences, and commercial space” (Otto et al., 2004,p. v). This trend is continuing to rise for great reason; cities have a majoropportunity to promote revitalization along riverfronts that will not onlybring rivers back to health, but also the communities that depend on them.24