Design Criteria for Process-Based Restoration of Fluvial Systems

Abstract Process-based restoration of fluvial systems removes human constraints on nature to promote ecological recovery. By freeing natural processes, a resilient ecosystem may be restored with minimal corrective intervention. However, there is lack meaningful design criteria allow designers evaluate whether project likely achieve process-based objectives. We describe four project's potential: the expansion process space and connectivity lost because alterations, use intrinsic energy do work restoration, native materials that not overstabilize elements, explicit incorporation time adaptive management into place sites recovery trajectories as opposed attempts “restore” via single Applications include stream infrastructure low-carbon construction. An example presented in California's Sierra Nevada foothills.