Restoration of Puget Sound Rivers

This volume highlights the scientific understanding necessary for effective river and salmonid restoration, focusing on the Pacific Northwest's unique challenges. Restoration of Puget Sound Rivers offers valuable insights.

The book Restoration of Puget Sound Rivers delves into the crucial understanding of fluvial processes and aquatic ecology necessary for predicting the responses of river systems and salmonid populations to restoration initiatives. This comprehensive volume is tailored for geomorphologists, aquatic biologists, civil engineers, planners, and anyone keen on the intersection of science and policy, particularly in the context of environmental restoration. The recent classification of Pacific salmon as endangered has sparked a significant interest in the scientific foundations of river restoration in the Pacific Northwest, leading to substantial funding for habitat restoration efforts aimed at reversing the decline of salmon populations in the area.

In the Pacific Northwest, understanding the processes that shape river habitats and structures is still an evolving field of study. The challenges of gauging how river systems react to both land-use changes and restoration efforts are compounded by historical alterations to these ecosystems. The book emphasizes that degraded habitats may not be successfully restored without a deep understanding of natural conditions, especially when significant alterations in watershed hydrology are at play. The development of regional river restoration programs provides a unique opportunity to assess the broader state of river restoration practices.

The eighteen chapters of Restoration of Puget Sound Rivers feature insights from regional experts who gathered at a symposium hosted by the Society for Ecological Restoration. These chapters explore the geological and geomorphological influences on river dynamics, the biological aspects of river systems, and the application of various scientific disciplines in restoring the rivers of Puget Sound. This volume is a vital resource for addressing one of the key environmental challenges of our time.