Challenges and Opportunities in Evaluating the Potential for the Effectiveness of Stream Restoration
Rigorous application of the scientific method enables researchers to design and conduct experiments that provide clear and objective results. Ecological restoration projects can be considered as natural experiments, but practical constraints usually limit the application of the scientific method, and the complexity of stream ecosystems may obscure any evaluation of the success or outcome of the project. This is true at the stage of evaluating the potential for habitat improvement projects, as well as assessing whether or not they achieve the desired outcomes. In a joint presentation drawing on examples from their experiences, Drs. Carlson and Baxter will discuss the tension between scientific rigor and restoration project efficiency and suggest simple ways to evaluate the strength of restoration project planning and monitoring to inform prioritization and minimize the chance of mis-interpreting project outcomes.
Colden Baxter is a Professor of Ecology and Director of the Stream Ecology Center and the Center for Ecological Research & Education at Idaho State University. He grew up ranching and exploring rivers and landscapes with his family, particularly in western Montana and northern Idaho. He received training in biology and geology (BA, Univ. Oregon), ecology (MSc, Univ. Montana), fisheries science and philosophy of science (Ph.D., Oregon State Univ.), and food web studies (postdoctoral fellowship, Colorado State Univ. & Hokkaido Univ., Japan). With many students, collaborators and partners, his research focuses on rivers and streams, ecological linkages between water and land, and connections between people and rivers. He and his wife Lenny are parents to two daughters, Arwen and Iris.
Sam Carlson is an interdisciplinary scientist with an interest in interpreting, evaluating, and expanding our scientific understanding of river systems. Sam works with the Clark Fork Coalition where he applies scientific approaches to conservation and restoration challenges and pursues research projects intended to facilitate better understanding and management of freshwater resources. Sam has a background in water quality, hydrology, and data science, and was previously an Assistant Research Professor at Montana State University where he worked on investigations of landscape-scale patterns of stream temperature and stream metabolism, examinations of the relationship between streamflow and water quality, and efforts to develop accessible resources for sharing ecological insights and data. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology and Environmental Science from Montana State University.