Developing an NRCS stream restoration design guide

For almost 70 years the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has been assisting private landowners by helping conserve, maintain, and improve natural resources and environment. Science-based technical assistance is delivered to local partners on a voluntary basis for a variety of project types. The NRCS is increasingly involved in stream restoration projects that cover the full range of treatments from natural to structural. The goals and objectives of these stream projects typically encompass restoring or rehabilitating a stream to address bed and bank stability and/or habitat enhancement. The NRCS took a leadership role in the development of the "Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices" (FISRWG, 1998), and early on, the need for a comprehensive design guide was recognized. The development of this design guide is presently underway, and the current paper describes the scope and content of this multi-faceted effort. This material will be of interest to the numerous disciplines interested in stream restoration design. The authors are also soliciting additional input that will aid in development of a comprehensive design guide.