Urban streamcourses in the southwestern U.S. have mostly been designed for flood control and conveyance, and most often not of sufficient width or structure to provide much benefit to wildlife or human recreation in the form of walking trails, bid-watching, etc. Like it or not, urban residents, likely due to their infrequent encounters with "wild" or "scrubby" vegetated landscapes, do not feel comfortable trekking through or next to them (something that most ecologists writing on ECOLOG love!)
A second point to be made here is that highly altered linear ecosystems, such as flow-controlled watercourses though urban areas, are often maintenance nightmares due to the nichespace that has been created for better-adapted exotic species. Fire risk, flood control and conveyance, and public safety, while commonly poo-pooed by ecologists, are real objectives for professions whom we often do not understand or communicate with. It seems to me that, in order to increase urban people's understanding of the habitat and ecosystem value (or, for that matter, recreational value,) there seems to be a need for intermediate experiences with semi-managed natural areas. The design of such an area can take the form of a moderately-graded, smooth-surfaced pathway bordered by built elements of comfort (edging, seating, etc.) with maintained views towards more ecologically-functioning areas. The design and maintenance of such areas, of course, is more expensive than the moneys supporting small-scale LTER projects or knee-jerk maintenance actions. I would encourage restoration ecologists within this forum and elsewhere to consider the programming goals of urban watercourses as identified by other professions before demonizing the decisions made by maintenance staff. Perhaps the fault lies in our own profession's lack of communication and team-building skills? Matthew Bossler University of Arizona, Masters Student C: (804) 763-9035 1721 E. Lester St. Tucson, AZ 85719 > Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:27:16 -0500 > From: [email protected] > Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Urban Stream "Restoration" > To: [email protected] > > Unfortunately, this happens everywhere. I agree one of the biggest problems > is probably our society's perception of what looks "scrubby." I drive by > streams constantly that have been "cleaned out" or "improved." There is > usually green, lush grass right up to the edge of the stream bank, which is > eroded and slumping into the water. > > Some states provide legal protection for riparian corridors. So, you may > look into what permits are required in your state for such activities. Other > than that, we can only re-shape our ideas about what "looks nice". > > > T. Travis Brown > 193 Forest Drive > Jeffersonville, IN 47130 > [email protected] > (502) 322-4034 > > >Hello all, > >I have observed a disturbing trend in my home in Santa Cruz, > >California that I see echoed in this recent article from Berkeley, > >CA > > > http://berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2009-02-19/article/32287?headline=Green-Neighbors-The-Richmond-Chainsaw-Massacre-Part-One > > > > >In these cases, urban riparian corridors are denuded in the name of > >public safety, despite the existence of a restoration plan of some > >sort. In the Santa Cruz case, the work is done by furloughed > >prisoners engaged by the city government, no qualified biologists > >are employed, and a vegetation removal permit entitled "riparian > >restoration" is issued , despite the heavy removal of willows, box > >elders and other natives. > >Is this new trend peculiar to the Central Coast of California, or > >are others seeing similar problems with urban stream "restorations"? > > > >Please share any stories you may have with me... > >Thanks, > > > >Rachel O'Malley > > > -- > Department of Biology > PO Box 1848 > University of Mississippi > University, Mississippi 38677-1848 > > Brewer web page - http://home.olemiss.edu/~jbrewer/ > > FAX - 662-915-5144 > Phone - 662-915-1077 > > > ------------------------------------------------------------ > Online Loan > Click for online loan, fast & no lender fee, approval today > http://tagline.excite.com/fc/FgElN1gy1WvILc6iw879Kg1AT8HtJzIsf6mA2BsuZnG7cGSXkwR8ZSC9hRm/ _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™ Hotmail®…more than just e-mail. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_howitworks_022009
