FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2004
River Restoration Conference Addresses Bioengineering

URBANA--Many rivers and streams in the nation have been impacted by human actions on land and in the water. As a result, stream banks are eroding at accelerated rates and natural riparian communities are degraded. Can the use of strategically-placed native plants make a difference? This question will be the focus of an upcoming conference at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Wheaton, Illinois.

On July 14 and 15, speakers from the region and from around the nation will discuss successes and failures of this relatively new strategy at a conference entitled “River Restoration Practices and Concepts--Riparian Bioengineering and Restoration Techniques.” The event is sponsored by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the Chicago Wilderness Consortium.

“Traditional stream repair methods are usually costly and destroy aquatic habitats along with the natural beauty of the stream,” said Leslie Dorworth, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant aquatic ecology specialist. “For ten years now, bioengineering has offered less expensive and more environmentally sound options. The pairing of engineering principles and biological expertise can reduce erosion while maintaining a more natural stream.”

The Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission has just completed a detailed review of bioengineering and stream restoration projects. “Landowners, resource managers, regulators, designers, environmentalists, scientists and engineers are invited to come hear the details of the review at this conference,” said Dorworth.

In addition to many case studies, this conference features several speakers that are involved in national and international river restoration projects. Chester Watson, from Colorado State University is working with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers in a comprehensive effort to develop ways to control erosion and channel degradation. Bill Annable from University of Waterloo in Ontario Canada is responsible for over 45 river restoration projects throughout southern Ontario and British Columbia. He also has many projects in the U.S. Steve Gough of Little River Research and Design in Murphysboro, Illinois has designed urban stream projects in St. Louis as well as across the country.

Enrollment for this conference is limited so register as soon as possible. The cost is $135.00 if you register before July 1; $150.00 after that date. Included with your registration is a DVD of the major study findings presented on the first day as well as footage from project sites. Also included are continental breakfasts on both days, lunch on the first day, and conference notes.

For more information about the conference, contact Leslie Dorworth at 219-989-2726 or email dorworth@calumet.purdue.edu. You can find the registration form on the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Web site at www.iisgcp.org; look under Noteworthy News.

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The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program is one of 31 National Sea Grant College Programs. Created by Congress in 1966, Sea Grant combines university, government, business and industry expertise to address coastal and Great Lakes needs. Funding is provided by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U. S. Department of Commerce, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University at West Lafayette, Indiana.

IIrene Miles
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
376 NSRC
1101 W. Peabody Dr.
Urbana, Il 61801
Phone:  217-333-8055
Fax:  217-333-8046
miles@illinois.edu