Root-Rap or Restoration: Is Rosgen-ism Helping or Hurting Our Streams and Rivers?

We who are in the natural resources profession are experiencing a time of unprecedented opportunity to restore aquatic ecosystems. Funding and public sentiment have come together to provide us with a wealth of resources and discretion. Unfortunately, without clearly articulating our objectives and taking an honest look at our technical shortcomings, we run the risk of losing credibility and bringing about a backlash against our restoration efforts. This paper advocates a more considered approach to restoration and a clarification of our objectives and terminology. An argument is made that many of the techniques on which we are relying to restore and enhance fish habitat are, in fact, reversing the natural healing process and, in some cases, damaging aquatic systems.