Hey Everyone!
John has a free Webinar coming up on March 10th over at Forester University. You can register at this link
Here are the details:
What’s Wrong About Riprap?
DATE: March 10, 2011 TIME: 2 pm EST (11:00 am PST)
Learning Objectives
• Recognize the functional components of a watershed and river.
• Explain basic watershed and river processes – in other words, how a river works.
• Define the term “channel stability” at both the watershed scale and the channel scale.
• Observe and hear about case studies of environmentally sensitive streambank stabilization projects from the erosion control specialist/fluvial geomorphologist who implemented the projects.
Description
Have you ever watched or read the news and seen a house or a car bobbing down the middle of a river or maybe seen a highway or bridge washed out? These tragedies are likely the result of a well-meaning engineer or developer forgetting to look at the bigger picture – how watersheds, rivers, and stream channels naturally work. Everybody seems surprised when a streambank erodes, bringing a piece of road or a home along with it – except for the fluvial geomorphologists! Now, you have the opportunity to understand your work through the eyes of two very different interdisciplinary river geologists. We’ll explain both the big picture of how a river naturally works and the practical aspects of how you can work with it to create sustainable projects that work with a river’s natural processes rather than try to control these processes. Stephanie will start with some fluvial geomorphology 101 basics at the watershed scale, and most of the discussion will focus on John and his work at the reach scale, where the work is usually done. Discussions will include habitat, enhancements, substrate complexity, a little about “proper functioning condition” for the implementer/designer, and why riprap is bad.
Instructors:
John McCullah, Watershed Geologist, CPESC #311
John McCullah owns and operates Salix Applied Earthcare (Salix), a
consulting firm located in Redding, California. Since 1994, the company has been implementing erosion control, watershed restoration, bioengineering, and biotechnical streambank stabilization projects, as well as developing educational materials and training programs for these disciplines.
Mr. McCullah has completed many projects, including biotechnical slope stabilization for Caltrans and UC Davis and “natural channel design” and restoration for streams. Mr. McCullah provides construction and biotechnical erosion control expertise for the purpose oftraining, developing educational materials, and implementing “on the ground” projects.
Stephanie Moret (Ph.D., LEG, PG)
Dr. Moret is a natural resources scientist, educator, and coalition-builder with over 17 years of experience leading governments, planners, institutions, land owners, non-profits, and project teams towards increased sustainability. A former university professor, she has worked extensively in risk assessment and decision-making in complex systems. She specializes in bringing stakeholders together to define issues and create tools for communities seeking sustainable solutions. She has assisted cities, tribes, utilities, non-profits, and private clients with sustainable development, watershed restoration, habitat recovery, water supply protection, open space planning, natural resources management, and integration of environmental principles into development. Stephanie has been the lead in developing local government habitat preservation responses to the Endangered Species Act, in developing education and outreach programs, and in coordinating large-scale community involvement for multimillion-dollar projects. She is also the Director of Education and Training for Forester University
