FAO FISHERIES TECHNICAL PAPER 484

FAO FISHERIES TECHNICAL PAPER 484

Habitat rehabilitation for inland fisheries
Global review of effectiveness and guidance for rehabilitation of freshwater ecosystems

by
Phil Roni, Karrie Hanson, Tim Beechie, George Pess, Michael Pollock
Watershed Program
Northwest Fisheries Science Center
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Seattle, United States of America

and

Devin M. Bartley
Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service
Fisheries Resources Division
FAO Fisheries Department
Rome, Italy


FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Rome, 2005

 

Table of Contents


Cover photos:

Excavation of new off-channel habitat (River Drau, Austria)

Lake habitat enhancement in North America

Planting of riparian trees (River Drau, Austria) (Courtesy of Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

ISBN 92-5-105354-5
ISSN 0429-9345

All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders.

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© FAO 2005


Contents

Preparation of this document
Abstract
Acronyms and abbreviations

1. Introduction

1.1 Habitat restoration vs. rehabilitation
1.2 Ecological basis for rehabilitation

2. Effectiveness of common techniques

2.1 Road rehabilitation

2.1.1 Techniques for reducing road impacts
2.1.2 Effectiveness of techniques for reducing road impacts
2.1.3 Conclusions - techniques for reducing road impacts

2.2 Riparian rehabilitation

2.2.1 Techniques for riparian rehabilitation

2.2.1.1 Riparian silviculture
2.2.1.2 Fencing and grazing reduction

2.2.2 Effectiveness of riparian rehabilitation

2.2.2.1 Effectiveness of riparian silviculture
2.2.2.2 Effectiveness of fencing and grazing reduction

2.2.3 Conclusions - riparian silviculture and fencing and grazing reduction

2.3 Floodplain rehabilitation

2.3.1 Overview of floodplain techniques

2.3.1.1 Connecting isolated habitats
2.3.1.2 Levee breeching and setbacks
2.3.1.3 Channel reconstruction or meandering
2.3.1.4 Construction of new floodplain habitats

2.3.2 Effectiveness of floodplain rehabilitation techniques

2.3.2.1 Isolated habitats
2.3.2.2 Levee breaching
2.3.2.3 Remeandering
2.3.2.4 Constructed habitats

2.3.3 Conclusions - floodplain habitats

2.4 Dam removal and flood restoration

2.4.1 Techniques for dam removal and flood restoration
2.4.2 Effectiveness of dam removal and flood restoration

2.4.2.1 Effectiveness dam removal
2.4.2.2 Effectiveness of flood restoration

2.4.3 Conclusions - dam removal and flood restoration

2.5 Instream habitat structures

2.5.1 Common instream habitat structures
2.5.2 Effectiveness of instream structures

2.5.2.1 Physical habitat
2.5.2.2 Biological effectiveness of instream structures

2.5.3 Conclusions - instream habitat structures

2.6 Lake habitat enhancement

2.6.1 Common lake habitat enhancement techniques
2.6.2 Effectiveness of lake habitat enhancement
2.6.3 Conclusions - lake habitat enhancement

2.7 Nutrient enrichment

2.7.1 Nutrient enrichment techniques
2.7.2 Effectiveness of nutrient enrichment
2.7.3 Conclusions - nutrient enrichment

2.8 Miscellaneous habitat rehabilitation methods

2.8.1 Beaver reintroduction or removal
2.8.2 Bank protection (riprap and bioengineering)
2.8.3 Brush removal
2.8.4 Habitat protection
2.8.5 Conclusions - miscellaneous rehabilitation techniques

3. Cost-effectiveness

3.1 Review of cost-effectivenes of habitat rehabilitation
3.2 Conclusions - cost-effectiveness

4. Prioritizing rehabilitation activities

4.1 Determining what to rehabilitate
4.2 Prioritizing actions
4.3 Conclusions for prioritization

5. Monitoring and evaluation

5.1 Definition of monitoring and evaluation
5.2 Steps for developing monitoring programmes
5.3 Conclusions for monitoring and evaluation

6. Overall summary

References

Glossary

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