PA Aquatic Resource Restoration Conference 2026: Past, Present and Future

This presentation will provide a quick overview of what makes up the evidence-based approach in relation to investigating the restoration potential of site and use of the EPA’s Principles of Ecological Restoration of Aquatic Resources for project development. I’ll provide a brief overview of the four basic steps in the evidence-based approach which includes Identify Historic Alterations, Natural/Unaltered Potential, Identify Modern Constraints, and Design/Modeling. Each step is critical to the overall process and provides invaluable data to the decision making of what is achievable at a given site. This brief presentation will help tie the previous technical sessions together with the Principal and Key Restoration Design Considerations and Identifying & Overcoming Complicating Factors presentations that immediately follow.