Watershed Science Institute (WSI, Natural Resources Conservation Service)

The WSI is a group of interdisciplinary USDA specialists dedicated to assisting NRCS to carry out programs in a manner that improves watershed processes and functions. They do this primarily through adaptation of science into technical tools and procedures.

Technical Information, Resources, Tools, Models, and Data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service

This is the official location of NRCS’ approaches to monitoring, assessment, and management of agricultural and other activities to reduce impacts to the environment.

Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices (Federal Interagency Stream Corridor Restoration Working Group, 2001)

This document was produced by the collective experience, skills, and techonology of 15 Federal agencies of the United States government. It is a benchmark document that is being used by these agencies, as well as many others who are interested in restoring the functions and values of the nation's stream corridors. It describes assessment methods and restoration planning.

Restoration Project Evaluation and Assessment - Methods

California Coastal Salmonid Restoration Monitoring and Evaluation Program: Interim Restoration Effectiveness and Validation Monitoring Protocols (Department of Fish and Game, 2003)

The protocols are intended to measure the effectiveness of efforts to improve and conserve coastal watersheds, streams and anadromous fish habitat. The interim protocols are presented in this manual. They are being made available to qualified investigators for use with proposed and/or completed restoration projects in coastal California watersheds. Additional field tests will help refine and improve these protocols on an adaptive basis.

Adaptive Management Practitioners’ Network Resources

A variety of articles, abstracts, and conference links are provided addressing ecosystem management and assessment, data analysis, and collaborative processes.

Restoration Projects

Dutch Slough Restoration Project

The Dutch Slough site is located in the western Delta, in the City of Oakley, in eastern Contra Costa County. The site encompasses 1,166-acres. It is bounded by Dutch Slough on the north, Marsh Creek on the west, the Contra Costa Canal on the south and Jersey Island Road on the east. The Dutch Slough project provides a significant opportunity to improve understanding of restoration science in the Delta ecosystem. Adaptive management employs the scientific method to maximize the information value of restoration and management actions. With the assistance of a panel of scientists, the project team will design restoration actions to test hypotheses about how the ecosystem functions and how best to achieve the project objectives. In this respect, adaptive management interventions are conducted as experiments. Project implementation will be guided by the best available information but will be monitored and implemented with the goal of increasing our understanding about the science of restoration.