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Perceptions of Wood in Rivers and Challenges for Stream Restoration in the United States

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Abstract

This article reports a study of the public perception of large wood in rivers and streams in the United States. Large wood is an element of freshwater aquatic ecosystems that has attracted much scientific interest in recent years because of its value in biological and geomorphological processes. At the heart of the issue is the nature of the relationship between scientific recognition of the ecological and geomorphological benefits of wood in rivers, management practices utilizing wood for river remediation progress, and public perceptions of in-channel wood. Surveys of students’ perceptions of riverscapes with and without large wood in the states of Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Oregon, and Texas suggest that many individuals in the United States adhere to traditionally negative views of wood. Except for students in Oregon, most respondents considered photographs of riverscapes with wood to be less aesthetically pleasing and needing more improvement than rivers without wood. Analysis of reasons given for improvement needs suggest that Oregon students are concerned with improving channels without wood for fauna habitat, whereas respondents elsewhere focused on the need for cleaning wood-rich channels for flood risk management. These results underscore the importance of public education to increase awareness of the geomorphological and ecological significance of wood in stream systems. This awareness should foster more positive attitudes toward wood. An integrated program of research, education, and policy is advocated to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and public perception for effective management and restoration of river systems with wood.

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Acknowledgments

The international study was developed by a working group led by H. Piégay (CNRS, France) and K.J. Gregory (University of Southampton, UK) and comprising: V. Bondarev (Moscow State University, Russia), A. Chin (Texas A&M University, USA), N. Dahlstrom (Mid Sweden University, Sweden), A. Elosegi (University of the Basque Country, Spain), S.V. Gregory (Oregon State University, USA), V. Joshi (S.P. College, Pune, India), M. Mutz (Brandenburg Technological University, Cottbus, Germany, M. Rinaldi (University of Florence, Italy), B. Wyzga (Polish Academy of Science, Krakow, Poland), and J. Zawiejska (Jagiellonian University, Poland). We thank the numerous individuals who participated in the surveys and provided assistance. In particular, Megan Meier analyzed the data from Portland State University; Clint Jackson, Emily Driskill, Jennifer Kippenberger, and Raleigh McClure assisted with compilation of the survey responses. The collaborations developed for this study were stimulated and supported in part by grants from the European Science Foundation (Standing Committee for Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (through the Association of American Geographers). Texas A&M University (College of Geosciences and Department of Geography) provided additional support for manuscript preparation. We very much appreciate the valuable comments from three reviewers and the editor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, College of Geosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA

    Anne Chin

  2. Department of Geography, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, 66506, USA

    Melinda D. Daniels

  3. Department of Geography, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 65211, USA

    Michael A. Urban

  4. University of Lyon, CNRS-UMR 5600, Environnement, Ville, Societe, Site ENS-lsh, 15 Parvis René Descartes, 69007, Lyon Cedex 07, France

    Hervé Piégay

  5. Department of Geography, University of Southampton, Southampton, S017 1 BJ, United Kingdom

    Kenneth J. Gregory

  6. Department of Geography and Environmental Resources, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, USA

    Wendy Bigler

  7. Department of Biology, Central College, Pella, Iowa, 50219, USA

    Anya Z. Butt

  8. Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia, 31698, USA

    Judith L. Grable

  9. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA

    Stanley V. Gregory

  10. Department of Geography, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, 97207, USA

    Martin Lafrenz

  11. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA

    Laura R. Laurencio

  12. Department of Geosciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA

    Ellen Wohl

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  1. Anne Chin
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  2. Melinda D. Daniels
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Correspondence to Anne Chin.

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Chin, A., Daniels, M.D., Urban, M.A. et al. Perceptions of Wood in Rivers and Challenges for Stream Restoration in the United States. Environmental Management 41, 893–903 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9075-9

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