Introduction to River Restoration Survey Course for a Global Audience
This course serves as an introduction to the fundamental processes related to river restoration and restoration design. This is not a substitute for the River Restoration Certificate.
EPP 101 is a self-paced, asynchronous online course structured around three learning units: the physical processes of rivers, river ecological processes, and restoration project design.
- Each learning unit includes four to seven lectures followed by a short exam.
- Exams consist of five questions, all of which must be answered correctly to pass. Participants have three attempts to pass each exam. If additional attempts are needed, please contact the EPP program at epp@pdx.edu.
- Once an exam is passed, you may advance to the next unit.
- Participants must complete the course within six months of enrollment. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate and be listed on the Environmental Professional Program graduate page.
Course Curriculum
Unit 1: Physical Processes (total 3.7 hours of lecture)
- Unit 1, Lecture 1: Fluvial Process (Dr. Janine Castro) Free Preview
- Unit 1, Lecture 2: Geology and Sediment Dynamics (Steve Winter)
- Unit 1, Lecture 3: Hydrology (Dr. Sue Niezgoda)
- Unit 1, Lecture 4: Biogeomorphology (Dr. Matthew Johnson)
- Reading: Castro, J.M. and Thorne, C.R., 2019. The stream evolution triangle: Integrating geology, hydrology, and biology. River Research and Applications, 35(4), pp.315-326.
Unit 2: Ecological Processes (total 3 hours of lecture)
- Unit 2, Lecture 1: Landscape Ecology and River Restoration (Dr. Gordon Reeves)
- Unit 2, Lecture 2: Riverscape Revitalization: Beaver as Guides (Dr. Chris Jordan)
- Unit 2, Lecture 3: Aquatic Primary Production and Algal Ecology (Dr. Christine Weilhoefer)
- Unit 2, Lecture 4: Nutrient Spiraling in Streams (Dr. Patrick Edwards)
- Reading: Palmer, M.A., et al., 2005. Standards for ecologically successful river restoration. Journal of applied ecology, 42(2), pp.208-217.
Unit 3: River Restoration Design (5.2 hours of lecture)
- Unit 3, Lecture 1: Project Development (Gardner Johnson, CFM).
- Unit 3, Lecture 2: Design Methods (Melanie Klym, PE, LG)
- Unit 3, Lecture 3: Stream Bank Erosion (Dr. Colin Thorne)
- Unit 3, Lecture 4: Floodplains (Dr. Janine Castro)
- Unit 3, Lecture 5: Large Wood (Michael Rafferty, PE)
- Unit 3, Lecture 6: Low Head Dams and Fish Passage (Theo Malone, PE)
- Unit 3, Lecture 7: Aquatic Organism Passage at Road-Stream Crossings (Casey Kramer, PE)
- Reading: Thorne, C., et al., 2015. Project risk screening matrix for river management and restoration. River Research and Applications, 31(5), pp.611-626.
Student Testimonial
"Great overview of all topics. I think this is particularly useful for individuals interested in restoration or who work adjacent to restoration design. As an agency professional this is a really useful overview which will help in my analysis of mitigation/restoration design."