Learn About Low-Tech Restoration Practices
As low-tech methods to restore healthy streams and meadows are implemented across the West, more and more people are becoming aware of these approaches. We created a factsheet in online and print versions to help low-tech newbies learn the basics of these practices.
Restoring Incised Streams and Their Riparian Zones
Beaver Dam Analogs and Post-Assisted Log Structures
A beaver dam analog in central Oregon slowing, ponding, and spreading water onto the floodplain at low flow. Sod, mud, and vegetation are hand-piled to mimic beaver dam activity. Posts driven into the stream channel help hold the structure in place. Photo: Nick Weber.
What? Impermanent structures made of natural materials, including beaver dam analogs (BDAs) and post-assisted log structures (PALS), mimic beaver activity and wood accumulation. These practices are often called low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) practices because they restore natural processes that help streams heal and promote resilience.
Where? Wadable streams and their riparian areas that are incised and disconnected from their floodplains.
Why? To reconnect streams to their floodplains, increase the footprint and duration of riparian vegetation and wet soils, and increase drought and wildfire resilience.
See Success on the Ground
Rewetting Meadows and Stopping Headcuts
Zeedyk Structures
A Zeedyk structure in Carbon County, Utah. Rocks and other natural materials are used to stop headcuts by stabilizing soil around wetland vegetation roots and preventing erosion. These structures help keep water on the landscape.
What? Structures made of rocks or wood and mud, including one rock dams, media lunas, rock rundowns, and Zuni bowls, protect vegetation against erosion and slow and spread water across wet meadow soils. These practices are referred to as Zeedyk structures.
Where? Wet or mesic meadows that are incised or have headcuts.
Why? To arrest headcuts, prevent meadow vegetation loss, and increase the footprint and duration of meadow vegetation and wet soils.
See Success On the Ground
Header video courtesy of Joe Wheaton under Creative Commons Licensing.