Goal/Intent Categories for NRRSS Database
Definitions are metadata used for entering project goals into NRRSS database. All projects were categorized by NRRSS researchers based on stated goals for the project. If no goals were stated, intent was left blank. Project goals were never inferred.
Aesthetics/Recreation/Education: Activities that increase community value: use, appearance, access, safety, knowledge.
Bank Stabilization: Practices designed to reduce/eliminate erosion or slumping of bank material into the river channel. This category DOES NOT include Stormwater Management, see next intent category.
Channel Reconfiguration: Alteration of channel plan form or longitudinal profile and/or day-lighting (converting culverts and pipes to open channels). Includes stream meander restoration and in-channel structures that alter the thalweg of the stream. Note that many instream structures also claim to improve habitat. For NRRSS the intent declared in the source document must be used.
Dam Removal/Retrofit: Removal of dams and weirs or modifications/retrofits to existing dams to reduce negative ecological impacts. Excludes dam modifications that are simply for improving Fish Passage.
Fish Passage: Removal of barriers to upstream/downstream migration of fishes. Includes the physical removal of barriers and also construction of alternative pathways. Includes migration barriers placed at strategic locations along streams to prevent undesirable species from accessing upstream areas.
Floodplain Reconnection: Practices that increase the flood frequency of floodplain areas and/or promote flux of organisms and material between riverine and floodplain areas.
Flow Modification: Practices that alter the timing and delivery of water quantity (DOES NOT include Stormwater Management ). Typically, but not necessarily associated with releases from impoundments and constructed flow regulators.
In-stream Habitat Improvement: Altering structural complexity to increase habitat availability and diversity for target organisms and provision of breeding habitat and refugia from disturbance and predation. (In some cases habitat improvement may be an action with the intent of In-stream Species Management, in other cases Habitat Improvement may be the intent, and might be accomplished through Channel Reconfiguration, be very careful to separate action from intent when deciding whether to select this category.
In-stream Species Management: Practices that directly alter aquatic native species distribution and abundance through the addition (stocking) or translocation of animal and plant species and/or removal of exotics. Excludes physical manipulations of habitat/breeding territory (see In-stream Habitat Improvement).
Land Acquisition: Practices that obtain lease/title/easements for stream-side land for the explicit purpose of preservation or removal of impacting agents and/or to facilitate future restoration projects. Note: Simple purchase and preservation to prevent potential future land conversion is insufficient for inclusion in the NRRSS database. NRRSS projects should demonstrate intended or actual cessation of detrimental activities in acquired land or active restoration components.
Riparian Management: Revegetation of riparian zone and/or removal of exotic species (e.g. weeds, cattle). Excludes localized planting only to stabilize bank areas (see Bank Stabilization).
Stormwater Management: Special case of Flow Modification that includes the construction and management of structures (ponds, wetlands and flow regulators) in urban areas to modify the release of storm runoff into waterways from watersheds with elevated imperviousness into waterways. These practices/structures generally aim to reduce peak flow magnitudes and extend flow duration. For the purposes of NRRSS Stormwater Management refers to water quantity not quality. Urban sediment, litter and temperature control should be categorized as Water Quality Management.
Water Quality Management: Practices that protect existing water quality or change the chemical composition and/or suspended particulate load. Remediation of acid mine drainage falls into this category as does CSO separation. Excludes urban runoff quantity management (see Stormwater Management).
Other: Specify the project intent that differs from the choices provided. If there is no intent stated you should not select or enter any information in this section. If the intent is the generic “stream restoration” then this section should be left blank.