Piles of rock or concrete dumped along a stream bank does not equal restoration. Nor does forcing nature into some preconceived plan-form by channelization.  Nor does poisoning a stream to kill all aquatic life only to then restock a fish mono-culture from a hatchery.

In fact, at Trout Headwaters (THI) we believe that these so-called “restoration” strategies often do more harm than good. Our guiding philosophy here is first, do-no-harm. 

For example THI pioneered the reliable use of natural and softer restoration materials, like fiber mats anchored with live native plants, to protect river and stream banks from erosion.  These cost-effective bio-stabilization techniques, now in broad use for ecological restoration, provide benefits beyond property protection or stream bank stability, increasing shade,  improving wildlife habitats and more.

THI has cautioned clients for decades against using expensive cookie-cutter restoration methods.  The fact is that channel models and stream classification strategies are no replacement for thorough field assessment, scientific analysis and multi-disciplinary design teams.  Removing ongoing stream and riparian disturbance or mitigating the impacts of the disturbance must remain the primary focus.  Monitoring should be conducted to insure project performance and to enable adaptive management.

There are even some still clear-cutting rivers – killing all life with poisons –  and then stocking game fish from hatcheries.  This in the name of ‘restoration.’  These crude, invasive and expensive projects across the U.S.  the very definition of habitat destruction – not restoration.  We’ve long cautioned fisheries managers and others that poisoning our waterways is simply dead wrong.  

Just because some folks are restoring waterways a certain way, doesn’t mean it’s right. We’ve become comfortable with swimming upstream.  After all, the trout often seem to prefer it that way.

Trout Headwaters is a technology-enabled services firm focused on our client’s unique goals and missions.  At THI our guiding principle is always to stay customer-centric.  And, it is with thanks to each one of our clients that Trout Headwaters has achieved its place in the environmental restoration industry.  But why take our word for it, here’s a sample of what our clients are saying:

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