This webinar brings together practitioners and researchers working at the forefront of stream assessment and restoration across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Presentations will explore biological health monitoring, watershed-scale restoration approaches, and the challenges of working in rapidly developing landscapes.
Registration: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/21e15918-1484-4dcb-a26e-2ad668c30cdc@bb1c4141-1730-46e4-828f-37960d53779e/registration
Presentation #1: Measuring Stream Health across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed using the Chessie BIBI
Rikke Jepsen, Aquatic Ecologist, ICPRB & Dr. Emily Young, Habitat and Living Resources Data Manager, ICPRB&Chesapeake Bay Program
The Chesapeake Basin-Wide Index of Biotic Integrity, or “Chessie BIBI,” is a multi-metric index of biological health for freshwater streams and small, wadeable rivers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Chessie BIBI analysis uses benthic macroinvertebrate data to determine a health rating for HUC12 subwatersheds, and estimates the percentage of healthy stream miles across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In this presentation, we will provide an overview of Chessie BIBI index, present the most recent stream health results, and explore how the Chessie BIBI results and data are used by partners across the watershed.
Presentation #2: Examining the Successes & Challenges to a Watershed Approach to Stream Restoration
Josh Burch, Stream Restoration Project Manager, DC Department of Energy & Environment
The Alger Park Upland Low Impact Development (LID) and Stream Restoration project was a highly successful project that integrated upland stormwater management projects with downstream stream restoration work. Despite its success, the D.C. Department of Energy & Environment has found it extremely challenging to replicate the success of this watershed approach to stream restoration work. This presentation will examine the Alger Park project and its key components and then explore three similar nearby project to look at why none of the other project could match the success of Alger Park.
Presentation #3: Adventures of Finding, Planning, Designing and Constructing Stream Restoration Projects in a Rapidly Changing County
Michele Seib, PE & Chris Stone, PG, CFM, Loudoun County Department of General Services
Loudoun County, Virginia, is a rapidly developing Mid-Atlantic county, adding 30 new residents every day. This presentation will focus on the challenges and opportunities that a rapidly changing urban/suburban landscape provides for stream restoration projects.
Understanding how to manage expectations and adapt to “unforeseen” development surprises, while communicating the project goals and process with the public requires keeping an open and creative mindset. This presentation will also explore tactics used for effective communication.