How Ayres approaches LTPBR is largely based on these principles :
Do No Harm : Respect what is providing ecological benefit in an existing system and don ’ t assume that the proposed improvements will automatically do certain jobs better .
Slow the Flow : Reduced velocities are vital to unlocking the full riparian potential . The historic focus on flood conveyance has drained and narrowed stream corridors , limiting the spatial extents and positive impact water can provide .
Redundant Features : Install features in series to increase project resiliency , allow structures to support one another , and allow the stream opportunities to recruit more wood .
Use Available Materials : Importing material typically drives construction costs and increases impacts . Instead , design to use readily available materials , like on-site willow stakes , native grasses and soil , large wood , and even native rock .
Let the Stream Do the Work : Provide the ingredients and kick-start the processes but leave the hard work to the stream . This will take time and patience . Degradation that occurred over centuries cannot be undone in one construction season . Because results take time , monitoring and adaptive management is key to reaching goals .
Messy is Best : LTPBR is meant to mimic and work with natural processes . Do not spend too much time getting these features absolutely perfect . Instead , spend time scaling up the total number of features . The river will move and bury them into an orientation that works best .
LTPBR isn ’ t a fundamentally new concept , Barry said . Indigenous people were using these types of methods across the Western landscape pre-colonization . In 2019 , a manual on LTPBR was published at Utah State University . However , the way it now is being used in the post-fire Poudre River watershed is groundbreaking in the way these concepts are being put to the test . “ Where we found a niche was translating these ecological concepts into engineering-speak , quantifying risk , and implementing them in conjunction with more heavy engineering ,” Barry said .
Additionally , the Colorado Legislature passed Senate Bill 270 in June 2023 that makes it easier to construct lowtech solutions by providing legal clarity on where stream restoration stands within Colorado water rights . This legislation is a significant step forward in the state ' s stream restoration efforts , reflecting Colorado ' s commitment to the health and functioning of its streams and rivers . " As a result , I expect to see a significant increase in the use of Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration ( LTPBR ) in the upcoming years ," Bloyd said .
A technique poised to grow
So far Ayres , along with its teaming partners , has completed around 20 LTPBR projects in three years , and that number continues to grow . While this technique will not work for everyone in all situations , it has been an effective tool for this situation , Heiden said , adding that there are reasons why you would choose low-tech solutions over other concepts . “ Headwater streams in Colorado are a really good place for ( LTPBR ),” she said . “ Let ’ s fix issues in the watershed , not in our cities where the water ends up . This is much less of a lift ; you ’ re getting it at its source .”
Taryn Contento , a post-fire mitigation project manager with the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed ( CPRW ), said improved water quality is a major goal of the LTPBR work her group has been doing with Ayres and the other partners . “ There ’ s a plethora of benefits that come from this work , which is why it ’ s so important to us because we want to make sure we are achieving our mission of improving the ecological quality for this area as well as concentrating on water quality ,” Contento said .
While humans have tried to control rivers with heavy infrastructure for decades , history is showing that these methods can backfire , Heiden said . “ People are realizing that rivers are very tough to control . If you tinker too much it
12 | TRENDS Ingenuity , Integrity , and Intelligence .