Restoring existing aquatic habitats and bodies of water is preferred over trying to build new ones from scratch. Even in areas where lakes or rivers have been badly degraded for decades, it often takes less work than residents assume to restore at least some of the natural habitat. Working steadily over the course of a few years, with the help of the right environmental agencies, has transformed many damaged waterways and restored the life that used to flourish there. It’s almost never too late to attempt habitat restoration, even if it means removing tons of concrete or other fill materials to reveal the original water source. With natural, aquatic habitat restoration projects occurring all around the world where dams are being removed and development reversed, BTL Liners is happy to provide materials to assist in the process.
The Main Steps of Aquatic Habit Restoration
No matter the location or the type of aquatic habit being restored, the same basic steps are necessary for a successful project.
1. Research Scope of Impact
The first step in addressing any aquatic habitat issues is to survey the extent of damage or degradation of the natural ecosystem. Some ponds or lakes that look badly degraded may actually only need dredging and a little water weed removal to thrive again. On the opposite end, rivers or lakes that seem healthy enough may be undergoing serious hidden challenges like invasive species infestations or ongoing water quality problems. Testing the water, checking for specific issues, and surveying the larger watershed that feeds the body of water are all essential in understanding what needs to be changed.
2. Set Goals and Objectives
Just because a problem is discovered with a body of water or aquatic environment doesn’t mean it’s feasible or possible to fix. The second step after identifying the issues facing a specific waterway is to determine which problems are the easiest to fix and which will make the most impact. Focusing on techniques that address problems along both of these particular axes will help the project make the biggest positive impact for its budget. Focusing on impactful projects alone can overwhelm a smaller restoration budget, while going only for the easiest changes may make a limited impact. Techniques and approaches that manage to do both at the same time should rank at the top of the list of objectives and goals.
3. Tailor the Approach to the Species
Once the main objectives of the restoration have been matched to the actual site conditions, the next step is to further refine the designs and plans based on the species being served. Many restoration projects have to take into account the shared and contrasting needs of both existing residents and new species they hope to attract. Most degraded aquatic habitats were once home to fish, birds, or plants that have long since disappeared due to changing conditions. Since many waterway restoration projects aim to restore the historical population of a location, it’s important to create an attractive environment based on potential future species. Even for restoration projects that only aim to preserve the current species, it’s valuable to consider what other species might be attracted to help avoid potential.
4. Adapt the Designs to the Site
Even after the techniques and designs proposed for the project are adjusted to the organisms living in the aquatic habitat, there are likely more changes that will occur. As the earliest stages of site preparation and physical construction begin, workers tend to discover additional issues or may find out problems are actually less severe than projected. Adjusting the designs further, to accommodate the reality of the habitat site, can make them much more effective and easier to implement. For example, you may decide to change the plant species used to stabilize the new banks of a restored river if you find a local source that provides better acclimatized stock. Sticking with the original, specified plant could result in unnecessary costs and a lower rate of establishment among the plants.
5. Complete the Physical Construction
When the designs and plans are finalized, it’s time to begin site preparation and construction. For existing bodies of water and habitats, disturbance and soil movement are kept to a minimum. However, some amount of sediment removal, bank regrading, and contour shaping is often necessary to make real improvements to damaged aquatic habitats. This allows for liner installation as well. Physical construction stages can stretch on for months if the work must be carried out in specific seasons or there are waiting periods between various steps. Rushing this stage can result in soil loss, erosion, water quality issues, and other problems, so take it as slowly as necessary to establish stable and well-built new water features.
6. Follow Up with Long-Term Management
The work of habitat restoration doesn’t end with the final shovel of soil or gallon of water. Long-term maintenance and management of the new features are just as important as the design itself. Without routine inspections and adjustments to water quality, fertility levels, and underwater structures, a project may go from a success to a failure over the course of a few months. With most habitat restoration projects costing tens of thousands to even millions of dollars, it’s worth the effort to maintain a system so it thrives rather than crashes.
Underwater Structures for Habitat Restoration
Aside from a well-built pond or river structure that holds water appropriately, underwater structures are among the most powerful tools used for aquatic habitat restoration. These sunken structures and tools can include:
- Artificial coral reef supports such as old train cars or recycled bridge materials
- Sunken logs and other natural tree debris to slow down the flow of water and create hiding spots for fish
- Log cabin shaped structures made of local and natural lumber to accelerate the growth of underwater plants and give fry a hiding place
- Revegetation on the banks that grows to extend into the water
- Fish “brushes” or “bushes” made of weighted bases with dozens of flexible plastic whiskers to give fish plenty of places to hide and spawn
- Channel bottom features like riffles, gravel beds, sunken berms, and deep pools to help build a wider variety of habitat features.
Identifying the Right Places for Restoration
As mentioned above, when setting goals and objectives for restoration it’s important to identify the sites most valuable to restore. A site might be of particular importance because of the species that rely on it, its proximity to other habitats, or the ease of improving it. Improving many smaller aquatic habitats in an area at a lower cost can still preserve the quality of a more sensitive environment by building a buffer zone around it. Project managers often look for community support, funding opportunities, and previous attempts at restoration when trying to choose where to focus on first.
Combining Lined and Unlined Areas
Most parts of aquatic habitat restoration are done without synthetic liner products since they’ll need more management than native sand and soil. However, sensitive environments with extensive erosion or bank destabilization often require at least some liner use. BTL Liners has the fish-safe and plant-safe products to use with natural habitat restoration projects. Our long-term liners are ideal for exposed and covered installations where the material needs to last for decades before replacement. By the time the liner reaches the end of its lifespan, the aquatic habitat will likely be well-established and beyond the need of it anymore.
Who Helps with Aquatic Habitat Restoration?
Even private, aquatic habitat restoration taking place in a backyard or on a farm should involve local environmental agencies and state-level wildlife resources. In addition to the federal and state resources available to those interested in waterway restoration, there are also many private organizations that can provide direct assistance in the form of volunteer labor, grants, and more. Look for organizations focusing on the species you’re aiming to protect or restore to get support from both general watershed protection agencies and more targeted groups.
At all scales, aquatic habitat restoration requires collaboration and teamwork. Make BTL Liners a part of that team to take advantage of our 40 experiences of industry experience in liner production. Native environments are sensitive places, but you can trust our durable RPE liner products to be both fish and plant safe. Let us recommend a specific product based on your project’s needs to ensure the right fit for even the most delicate species.
