Visions for the Future
Will Harman, PG
Stream Mechanics
Raleigh, NC
Before a new vision is pondered, it’s important to reflect on visions from our past. As European Americans settled in the East and then migrated West, there was a consistent vision - utilize the vast natural resources of this country to build new communities. Rivers were considered wild and destructive, but also regarded as essential for agriculture, navigation, and commerce – if they could be tamed. This is evident from the formation of early federal agencies. For example, the Reclamation Service was formed in the early 1900’s as plans to tame the mighty Colorado River were proposed. This agency, along with the formation of the Corps of Engineers, led to the construction of the massive Hoover Dam as well as an ambitious effort to dam major rivers of the United States: the Rio Grande, Snake, Missouri, Arkansas, Hudson, Mississippi, Tennessee, and the Ohio. The goal was reflected in the agency’s motto – “Our Rivers: Total Use for Greater Wealth.” Dams were not restricted to large rivers. Small streams were also impounded, and the streams between dams were channelized. In humid regions, the land was drained for agriculture. In arid regions, water was diverted from the river onto the land to irrigate crops. As populations concentrated, cities replaced cropland and streams were piped and further channelized. The uplands were developed and watersheds were transformed.
Recollecting these old visions is important because they not only led to the formation of federal agencies like the Corps of Engineers, they permeated our universities and influenced how engineers were taught to think about river mechanics and channel design. Hydraulic engineering emerged to accomplish the vision of channelizing, damming, and regulating rivers. The role of geomorphology and ecology as ways to manage rivers were largely absent from this early vision. However, controlling rivers for human use spawned a new vision. It was less common, but sometimes more powerful. It was a vision that wild places, including rivers, should be preserved. This vision created some of the nation’s first conservation-minded organizations, which prevent dams in some of our most magnificent river segments. The Grand Canyon is a prime example. This early groundwork led to the formation of the National Park System, and later the Clean Water Act.
However, one-fifth of the way through the 21st century, we are now witnessing the first large-scale extinction caused by humans. Overall, there has been a decline in all species by 25% over the past 500 years. Approximately one-third of vertebrates and 45% of most species of invertebrates are considered threatened. Amphibians along with several other aquatic life forms have some of the highest rates of extinction, primarily from habitat destruction.
So, what is the vision for the future? That is for all of us to decide. However, recent activities provide a clue to positive changes. The current engineering community is vastly transformed from the early days where channelization, navigation, and flood control were the primary goals. We now have an ecological engineering discipline, which seeks to design sustainable, resilient ecosystems for the mutual benefit of humans and nature. Geomorphologists and ecologists are integral to many river management programs. And, there are a multitude of organizations dedicated to restoration and preservation of river corridors and wetlands. There are organizations that are removing dams. And local governments are starting to realize that it is more economically beneficial to give floodplains back to the river, rather than trying to force urban structures into active floodways. Some towns are even moving out of the floodplain!
A vision for the future of our river corridors must encompass the river and its adjacent floodplain and a ensure prosperity for all species, not just humans. We must continue this evolution in thinking to realize that most species, including humans, rely on clean water and healthy aquatic habitats. The function of a river goes far beyond the transport of water. It includes complex processes within the channel and on the floodplain to create habitat diversity. The depth and breadth of these functions must be included in this new vision. So, it is our charge as we leave this first National Stream Restoration Conference, to collaborate, share, and team with others from around the country and the globe, to create and identify restoration efforts that are mindful of the grand challenges that face our waterways and our planet. We have the creativity and skills to do this. If we can envision it, we can do it.
About Will Harman, PG
With 25 years of experience in fluvial geomorphology and stream restoration, Mr. Harman has designed hundreds of projects throughout the United States, which represent a wide range of conditions and challenges.
Mr. Harman spent the first half of his career working for North Carolina State University’s Cooperative Extension Service where he served as the state’s first Natural Resources Extension Agent. Later, he worked on campus where he co-founded the NC Stream Restoration Institute, now the NC Stream Restoration Program. At the university, Mr. Harman co-developed the River Course workshop series, led applied research projects, and completed stream restoration demonstration projects throughout the state.
Mr. Harman has spent the second half of his career in the private sector as a practitioner and educator. He has completed watershed assessments, stream assessments, and design projects throughout the United States, including Alaska. Mr. Harman is currently the owner of Stream Mechanics where he focuses on improving stream restoration and mitigation through the development of assessment and design-review tools. He developed the Stream Functions Pyramid Framework, which is being used by federal and state agencies, and private companies throughout the nation to implement function-based restoration projects. More recently, he co-developed a Stream Quantification Tool (SQT) to measure functional lift from stream restoration projects and functional loss from permitted impacts. The SQT is being used by mitigation programs to determine debits and credits.
Mr. Harman has a Bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University in Geography and a Master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Geography. He is a licensed geologist in North Carolina.