Connectivity in ecological systems is a broad concept that embodies the transmission of ecosystem components throughout landscapes at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Of relevance to the present study are the connections (or lack thereof) among local populations of stream fauna - population connectivity in lotic systems. Dispersal, recolonisation and migration are the demographic forms of population connectivity, and gene flow is the genetic aspect of population connectivity. Both forms of population connectivity have underpinned some of the classic theories and hypotheses in stream ecology, and have implications for pure and applied stream ecology, including ecosystem restoration. Conceptual models in ecology can facilitate understanding and predictability of the ecosystem processes they represent, and have potential applicability as management tools or 'rules of thumb' in conservation and restoration programs. Various theoretical models describe potential patterns of connectivity among local populations and in this thesis these models were used to evaluate population connectivity in a freshwater fish (southern pygmy perch, Nannoperca australis) and two reproductively isolated genetic lineages of freshwater shrimp (Paratya spp.) in small, geomorphically degraded streams in south eastern Australia. These streams (the Granite Creeks) have been the focus of a recent habitat restoration trial and several studies have examined fish and macroinvertebrate community responses to the experiment. It was the purpose of this study to contribute information about population connectivity in the selected species to complement these community ecology studies. Population connectivity was examined in these species using molecular data (mitochondrial and nuclear genetic data) and natural abundance isotopic signatures of nitrogen and carbon. At the landscape scale, results showed that populations of N. australis and the P. australiensis lineages were isolated among the streams and among sites within streams, and that there was no consistent pattern of isolation-by-distance in genetic data for any species. Thus, classic models of population connectivity, such as the Island Model and Stepping-Stone Model, were not supported by this study. Results indicated that population models that incorporated more complex aspects of stream structure may be more appropriate than these classic models for approximating observed patterns of population connectivity in lotic systems. The Stream Hierarchy Model (SHM) predicts that the hierarchical aspect of stream structure (i.e. stream confluences) have a dominant role in shaping patterns of population connectivity in lotic fauna, whereby populations among streams are more isolated than those within them. Although stream confluences were found to have an important role in population subdivision for the species examined in this study, the expectations of the SHM were met for only N. australis. For the P. australiensis lineages, the influence of topography (i.e. the longitudinal aspect of stream structure) was just as important as stream confluences in isolating local populations. Large-scale determinants of population isolation were thus found to be associated with both the hierarchical and longitudinal aspects of stream structure, and were not well represented by any single theoretical model of population connectivity. At within-stream scales, upland populations tended to be extremely isolated from other populations and had temporally stable genetic signatures. In contrast, lowland populations were connected to other lowland populations within the same stream to a greater degree, although the connections were patchy and a slight signature of temporal instability in the genetic data was evident for one of the P. australiensis lineages. Thus, metapopulation or patchy population models were found to represent connections among lowland populations within the same stream, although they were not appropriate for describing connectivity among upland populations. This finding highlights the importance of the longitudinal aspect of stream structure in shaping ecological patterns in lotic systems, and demonstrates that local patterns of population connectivity can vary over relatively small spatial scales. Overall, the results illustrate that both hierarchical and longitudinal aspects of stream structure can have important roles in isolating populations of stream fauna. They therefore also represent constraints for the ability of aquatic fauna to colonise restored habitat in streams. The corollary of this, however, is that such isolated populations of stream fauna represent appropriate population units at which to target habitat restoration. The hierarchical and longitudinal aspects of stream structure may thus represent 'rules of thumb' or 'landscape filters' that stream restoration ecologists could use to predict likely isolated populations of lotic fauna across the landscape. Such a 'rule of thumb' might be the inclusion of multiple isolated population units in restoration programs, as this strategy is likely to generate the greatest biological response to the restoration at the landscape scale, particularly with respect to intra-specific genetic diversity captured by restoration. At small spatial scales, such as for a single stream or tributary, the longitudinal aspect of stream structure can be an important factor to consider when designing stream habitat restoration programs. In this study, lowland sites were unstable and there were patchy connections among local lowland populations within the same stream, whereas upland populations were isolated at this scale. In contrast, other studies have found that upstream populations of some species can be connected in a patchy fashion in other systems. For such unstable sections of stream, where there are patchy patterns of local population connectivity, the inclusion of multiple restored patches, especially refugial habitat, is likely to produce the greatest biotic response at the patch scale, particularly with respect to demographic responses (such as local colonisation). Multiple restored refugial patches will enable species to persist throughout the stream section during adverse environmental conditions, will allow for variation in local movement patterns and distances between species and between years with contrasting environment conditions (e.g. stream flow), and may harbour different species assemblages and intraspecific genotypes due to stochastic processes (i.e. have functional heterogeneity). The hierarchical and longitudinal aspects of stream structure are thus important determinants of population connectivity at both large and small spatial scales, and have implications for how stream biota will respond to restoration at patch and landscape scales.

I collected fish samples and habitat data at 43 sites throughout the upper Roanoke River watershed, Virginia. Sites were separated into three watershed areas size classes: 10 - 15, 20 - 30, and 70 - 80 km². I correlated physical in-stream conditions with proportions of forest, disturbed, and herbaceous/agricultural land at various watershed-scales to determine factors affecting stream habitat. I grouped fishes into metrics commonly used in indexes of biotic integrity and created a multimetric index called the mean metric score to represent fish communities at sites. Fish variables and metric values were compared with stream habitat and watershed variables to determine primary influences on fish communities. I correlated land use at 24 spatial scales, which differed by buffer width and stream network area, with mean metric scores to determine zones of greatest influence on fish communities. In-stream habitat conditions and amounts of forest, herbaceous/agricultural, and disturbed land varied greatly among sites. Habitat varied due to natural differences among sites, such as elevation and watershed area, and due to land use. Disturbed land use was greatest at lower elevations while forests were more abundant at higher elevations. Substrate size distribution was highly correlated with all three land use types at several spatial scales. Correlations between land use within various buffers and median particle size became stronger as larger proportions of watersheds were included in analysis. Fish species richness increased from small to large sites by species addition. Species collected at small sites were also collected at large sites, but several species collected at large sites were absent elsewhere. For example, orangefin madtoms and bigeye jumprocks were only collected at three large sites. Fish distribution was a result of several factors such as watershed area, elevation, proportions of pools and of riffles, particle size, and land use within buffers and entire watersheds. Sites with high mean metric scores were primarily limited to tributaries of the North and South Forks of the Roanoke River. Most sites with low mean metric scores were located near the cities of Roanoke and Salem. Forest and disturbed land use were highly correlated with mean metric scores. Elevation was also highly correlated with mean metric scores but herbaceous/agricultural land use was not. Correlations between percent forest within 24 buffers and mean metric scores were highest for small stream network areas and declined as more land farther from sites was included for analysis. Correlations between disturbed land use and mean metric scores were strong regardless of the area considered. Mean metric scores declined precipitously as disturbed land use within watersheds and buffers increased from 0 to 10 %, but reached a plateau at 10 to 20 % after which increases in disturbed land use did not result in lower mean metric scores. My results suggest that species addition and ecological shifts from more generalized to more specialized species occur with increased stream size. Forested buffers are important for maintaining ecological integrity, and buffers along sites with adequate integrity should be candidates for riparian restoration. Future development should be concentrated in watersheds that are already developed and reforestation of riparian areas in developed watersheds may reduce the impacts of watershed-level disturbance. / Master of Science

I investigated streambed stability in spawning microhabitats of warmwater fishes in the upper Roanoke River, Virginia. Spawning microhabitats used by four reproductive guilds (egg-clusterers, mound-builders, egg-buriers, and pit-builders) were identified and ranges of 15 microhabitat variables used by each guild were compared to available microhabitat conditions to investigate habitat selection. Habitat usage by egg-clusterers was most characterized by selection for spawning rocks in the cobble size range, substrate roughness elements in the cobble to boulder size range, high roughness Reynolds number and moderate water column velocity. The mound-building bluehead chub (Nocomis leptocephalus) was distinct in its selection of substrate in the small gravel range, low water velocity and non-turbulent flow. Egg-buriers were the least distinct of the four guilds, exhibiting much variation in habitat use among the component species. However, all species used areas with small substrate (sand to gravel range), high velocity, and high turbulence. The pit-building central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum) was distinct in its usage of areas with high velocity and turbulence, gravel sized substrate, and low embeddedness. Stability of each guild's spawning microhabitats was empirically evaluated through analysis of tracer particle movement and repeated surveying of bed elevation along stream transects. Logistic regression equations developed from tracer particle data predicted that microhabitats selected by egg-clusterers are among the most stable of all available habitats during high flows. Microhabitats utilized by mound-builders, egg-buriers, and pit-builders are predicted to be less stable. Repeat transect surveying corroborates model predictions in that egg-burier habitats experienced changes in bed elevation in high flows, while egg-clusterer habitats did not. / Master of Science

A condição do hábitat local em riachos é determinada por fatores naturais e antrópicos, em escala regional e separar a influência relativa desses fatores é difícil, pois geralmente a sua distribuição espacial encontra-se sobreposta. Neste sentido, este estudo tem por objetivo determinar a influência relativa das características naturais e de usos do solo, em escala regional, sobre a condição do hábitat, em escala de trecho de riacho, na bacia hidrográfica do Arroio Candiota, sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Para isso, as características naturais (de relevo e de rede de drenagem) e as atividades antrópicas (usos do solo) foram avaliadas em 26 sub-bacias. Em escala de trecho de riacho, os atributos avaliados foram agrupados em condição do hábitat físico no canal fluvial, qualidade da zona ripária e qualidade da água. Por meio de análise de redundância parcial, determinou-se a percentagem da variação, na condição de cada grupo atributos do hábitat, explicada pelos fatores naturais, pelos fatores antrópicos e pelo seu efeito compartilhado. As sub-bacias maiores tendem a apresentar maior textura no relevo, formato menos circular e menor declive. As sub-bacias com relevo mais acidentado tendem a apresentar maior densidade de drenagem. A vegetação natural ocupa a maior parte da bacia, principalmente as regiões de relevo mais acidentado, porém atividades como agricultura, pecuária, silvicultura e mineração de carvão estão distribuídas pela bacia, principalmente em áreas de relevo mais suave e próximo aos riachos. A maior parte dos riachos apresenta boa qualidade do hábitat, porém em riachos com baixa qualidade observa-se gado na zona ripária ou grande aporte de rejeitos da mineração de carvão. As principais alterações do hábitat físico no canal são assoreamento, dragagem e represamento. Em relação à qualidade da água, pH e condutividade apresentam valores extremos nos riachos associados à mineração de carvão. A condição do hábitat físico no canal é mais influenciada pelas características naturais das sub-bacias, enquanto a qualidade da água está mais associada aos usos do solo. A qualidade da zona ripária, por sua vez, é determinada pelo efeito compartilhado dos fatores naturais e antrópicos. Dessa forma, as atividades antrópicas na bacia hidrográfica exercem maior efeito sobre os atributos mais dinâmicos do hábitat, tendo influência menor sobre processos mais lentos, como alteração no hábitat físico do canal. / The stream local habitat condition is determined by natural and anthropogenic regional characteristics and to determine the relative influence of these factors is difficult because their spatial distribution is usually superimposed. Thus, this study aims to determine the relative influence of natural characteristics and land use, in regional scale, on the the stream local habitat condition in the Arroio Candiota watershed. For this, natural characteristics (relief and drainage network) and human activities (land uses) were evaluated in 26 sub-catchments. In the reach scale, the stream habitat attributes were grouped into stream physical habitat, riparian zone quality and water quality. Using partial redundancy analysis, the percentage of variation in the condition of each group of habitat attributes, explained by natural factors, by human factors and by their shared effect was determined. The major catchments tend to have higher texture in relief, less circular shape and lower slope while catchments with steeper relief tend to have higher drainage density. Most of the Arroio Candiota watershed are occupied by natural vegetation, especially the regions of steeper relief. Agriculture, livestock, forestry and mining are distributed throughout the basin, especially in areas of gentle relief and close to streams. Most streams has good habitat quality, but in streams where quality is low there is livestock in the riparian zone or large supply of wastes from coal mining. The main changes in the physical habitat channel are siltation, dredging and damming. Regarding water quality, pH and conductivity have extreme values in streams associated with coal mining. The condition of physical habitat in the channel is more influenced by the natural characteristics of the catchments, while water quality is more associated with land use. The quality of the riparian zone, in turn, is determined by the shared effect of natural and anthropogenic factors. Thus , the anthropogenic activities in the watershed exert greater effect on the more dynamic attributes of habitat, having less influence on slower processes, such as changes in physical habitat of the channel.

A condição do hábitat local em riachos é determinada por fatores naturais e antrópicos, em escala regional e separar a influência relativa desses fatores é difícil, pois geralmente a sua distribuição espacial encontra-se sobreposta. Neste sentido, este estudo tem por objetivo determinar a influência relativa das características naturais e de usos do solo, em escala regional, sobre a condição do hábitat, em escala de trecho de riacho, na bacia hidrográfica do Arroio Candiota, sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Para isso, as características naturais (de relevo e de rede de drenagem) e as atividades antrópicas (usos do solo) foram avaliadas em 26 sub-bacias. Em escala de trecho de riacho, os atributos avaliados foram agrupados em condição do hábitat físico no canal fluvial, qualidade da zona ripária e qualidade da água. Por meio de análise de redundância parcial, determinou-se a percentagem da variação, na condição de cada grupo atributos do hábitat, explicada pelos fatores naturais, pelos fatores antrópicos e pelo seu efeito compartilhado. As sub-bacias maiores tendem a apresentar maior textura no relevo, formato menos circular e menor declive. As sub-bacias com relevo mais acidentado tendem a apresentar maior densidade de drenagem. A vegetação natural ocupa a maior parte da bacia, principalmente as regiões de relevo mais acidentado, porém atividades como agricultura, pecuária, silvicultura e mineração de carvão estão distribuídas pela bacia, principalmente em áreas de relevo mais suave e próximo aos riachos. A maior parte dos riachos apresenta boa qualidade do hábitat, porém em riachos com baixa qualidade observa-se gado na zona ripária ou grande aporte de rejeitos da mineração de carvão. As principais alterações do hábitat físico no canal são assoreamento, dragagem e represamento. Em relação à qualidade da água, pH e condutividade apresentam valores extremos nos riachos associados à mineração de carvão. A condição do hábitat físico no canal é mais influenciada pelas características naturais das sub-bacias, enquanto a qualidade da água está mais associada aos usos do solo. A qualidade da zona ripária, por sua vez, é determinada pelo efeito compartilhado dos fatores naturais e antrópicos. Dessa forma, as atividades antrópicas na bacia hidrográfica exercem maior efeito sobre os atributos mais dinâmicos do hábitat, tendo influência menor sobre processos mais lentos, como alteração no hábitat físico do canal. / The stream local habitat condition is determined by natural and anthropogenic regional characteristics and to determine the relative influence of these factors is difficult because their spatial distribution is usually superimposed. Thus, this study aims to determine the relative influence of natural characteristics and land use, in regional scale, on the the stream local habitat condition in the Arroio Candiota watershed. For this, natural characteristics (relief and drainage network) and human activities (land uses) were evaluated in 26 sub-catchments. In the reach scale, the stream habitat attributes were grouped into stream physical habitat, riparian zone quality and water quality. Using partial redundancy analysis, the percentage of variation in the condition of each group of habitat attributes, explained by natural factors, by human factors and by their shared effect was determined. The major catchments tend to have higher texture in relief, less circular shape and lower slope while catchments with steeper relief tend to have higher drainage density. Most of the Arroio Candiota watershed are occupied by natural vegetation, especially the regions of steeper relief. Agriculture, livestock, forestry and mining are distributed throughout the basin, especially in areas of gentle relief and close to streams. Most streams has good habitat quality, but in streams where quality is low there is livestock in the riparian zone or large supply of wastes from coal mining. The main changes in the physical habitat channel are siltation, dredging and damming. Regarding water quality, pH and conductivity have extreme values in streams associated with coal mining. The condition of physical habitat in the channel is more influenced by the natural characteristics of the catchments, while water quality is more associated with land use. The quality of the riparian zone, in turn, is determined by the shared effect of natural and anthropogenic factors. Thus , the anthropogenic activities in the watershed exert greater effect on the more dynamic attributes of habitat, having less influence on slower processes, such as changes in physical habitat of the channel.

A condição do hábitat local em riachos é determinada por fatores naturais e antrópicos, em escala regional e separar a influência relativa desses fatores é difícil, pois geralmente a sua distribuição espacial encontra-se sobreposta. Neste sentido, este estudo tem por objetivo determinar a influência relativa das características naturais e de usos do solo, em escala regional, sobre a condição do hábitat, em escala de trecho de riacho, na bacia hidrográfica do Arroio Candiota, sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Para isso, as características naturais (de relevo e de rede de drenagem) e as atividades antrópicas (usos do solo) foram avaliadas em 26 sub-bacias. Em escala de trecho de riacho, os atributos avaliados foram agrupados em condição do hábitat físico no canal fluvial, qualidade da zona ripária e qualidade da água. Por meio de análise de redundância parcial, determinou-se a percentagem da variação, na condição de cada grupo atributos do hábitat, explicada pelos fatores naturais, pelos fatores antrópicos e pelo seu efeito compartilhado. As sub-bacias maiores tendem a apresentar maior textura no relevo, formato menos circular e menor declive. As sub-bacias com relevo mais acidentado tendem a apresentar maior densidade de drenagem. A vegetação natural ocupa a maior parte da bacia, principalmente as regiões de relevo mais acidentado, porém atividades como agricultura, pecuária, silvicultura e mineração de carvão estão distribuídas pela bacia, principalmente em áreas de relevo mais suave e próximo aos riachos. A maior parte dos riachos apresenta boa qualidade do hábitat, porém em riachos com baixa qualidade observa-se gado na zona ripária ou grande aporte de rejeitos da mineração de carvão. As principais alterações do hábitat físico no canal são assoreamento, dragagem e represamento. Em relação à qualidade da água, pH e condutividade apresentam valores extremos nos riachos associados à mineração de carvão. A condição do hábitat físico no canal é mais influenciada pelas características naturais das sub-bacias, enquanto a qualidade da água está mais associada aos usos do solo. A qualidade da zona ripária, por sua vez, é determinada pelo efeito compartilhado dos fatores naturais e antrópicos. Dessa forma, as atividades antrópicas na bacia hidrográfica exercem maior efeito sobre os atributos mais dinâmicos do hábitat, tendo influência menor sobre processos mais lentos, como alteração no hábitat físico do canal. / The stream local habitat condition is determined by natural and anthropogenic regional characteristics and to determine the relative influence of these factors is difficult because their spatial distribution is usually superimposed. Thus, this study aims to determine the relative influence of natural characteristics and land use, in regional scale, on the the stream local habitat condition in the Arroio Candiota watershed. For this, natural characteristics (relief and drainage network) and human activities (land uses) were evaluated in 26 sub-catchments. In the reach scale, the stream habitat attributes were grouped into stream physical habitat, riparian zone quality and water quality. Using partial redundancy analysis, the percentage of variation in the condition of each group of habitat attributes, explained by natural factors, by human factors and by their shared effect was determined. The major catchments tend to have higher texture in relief, less circular shape and lower slope while catchments with steeper relief tend to have higher drainage density. Most of the Arroio Candiota watershed are occupied by natural vegetation, especially the regions of steeper relief. Agriculture, livestock, forestry and mining are distributed throughout the basin, especially in areas of gentle relief and close to streams. Most streams has good habitat quality, but in streams where quality is low there is livestock in the riparian zone or large supply of wastes from coal mining. The main changes in the physical habitat channel are siltation, dredging and damming. Regarding water quality, pH and conductivity have extreme values in streams associated with coal mining. The condition of physical habitat in the channel is more influenced by the natural characteristics of the catchments, while water quality is more associated with land use. The quality of the riparian zone, in turn, is determined by the shared effect of natural and anthropogenic factors. Thus , the anthropogenic activities in the watershed exert greater effect on the more dynamic attributes of habitat, having less influence on slower processes, such as changes in physical habitat of the channel.

This diploma thesis deals with a proposal and evaluation of stream restoration measures as an effective tool to achieve good ecological status within the requirements of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/ES. The main aim of this diploma thesis is to propose stream restoration measures at the Lišanský Brook based on evaluation of hydromorphological status, analysis of land-use changes and anthropogenic modification of the river basin, runoff and water quality assessment. Attention is also paid to the evaluation of the restoration measures in the selected localities on Botič and Litovický Brook. The main method used for the design and assessment of stream restoration measures is a field survey using the HEM methodology (Langhammer, 2014). Land-use analysis and stream adjustment analysis are based on available historical maps. Based on the results, Lišanský Brook is evaluated as moderately modified. The entire river basin is an intensively farmed landscape that has been affected by inappropriate anthropogenic modifications. To improve the current unsuitable stream conditions, it would be convenient to apply complete restoration measures on Lišanský Brook. Keywords: Stream, restoration, habitat, diversity, urban area, rural landscape

Understanding the composition of lotic communities and the landscape processes and habitat characteristics that shape them is one of the main challenges confronting stream ecologists. In order to better understand the linkages among landscape processes, stream habitat, and biological communities and to understand how accurately our measurements represent important factors influencing biological communities, it is important to test explicit hypotheses regarding these linkages. Increasing our understanding of aquatic communities in a hierarchical context and recognizing how well our measurements represent factors structuring aquatic communities will help managers better evaluate the influence of land management practices on aquatic ecosystems, direct conservation strategies, and lead to better assessments of ecological condition. In Chapter 2, we used spatial data, field-based habitat measurements, and macroinvertebrate community data to 1) examine the influence of landscape processes on two factors of stream habitat; maximum stream temperatures and fine sediment, and to 2) examine how well these landscape and habitat characteristics represent factors influencing gradients in macroinvertebrate community structure. The results of this study showed that spatially derived measurements may be effectively used to test hypotheses regarding landscape influences on stream habitat and that spatial data, used in conjunction with field measurements can provide important information regarding factors influencing gradients in biological communities. In addition, spatially derived measurements may provide the same or additional information regarding influences on community structure as field-based measurements, which suggests that further research should be done to assess how well our field measurements represent factors that are important in shaping stream communities. The objective of Chapter 3 was to compare how well single field measurements and a combination of indicator variables hypothesized to be components of a single ecological processes or concept, known as a latent variable, represent thermal stress and fine sediment influences on macroinvertebrate communities. Results from this study showed that both single and latent variables explained relatively the same amount of variation in macroinvertebrate community structure. This suggests that while latent variables may have a potential to better refine how we represent ecological factors, a better basis for defining a priori hypotheses is needed before these variables can provide any additional information compared to single habitat measurements.

No description available.

River restoration projects are being installed worldwide to rehabilitate degraded river habitat. Many of these projects focus on stream habitat improvement (SHI), and an estimated 60%of the 37,000 projects listed in the National River Restoration Science Synthesis Program focus on SHI for salmon and trout species. These projects frequently lack a sufficient monitoring program or account for the environmental costs associated with SHI. The present study used life cycle assessment (LCA) techniques and topographic effectiveness monitoring to quantify environmental costs on the basis of geomorphic change. This methodology was a novel approach to assessing the cost-benefit relationship of SHI. To test this methodology, two phases of the Lower Scotts Creek Floodplain and Habitat Enhancement Project (LSCR) were used as a case study. The LSCR was a SHI project installed along the northern coast of Santa Cruz County, California, USA. A limited scope LCA was used to quantify the life cycle impacts of raw material production, materials transportation, and on-site construction. Once these baseline results were produced, a topographic monitoring program was used to quantify the topographic diversity index (TDI) in pre- and post-project conditions. The TDI percent change was used to scale the baseline LCA results, which quantified the environmental impacts based on geomorphic change. Phase II outperformed phase I. Phase I had greater cumulative environmental impacts and experienced a 7.7 % TDI increase from pre- to post-project conditions. Phase II had 43% less cumulative environmental impacts and experienced a 7.9% TDI increase from pre- to post-project conditions. The impacts in phase I were greater because of the amount of material excavated to create off-channel features, which were a key feature of the LSCR. A scenario analysis also was conducted within the LCA component of this study. The scenario analysis suggests that life cycle impacts could be reduced by 30%-65% by using the accelerated recruitment method in place of importing materials to build large wood complexes. The results of this study suggest that managers may improve the environmental performance of SHI projects by: (1) using the accelerated recruitment method to introduce larger key pieces to the channel, reducing the need to import materials; (2) using nursery grown plants as opposed to excavating plants for revegetation; (3) minimizing fuel combustion in heavy equipment and haul trucks by ensuring clear access to the channel and streambank, using small engine equipment to clear access corridors during site preparation, running more fuel-efficient machinery or bio-fuel powered machinery, and by attempting to minimize haul distances by sourcing materials locally; and (4) utilizing a “franken-log” design (a ballasted LWC configuration with a rootwad fastened to the downstream end of a log) in LWCs which led to favorable TDI change. This study concluded that LCA could be a valuable tool for monitoring SHI and river restoration projects and that further research of the TDI analysis is justified.