Repair the Riparian

“Riparian restoration [is] the reestablishment of riparian functions and related physical, chemical, and biological linkages between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; it is the repairing of the diversity and dynamics of indigenous ecosys- tems degraded by human impacts. Its goal is to ensure that the dynamics of natural ecosystem processes are again operating efficiently so that both ecosystem structure and functions can be recovered and sus- tained” (Beschta and others 2000)

Our mission is

To repair, restore, and protect the riparian ecosystems of the Three Rivers.

A focused approach to build towards the bigger picture of a healthier three rivers while addressing our main objectives for each project.

- Ecological Restoration

- Floodplain and stormwater management

- Climate and Environmental Justice

Current Projects

Restoring and repairing the ecosystem on Six Mile Island in the Allegheny River downstream from the Highland Park dam.

So far with the help of volunteers and the support of our partner non-profits and in partnership with O’Hara Township we have..

Removed 11,000 pounds of trash
Planted 500+ trees
Started invasive removal and suppression.
advocated for public access to the island.

Our methods for achieving our core goals can be broken down into a set of steps.

-The analysis of the site includes: Plant and animal identification, soil type(s), elevation relative to average high water, flow rate data and human interaction/proximity. Ideally this analysis would be performed by students or professionals in the field as part of grant funded research but minimally is performed by knowledgeable staff or volunteers.

-Acknowledgment of the areas that need to be improved.

Development of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals.

-Creating a detailed project management plan for each goal. This includes staffing, resources, and a projected maintenance plan.

-Setting a timeline and execution plan for the goals in accordance to both seasonal demands and availability of resources.

-Executing the project management plans

-Assessing the success and deficiencies of each project in relation to the goals.

-Continuing to monitor and maintain the project sites as needed for at the very least a five year projection with room for continued maintenance. This is often the knock down of invasive plants or removing tree tubes as needed. Without follow through of maintenance, even with initial success, the rate of failure will inevitably increase.