River restoration expert to give lecture Feb. 26 Geology and Geological Engineering will host a lecture by river restoration expert Luther Aadland at noon Friday, Feb. 26, in 100 Leonard Hall. Rivers are defined by hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, biology, water quality and connectivity. These components interact and changes in one variable can cause cascading changes in the others. Rivers have been altered by anthropogenic watershed changes, direct channel alterations ("channel improvement") and dam construction. Efforts to restore rivers need to avoid mistakes of past management that lead to impaired systems. Aadland's LEEPS (Leading Edge of Earth and Planetary Science) presentation, titled “The Health of Our Rivers: Reflections of Our Culture,” will touch on the policies that affect stream health and the philosophy of restoration and natural channel design in restoring stream channels, dam removal and fish passage. Luther Aadland graduated from UND with a Ph.D. in biology and works as a river ecologist and fluvial geomorphologist with the Minnesota DNR. Aadland helped design and implement several major river and stream restoration projects, including removal of the old Riverside Dam in Grand Forks and the conversion of Fargo’s Midtown Dam to rapids. Prior to his work, the Midtown Dam had caused at least 19 drowning deaths, as well as blocked fish migration. Aadland’s new Rock Arch Rapids design eliminated the dam's hydraulic roller, restored fish passage and provided a much safer recreational environment. -- Phil Gerla, Associate Professor, Geology and Geological Engineering, philgerla@mail.und.nodak.edu, 777-3305