AT: River Restoration Guidelines

Michelle Bertelsen & John Hart Asher
Ecologist and Land Steward & Senior Environmental Designer
Ecosystem Design Group

Ryan McGillicuddy
Conservation Biologist
TPWD-Inland Fisheries

Michelle Bertelsen and John Hart Asher will familiarize attendees with basic riparian function, active verses passive restoration, and the thought process required to combine protecting and enhancing ecological health with supporting human use and enjoyment of our rivers and creeks.

Ryan McGillicuddy will discuss the implementation of a riparian restoration project. Practices at the site have included: native plant seeding and installation; extensive tree plantings; contouring scour zones into bioswales; invasive species control; assimilation of woody debris and root wads into site design; soil compaction remediation for seep restoration; and installation of habiturf for targeted access areas.

All the speakers will be using the Hill Country Restoration Design Guidelines, a publication developed by the LBJWC in partnership with TPWD, to illustrate the concepts.

About the speakers

michelle and ryanMichelle Bertelsen oversees the on-site land management research program and provides project management and ecological support to consulting projects. She has experience in ecological restoration, geospatial analysis, including trail suitability analysis, facilitation, ecological assessment of vegetation and soils, invasive species management, and prescribed fire implementation. She has received training in designing outdoor learning environments, interpretation, land management, water resources, recreation resources, user experience, and marketing and financing in parks, recreation and conservation.

Ryan McGillicuddy is a Conservation Ecologist with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He has been with the Department for 13 years and specializes in the conservation of streams, wetlands, and riparian areas. His current area of focus is Texas Hill Country, where he provides technical guidance and conservation resources to landowners and river stewards.