Continuing Education

The objectives of the Bioengineering Section are to promote excellence in the field of fisheries bioengineering through improved communications among biologists, engineers, and other professionals for the proper conservation of fisheries resources. One of our key Bylaws objectives is:

Toward further fulfillment of this objective, the Section initiated a Continuing Education Program in association with the Annual Meetings of the American Fisheries Society. The initial course was held at the 2009 Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN and the focus was bioengineering and case studies associated with upstream fish passage.

In the fall of 2009, the Section established a Continuing Education Committee to plan the 2010 Continuing Education Program. Future courses may cover such topics as:

If you are interested in participating on the Committee or have an interest in potentially becoming an instructor for future courses, please contact Past-President Doug Dixon at ddixon@epri.com

Engineering for Restoration

of Rivers and Improved

Ecological Systems

Recommendations for

Academic Curricula

Prepared by the Curriculum Working Group, Bioengineering Section, American Fisheries Society, 2006

Abstract - The background required for practitioners in river restoration is interdisciplinary and includes physical, chemical, thermal, ecological, biological, and management processes in river basins. A myriad of processes (hydrological, hydraulic, geomorphic, sediment transport, thermal and chemical) provide a framework within which ecological and biological functions support life. Research and development in these areas, establishing a foundation of sound science and engineering, has intensified worldwide, as a result of widespread recognition of the importance of sustainable and environmentally acceptable use of water resources. Engineering and management of river basins demand the application of interdisciplinary knowledge, and a design philosophy, to produce environmentally sensitive and adaptive engineering works that restore river functions and values. Recognizing the need for educating and training engineers and other professionals in these interdisciplinary components is the main goal of this effort. The American Fisheries Society Bioengineering Section established a subcommittee to identify curricular needs for educating future river restoration engineers. This subcommittee consists of academics, agency personnel and private consultants active in the fields of river and ecological restoration, fish passage, and dam removal engineering. This document is a first attempt at identifying a basic curriculum through the MS degree that provides the background needed to enter the practice of river restoration and related fields. The target student is assumed to have an undergraduate degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering emphasizing water resources. An effort is made to identify where students could feasibly receive the background topics identified as desirable at either the BS or MS level.