Abstract: Abstract Ecological engineering is a relatively unfamiliar; cost-effective strategy for tackling the "second generation" of water resource problems. It can be defined as the design, construction, operation, and management of landscape/aquatic structures and associated plant and animal communities to benefit humanity and nature. It is introduced by comparing it with "conventional" engineering, including case studies with cost and performance data. Ecological engineering can offer important potential advantages: better performance, less cost, multiple benefits, and better acceptance by the public and regulators. It can cost less because structures are sometimes not as highly engineered and are durable and self-maintaining. Natural energy sources and self-regulating processes reduce operation and maintenance costs. The ancillary benefits can be ecological, recreational, or economic. Case studies include a treatment of wetland to remove nitrogen from wastewater, a lakeshore stabilization project, and stream and riparian restoration via beaver reintroduction. The investigation concludes with a discussion of obstacles and caveats for ecological engineering.
Publication Year: 1999
Publication Date: 1999-09-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 18
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