Efficient monitoring of a large river restoration project using a combination of remote sensing and field data.

The article focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of the Middle Entiat Restoration Project, a large-scale (~8 km) river and floodplain restoration effort in Washington State, using a combination of remote sensing (LiDAR, aerial imagery) and targeted field data. The study employed a before–after design to assess changes in physical habitat (e.g., pool area, side channels, channel complexity), large wood presence, juvenile salmonid abundance and habitat capacity, and habitat suitability for Chinook Salmon and steelhead. Results showed substantial increases in habitat diversity, pool frequency and area, side-channel length and connectivity, large wood accumulations, and juvenile salmonid abundance and capacity following restoration. Habitat suitability index modeling indicated increased weighted usable area for juvenile and spawning salmonids at base and bank-full flows. Most restoration design elements, particularly large wood structures, met their objectives, though some constructed side channels did not maintain connectivity at low flows. The study demonstrates that integrating remote sensing with focused field surveys provides an efficient and effective approach for monitoring large river restoration projects and assessing both overall and element-specific success.