Comments on: The Case of the Missing Dirt http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/thegist/2008/02/05/the-case-of-the-missing-dirt/ Science, Insight, Summary, Smithsonain.com Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:18:47 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Gary Berti http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/thegist/2008/02/05/the-case-of-the-missing-dirt/comment-page-1/#comment-3704 Gary Berti Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:01:23 +0000 http://thegist.smithsonianmag.com/archives/227#comment-3704 You ask 'Should stream restoration projects recreate the 16th century swamps?' I wonder if a better question is 'Can stream restoration projects recreate the 16th century swamps?' If a comprehensive network of dams induced widespread deposition as proposed by the authors, the original 16th century conditions are vastly different than we are seeing today. Restoration to original conditions, at original bed elevations and with no banks means all the depositional material would have to be removed. This would be a huge undertaking and economically halting. If humans survive the Anthrocopene and the Age of Vanity, we might still survive.... You ask ‘Should stream restoration projects recreate the 16th century swamps?’ I wonder if a better question is ‘Can stream restoration projects recreate the 16th century swamps?’

If a comprehensive network of dams induced widespread deposition as proposed by the authors, the original 16th century conditions are vastly different than we are seeing today. Restoration to original conditions, at original bed elevations and with no banks means all the depositional material would have to be removed. This would be a huge undertaking and economically halting.

If humans survive the Anthrocopene and the Age of Vanity, we might still survive….

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