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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9751-9288

Date Available

6-18-2026

Year of Publication

2026

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (MSBiosyAgE)

College

Agriculture, Food and Environment

Department/School/Program

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Faculty

John McMaine

Faculty

Michael Sama

Abstract

Stream restoration is a relatively new scientific field. Currently, there is not a definitive methodology for performing restorations that all professionals in industry and academia can agree upon. This has allowed for multiple ideologies to be developed and altered that vary by geographic location and the professional using them. In addition to the methodologies used, the publicly available design guidance published by state government organizations also varies by regulatory authority, method of analysis, ecoregion, and restoration objectives. In some cases, design guidance is replicated from a different geographical area and may not satisfy local needs or existing site conditions. Since state government organizations are responsible for the regulation and funding of stream restoration projects, guidance documents issued by them are reflective of their unique priorities and objectives for restorations and the information included should be appropriate for use in all phases of a project. To assess the breadth and depth included in guidance documents from across the United States, 53 different sources for guidance and reference material were identified from state-affiliated organizations and were quantified as a part of a national review to identify sources that can be used as a framework for other states to develop their own comprehensive guides. The identified sources came in multiple formats and the breadth and depth of information included in them varied. In the state of Kentucky, there are currently no set guidelines for how to perform restorations and published information on state-specific procedures is scarce. To address this, an interview series was conducted with industry professionals from academic, administrative, consulting, and construction positions to assess what restoration procedures are currently being used in Kentucky and to document their personal insights on the state of the industry and what steps could be taken to increase restoration success rates. 17 professionals were interviewed representing 13 different organizations operating in Kentucky. Despite coming from different backgrounds, these professionals shared common perspectives on the state of the industry, and next steps to improve overall project quality in Kentucky. When executing these projects, the use of heavy equipment can compact riparian soils and alter their hydrologic function. While measures are taken to remediate the soil in preparation for demobilization and vegetation planting after construction, there is not a quantifiable value that can be used as a refence condition for these sites. Since soil compaction can impact both hydrologic function and vegetation establishment, which are key factors in streambank stability and erosion mitigation, this thesis also looked at how cone penetration resistance levels vary by treatment (reforested vs. restored project type) and age since completion. Cone penetration resistance levels were measured using a digital cone penetrometer at 41 project sites in Fayette County, Kentucky that were established between 2001 and 2024. It was found that there was statistical significance between mean cone penetration resistance between the riparian area and adjacent turf greenspace by location and depth into the soil profile. The difference between project types was also significant by station and depth but there were no clear trends.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.321

Archival?

Archival

Funding Information

  • The Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment in 2024, and 2026 
  • The National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety Agricultural Safety and Health Training Program of the Central Appalachian Regional Education and Research Center in 2025 and 2026.

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20260430_GuidanceReviewRubric.csv (37 kB)
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