Introduction to Urban Stream Restoration for Contractors
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REGISTER HERE: https://www.aces.edu/go/streamcontractors
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This workshop is intended to introduce contractors and young designers to a practical view of stream restoration construction. The course has an optional third day of a construction demo sponsored by 5SSR, RiverSHARED, Elmore Sand and Gravel and Cowin Equipment Rental.
Participants will learn what stream restoration is. Participants will be introduced to why we do stream restoration as an industry and community. Stream restoration construction will be presented in contrast to standard site civil grading. This course will also provide the participants with information and a pathway to enter the stream restoration construction industry or improve current construction processes to optimize efficiencies as a stream restoration contractor.
DATES: Thursday – Friday August 20-21, 2026 (Optional field day on August 22nd)
LOCATION: City of Opelika Public Library | 1100 Glenn St, Opelika, AL 36801
DETAILS:
Hosted by: Auburn University Water Resources Center
Led by: David Bidelspach, RiverSHARED/5SSR, Wade Burcham, RiverSHARED/5020, Mike Akins, Creekline, Jeremy Dickey/Cowin Equipment Rental
CEU’s available | Lunch provided
Cost for all 3 days: $300, Students and municipal employees fee waived - contact [email protected] for details.
DRAFT AGENDA
Thursday, August 20
Time Topic
9:00 Welcome & Introductions
9:15 Good Bad and Ugly Streams
9:45 What is Stream Restoration
10:30 Streams Restoration Construction Tools
11:00 Break
11:15 Construction Sequence and Sediment and Erosion Control
11:45 Construction Equipment and Labor
12:30 Lunch and Transport
1:00 Field Creekline Channel Dimension and Vegetation
2:00 Creek Walk Stream Concerns and Measurements
3:00 Group ideas discussion
4:00 Depart Pepperell Creek
Friday, August 21
Time Topic Presenter
9:00 Stream Questions AUWRC
9:15 Stream Restoration Methods
9:45 Sediment and Erosion Control Supply
10:30 Break
11:00 Master planning and Phasing
11:30 Infrastructure Consideration
12:00 Priority Levels and Grading
12:30 Lunch
1:00 Concept Design Pepperell – Groups
2:00 Innovative Construction Ideas and More
3:00 Optional: Concept Design at Pepperell
Optional Demo on Construction Site Elmore Alabama: Saturday, August 22
Time Topic P
8:00 Mortar Creek Intro and Safety
8:30 SEC/3-D Excavation Grading
9:30 Transplants and Supply Skid Steer
10:30 Hauling and Construction Production
11:30 Value added Construction Engineering and Surveying
12:00 Monitoring
12:30 Lunch Onsite Provide
1:00 Discussion and Questions Zone 2
1:30 Post Construction Observation Zone 1 North
3:00 Pre-Construction RLA Zone 3
5:00 Depart
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION: This workshop is intended to introduce contractors and young designers to a practical view of stream restoration construction. The course has an optional third day of a construction demo sponsored by 5SSR, RiverSHARED, Elmore Sand and Gravel and Cowin Equipment Rental.
Participants will learn what stream restoration is. Participants will be introduced to why we do stream restoration as an industry and community. Stream restoration construction will be presented in contrast to standard site civil grading. This course will also provide the participants with information and a pathway to enter the stream restoration construction industry or improve current construction processes to optimize efficiencies as a stream restoration contractor.
DATES: Thursday – Friday August 20-21, 2026 (Optional field day on August 22nd)
LOCATION: City of Opelika Public Library | 1100 Glenn St, Opelika, AL 36801
DETAILS:
Hosted by: Auburn University Water Resources Center
Led by: David Bidelspach, RiverSHARED/5SSR, Wade Burcham, RiverSHARED/5020, Mike Akins, Creekline, Jeremy Dickey/Cowin Equipment Rental
CEU’s available | Lunch provided
Cost for all 3 days: $300, Students and municipal employees fee waived - contact [email protected] for details.
DRAFT AGENDA
Thursday, August 20
Time Topic
9:00 Welcome & Introductions
9:15 Good Bad and Ugly Streams
9:45 What is Stream Restoration
10:30 Streams Restoration Construction Tools
11:00 Break
11:15 Construction Sequence and Sediment and Erosion Control
11:45 Construction Equipment and Labor
12:30 Lunch and Transport
1:00 Field Creekline Channel Dimension and Vegetation
2:00 Creek Walk Stream Concerns and Measurements
3:00 Group ideas discussion
4:00 Depart Pepperell Creek
Friday, August 21
Time Topic Presenter
9:00 Stream Questions AUWRC
9:15 Stream Restoration Methods
9:45 Sediment and Erosion Control Supply
10:30 Break
11:00 Master planning and Phasing
11:30 Infrastructure Consideration
12:00 Priority Levels and Grading
12:30 Lunch
1:00 Concept Design Pepperell – Groups
2:00 Innovative Construction Ideas and More
3:00 Optional: Concept Design at Pepperell
Optional Demo on Construction Site Elmore Alabama: Saturday, August 22
Time Topic P
8:00 Mortar Creek Intro and Safety
8:30 SEC/3-D Excavation Grading
9:30 Transplants and Supply Skid Steer
10:30 Hauling and Construction Production
11:30 Value added Construction Engineering and Surveying
12:00 Monitoring
12:30 Lunch Onsite Provide
1:00 Discussion and Questions Zone 2
1:30 Post Construction Observation Zone 1 North
3:00 Pre-Construction RLA Zone 3
5:00 Depart
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Where is it happening?
Opelika Public Library, Opelika, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherAuburn University Water Resources Center
