Landscape ecology practice by small scale river conservation groups

River–floodplain systems, and riparian forests in particular, offer physical contributions to human society such as flood mitigation and the maintenance of water quality, social benefits including the opportunity for recreation and solitude, as well as numerous ecological services. However, midwestern USA river landscapes have undergone much land-use change over time, such as widespread logging, the net loss of grasslands and wetlands, urbanization pressure, and increases in anthropogenic sedimentation. With its focus on spatial and temporal changes, landscape ecology is ideally suited to assess and quantify these riverlands modifications and it is currently used at the national, state, and sub-state level in efforts to restore or manage river and riparian landscapes. This two-part study explores the use of landscape ecology in smaller scale river conservation. First, we interviewed five locally-based, Midwestern non-profit conservation groups that were accomplishing significant river conservation and management work without intricate ecological plans. We found a tacit knowledge of fundamental landscape ecology concepts, and active interpretation to fit particular environmental situations. The groups were receptive to increased assistance from academic ecology, but the content must be clear, succinct, and easily integrated into frontline initiatives. To accomplish this goal, effort is needed from ecologists to construct new methods of delivering such information in an accessible and cost-effective manner. Second, we briefly explore land-use scenarios — based on realistic forest management agendas along the Wisconsin River (USA) — as one possible means of using applied science to assist local conservation efforts in prioritization of land parcels. Various land management scenarios to reinstate floodplain forest often produced similar improvements in metrics of landscape connectivity but differed markedly in the number of landowners affected.