Building engineered structures, such as dams and dikes, has been the conventional approach to water management.  Some suggest that such "gray" infrastructure make way for "green" ecosystem-based approaches.  Margaret Palmer, Director of the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) co-authored in support of managing water in a green way.

Margaret Palmer, SESYNC Executive Director and Professor at the University of Maryland, and Kelly Hondula, SESYNC Faculty Research Assistant, collected information on 434 mitigation projects throughout West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. They found that criteria for projects to be deemed successful do not correspond with scientific standards for restoration.   For full story, click on link.

http://www.sesync.org/news/mitigation-of-appalachian-coal-mining-not-meeting-cwa-reqs