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SUMMARY 13 tive aquatic ecosystem restoration and, in some cases, a valuable source of volunteer labor to accomplish restoration. A new emphasis on resource stewardship and restoration cannot succeed without public understanding and support. Thus, educa- tional programs aimed at raising the level of public knowledge and comprehension of aquatic ecosyste-m restoration rationales, goals, and methods should receive adequate government funding. The committee believes that hydrological advisory services should be operated by states or federal agencies to provide technical assis- tance to groups interested in stream and river restoration. Universi- ties with experts in natural resources or hydrology and water re- sources institutes, based at universities in every state, also should contribute technical assistance required for the restoration of aquatic ecosystems through free or at-cost expert hydrological and biological advisory services. CONCLUSION Without an active and ambitious restoration program in the United States, our swelling population and its increasing stresses on aquatic ecosystems will certainly reduce the quality of human life for present and future generations. By embarking now on a major national aquatic ecosystem restoration program, the United States can set an example of aquatic resource stewardship that ultimately will also impxove the management of other resource types and will set an international example of environmental leadership. REFERENCES Benke, A. C. 1990. A perspective on America's vanishing streams. J. Am. Benthol. Soc. 9(1):77-78. Bradshaw, A. D. 1983. The reconstruction of ecosystems. J. Appl. Ecol. 20:1-17. Clean Water Act of 1977. P.L. 95-217, Dec. 27, 1977, 91 Stat. 1566. Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990. P.L. 101-624. Kusler, J. A., and M. E. Kentula, eds. 1989. Wetland Creation and Restoration: The Status of the Science. Vol. I-II. U.S. EPA/7600/3-89/038. U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, fire. U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), National Park Service. 1982. The Nationwide Rivers Inventory, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 1990. The Quality of Our Natiori s Water. EPA 440/4-90-005, Washington, D.C.