Abstract Submission: Ecosystem and Stream Restoration has been done for decades to improve habitat, fish passage and water quality but very rarely does a project focus on community revival and mental health treatment. The future of ecosystem restoration includes using ecosystem restoration as a tool for mental health treatment through connection to the emotion of wild awe. Wild awe allows humans to be more grounded and humbler. Treatment of mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder could be improved by increased connection to wild awe. Scheduled and routine journeys into ecosystem restoration areas could increase connection to wild awe in urban environments. Urbanization has disconnected people from nature and crime rates have increased with disconnection from nature. Communities planned around wild awe could produce positive results related to mental health treatment and reduced crime rates. Ecosystem restoration will be achieved in many urban environments by the removal of concrete channels and the replacement of a 4-stage corridor for restoration and a linear park and side channel wetlands. Ecosystem restoration will improve fish passage, floodplain connectivity and decrease flood risk. The ecosystem restoration will also incorporate a recreational activity called “Fishing Links”. “Fishing Links” is a concept to promote native fish communities in natural ecosystems and restore wonderment and awe to the people connected to the ecosystem restoration area. A “guardian” program incorporates local at-risk groups for maintenance and stewardship of the “Fishing Links” courses. Community revival and mental health treatment are being used as a goal for an ecosystem restoration project that relies on the restoration of ecohydraulics to maximize the wonderment and awe of the restored ecosystem. These projects are being done in conjunction with many partners and stakeholders through RiverSHARED.org.
