| Stream restoration has become an important approach for mitigating widespread degradation in aquatic systems.Humans approach restoration with a diversity of backgrounds and objectives, but most approaches assume that restoring structure will restore function.Here, a multidisciplinary approach was used to comparemeasurements of ecological function and stakeholderdefinitions of success at six river restoration sites. Across all sites, ecosystem function (i.e., denitrification potential and sedimentationrates)were not significantly affected by restoration.However, the effect of restoration varied across watersheds.Interview and Q-methodology results demonstratedthat diverse social and economic factors contribute to stakeholder assessments. Stakeholders used four frameworksfor determining success: science-driven, risk and resiliency, protecting propertyand matching an ideal past.Stream restoration can continue to be a sustainable management tool if we consider how stakeholders are currently collaborating and addressing their differences.Key Words:stream restoration, denitrification, sediment, Q-methodology, stakeholder |