How can a river be hydrologically restored? (original) (raw)
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And Challenges in River Restoration – the
2016
www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/18/2449/2014/ doi:10.5194/hess-18-2449-2014 © Author(s) 2014. CC Attribution 3.0 License. Morphological, hydrological, biogeochemical and ecological changes
A systematic approach to river restoration
Rivers have been subjected to severe human impacts, which compromise aquatic biodiversity and reduce the quality and quantity of water available. The effectiveness of programs for environmental rehabilitation of aquatic ecosystems requires a tailored restoration approach that is based on sound scientific knowledge of processes and mechanisms and draws from the experience of previous successful interventions. The preparation of a recovery plan requires diagnostic and monitoring tools. Additionally, consistent public policies, effective enforcement, structured prevention, planned monitoring and targeted awareness campaigns should be an integral part of the solution. Thus, the work described herein aimed to develop a systematic approach to river recovery projects. It is composed of four main stages: (a) elaboration of a summary matrix, listing the problems of rivers and possible solutions; (b) development of a diagnostic tool to guide the systematic collection of data for assessing the...
Water Resources Research, 2005
1] River restoration is at the forefront of applied hydrologic science. However, many river restoration projects are conducted with minimal scientific context. We propose two themes around which a research agenda to advance the scientific basis for river restoration can be built. First, because natural variability is an inherent feature of all river systems, we hypothesize that restoration of process is more likely to succeed than restoration aimed at a fixed end point. Second, because physical, chemical, and biological processes are interconnected in complex ways across watersheds and across timescales, we hypothesize that restoration projects are more likely to be successful in achieving goals if undertaken in the context of entire watersheds. To achieve restoration objectives, the science of river restoration must include (1) an explicit recognition of the known complexities and uncertainties, (2) continued development of a theoretical framework that enables us to identify generalities among river systems and to ask relevant questions, (3) enhancing the science and use of restoration monitoring by measuring the most effective set of variables at the correct scales of measurement, (4) linking science and implementation, and (5) developing methods of restoration that are effective within existing constraints. Key limitations to river restoration include a lack of scientific knowledge of watershed-scale process dynamics, institutional structures that are poorly suited to large-scale adaptive management, and a lack of political support to reestablish delivery of the ecosystem amenities lost through river degradation. This paper outlines an approach for addressing these shortcomings.
The impact of changes in the hydrographic network on river discharge
hamburg.baw.de
Abstract. One of the dangers for wetlands in river valleys is the over drying of the organic soil caused by the drainage works carried out in the past. Such situation can be find in the Biebrza National Park (BPN), situated in the Northeast Poland. The restoration of the hydrology is ...
Rehabilitation of large rivers: references, achievements and integration into river management
Archiv fur …, 2005
The physical degradation of large regulated rivers in Europe and North America and the need for rehabilitation have become issues since the 1980s. Over the past years we have greatly increased our understanding of the ecological functioning of natural rivers, evaluated the ecological impacts of river regulation, and established various approaches for river rehabilitation and restoration. Complete restoration of large rivers may be a utopian idea because of the manifold functions they serve. It is not surprising, therefore, that rehabilitation attempts so far have only recovered stretches or certain features of rivers. The steps to be taken now are to share our expertise on river functioning, river management and rehabilitation, and to put this expertise into practice. This paper gives an overview of recent progress in Europe and North America structured along the following main questions:
The need for river management and stream restoration practices to integrate hydrogeomorphology
The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe canadien, 2017
D epartement de biologie, chimie et g eographie, Universit e du Qu ebec a Rimouski Simon Mass e D epartement de biologie, chimie et g eographie, Universit e du Qu ebec a Rimouski Key Messages Fish habitat restoration needs to consider hydrogeomorphic concepts, which is not always the case as several misconceptions exist in river restoration guidelines. There is a major gap in the transfer of knowledge between academics and decision makers involved in stream restoration for fish habitat in Quebec. Adopting a freedom space for river management approach, where possible, would be a wise and much-needed change in stream restoration for fish habitat. There is growing support amongst scientists worldwide about the need for a shift in river management approaches to include hydrogeomorphic processes. However, the degree to which these concepts are transferred to governmental agencies and practitioners varies widely. In Quebec, for example, many stream restoration projects are based on the (incorrect) assumption that river mobility and its inevitable consequences (bank erosion of meanders, presence of woody debris in the channel) are problematic for salmonids. This paper presents examples drawn from current guidelines on stream restoration for fish habitat in Quebec to demonstrate the need to improve the knowledge exchange among scientists and decision makers about the positive impact of river mobility and large wood dynamics on biodiversity. Our observations reveal that existing guidelines for stream restoration in Quebec need to be revised to better integrate hydrogeomorphic concepts and to no longer assume that maintaining rivers in a static state is beneficial for fish. Adopting the "freedom space for rivers" approach would likely result in improved habitat as it combines natural processes related to mobility, flooding, and riparian wetland connectivity to determine the minimal space around rivers where development should not be allowed, thus allowing river processes to be restored.
What river morphology after restoration? The methodology VALURI
International Journal of River Basin Management, 2012
This paper proposes a tool which river managers may need to ascertain whether the key idea of River Restoration is valid, i.e. that rivers in more natural status are desirable not only for pure environmental reasons, but also to combat flood and geomorphic risk. The point addressed is how to predict the morphology and geometry that a river will assume after the application of a River Restoration project which foresees significant changes in the system of defence and exploitation works as well as morphological adjustments (e.g. reconnection of an incised main channel with the surrounding ex-floodplain). To this aim we developed a semi-quantitative methodology that integrates several differing criteria: from historical analysis of geomorphic evolution, expert-based mechanistic reasoning, checking with empirical qualitative formulas and analytical support from fluvial geomorphology and classic hydraulics. The development of the methodology has taken place on a case study along the 80 km of Chiese River, downstream of Idro lake, in northern Italy. Although the product to be considered is just a pilot one, we see it as a promising tool, which also opens several challenging questions suited for further fascinating research work.
A General Protocol for Restoration of Regulated Rivers
Regulated Rivers: Research & Management, 1996
Large catchment basins may be viewed as ecosystems in which natural and cultural attributes interact. Contemporary river ecology emphasizes the four-dimensional nature of the river continuum and the propensity for riverine biodiversity and bioproduction to be largely controlled by habitat maintenance processes, such as cut and fill alluviation mediated by catchment water yield. Stream regulation reduces annual flow amplitude, increases baseflow variation and changes temperature, mass transport and other important biophysical patterns and attributes. As a result, ecological connectivity between upstream and downstream reaches and between channels, ground waters and floodplains may be severed. Native biodiversity and bioproduction usually are reduced or changed and non-native biota proliferate.