River restoration in five dimensions

✍ Scribed by P.J. Boon

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 64 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1052-7613
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0755(199801/02)8:1<257::aid-aqc281>3.0.co;2-c

✦ Synopsis

1. This paper provides a synthesis of the information presented at Ri6er Restoration '96 under a series of headings-described here as five 'dimensions'.

2. The conceptual dimension addresses the motivation for restoration, and whether intervention by restoration should happen at all. Even when river restoration projects are motivated by particular sectoral interests, they should be set within a broader environmental framework.

3. The spatial dimension considers the lateral, longitudinal, and vertical connectivity within river systems, and the relationship between restoration and the spatial functioning of rivers. There is a growing acceptance of the importance not only of connections between river channels and their adjacent floodplains, but also of the need to take account of river processes operating at the catchment scale.

4. The temporal dimension describes both the importance of river history when attempting to reconstruct past river landscapes, and the requirement for post-project appraisal once a scheme is completed. Systems of river classification and evaluation are essential for pre-project planning and for post-project appraisal.

5. River restoration often focuses on the technological dimension, and a wide array of engineering techniques are currently used both on river channels and the adjacent land. Analytical techniques such as mathematical modelling and GIS are now commonly applied to restoration projects, but it is important that sophisticated analysis is matched by a base of sound scientific data.

6. The presentational dimension plays a valuable role in river restoration, as restoration is unlikely to succeed without the support of a wide cross-section of society. However, whilst river restoration can bring a range of benefits, it must never be portrayed as an alternative to maintaining high quality in undegraded rivers.