Riverbed material renaturalization
Riverbed material represents the sediment eroded upstream, transported by the river and deposited on the river floor. It can be composed of coarse and/or fine material. Its re-naturalization consists in recovering the nature-like structure and composition of the bed load, in particular the equilibrium between coarse and fine sediment. In case of deficit of coarse sediment leading to river incision, the main objective is to level-up the riverbed with this type of sediment, by reactivating bank erosion in terrains contributing to this type of sediment. It should be noticed that in case of excess of fine sediment causing inundations, silting of hydro-electric dams or degradation of fish habitats, the main objective is to control erosion on slopes and riverbanks providing this type of sediment.
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Renaturalized riverbed, (France) Source: http://www.onema.fr/Les-jeudis-de-la-restauration,1432 |
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Explicative scheme for the principle of riverbed renaturalization (France) Source: http://www.syndicatdelaseiche.fr/entretenir-et-restaurer-les-cours/restaurer-le-lit-des-cours-d-eau/ |
Benefits |
Level![]() |
---|---|
PO2 - Improving status of physico-chemical quality elements | Medium |
PO4 - Improving chemical status and priority substances | Medium |
PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks | Medium |
PO10 - Protection of important habitats | Medium |
PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure | Medium |
PO13 - Better management of fish stocks | Medium |
PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss | Medium |
ES1 - Water storage | Medium |
ES2 - Fish stocks and recruiting | Medium |
ES3 - Natural biomass production | Medium |
ES7 - Flood risk reduction | Medium |
ES9 - Filtration of pollutants | Medium |
BP1 - Store runoff | Medium |
BP3 - Store river water | Medium |
BP4 - Slow river water | Medium |
BP9 - Intercept pollution pathways | Medium |
BP2 - Slow runoff | Medium |
PO8 - Prevent groundwater status deterioration | Low |
ES11 - Aesthetic/cultural value | Low |
BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery | Low |
PO1 - Improving status of biology quality elements | High |
PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements | High |
PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration | High |
ES4 - Biodiversity preservation | High |
ES8 - Erosion/sediment control | High |
BP12 - Create aquatic habitat | High |
BP13 - Create riparian habitat | High |
- Restructuring the effluent web in Italy
- Revitalization of the upper Drau River in Austria
- River restoration of the lower Aurino in Italy
- Restoration of the Odense river, Denmark
- Floodplain reconnection in the Vallei van de Grote Nete, Belgium
- Tullstorpsån rural development project in Sweden
- Fluvial and ecosystem restoration of the Arga-Aragon Rivers, Spain
- Restoration of river Hermance, France
- Revitalisation of the Borova stream, Czech Republic
- Improvement of the navigation conditions on the Danube between Calarasi and Braila, Romania
- Wachau and Danube restoration in Austria
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