Code
N11
Sector
Hydro Morphology
Other sector(s)
Urban
The complete description of the NWRM
Summary

A riverbank protection is an inert or living construction providing bank fixation but also an obstacle for the lateral connection of the river. Eliminating it consists in removing some parts of the bank protection, especially the inert one, in order to enhance lateral connections of the river, diversify flows (depth, substrate, and speed) and habitats, but also cap floods in the mainstream. It is a prerequisite for many other measures like re-meandering or widening, as well as initiating later channel migration and dynamics.

This measure is appropriate and very efficient in impounded large gravel riverbeds where gravel bars are drowned and shallow low-velocity habitats are virtually absent. In these impounded rivers, spawning and nursery habitats like shallow near-bank gravel bars, side channels, and backwaters are often the bottleneck for stream-type specific fish species. River banks have been heavily fixed and the potential for river restoration is limited due to uses like navigation, hydropower or flood protection and mitigation measures are restricted to the river banks.

Illustration(s)

Destroyed artificial riverbank, (Brasil)

Source: http://echogeo.revues.org/13596?lang=en

 

Possible benefits with level
Benefits Level
PO1 - Improving status of biology quality elements
Medium
PO2 - Improving status of physico-chemical quality elements
Medium
PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements
Medium
PO4 - Improving chemical status and priority substances
Medium
PO5 - Improving quantitative status
Low
PO6 - Improving chemical status
Low
PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration
Medium
PO8 - Prevent groundwater status deterioration
Low
PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks
Medium
PO10 - Protection of important habitats
High
PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure
High
PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry
High
PO13 - Better management of fish stocks
High
PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss
High
ES1 - Water storage
Medium
ES2 - Fish stocks and recruiting
Medium
ES3 - Natural biomass production
Medium
ES4 - Biodiversity preservation
Medium
ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge
Low
ES7 - Flood risk reduction
High
ES8 - Erosion/sediment control
Medium
ES9 - Filtration of pollutants
Medium
ES10 - Recreational opportunities
Medium
ES11 - Aesthetic/cultural value
Medium
BP1 - Store runoff
Low
BP2 - Slow runoff
Low
BP3 - Store river water
High
BP4 - Slow river water
High
BP5 - Increase evapotranspiration
Low
BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge
Low
BP7 - Increase soil water retention
Low
BP9 - Intercept pollution pathways
Medium
BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery
Medium
BP12 - Create aquatic habitat
Medium
BP13 - Create riparian habitat
Medium
BP17 - Absorb and/or retain CO2
Low

Case studies per NWRM