River restoration

River restoration is the repair of ecological processes and habitats in rivers altered by human activity. It may reconnect channels with floodplains, restore flows, or remove barriers and artificial structures.

Dam removal: The decommissioning and dismantling of a dam to restore river flow and connectivity. Removing a barrier can reopen habitat and restore sediment and water movement.
Riparian buffer: Vegetation alongside a waterway that intercepts runoff and supports riverbank habitat. Restoring bank vegetation reduces pollution and rebuilds shade and habitat.
River connectivity: The movement of water, organisms, sediment, and materials through and among river habitats. Restoration can reconnect habitats separated by dams, culverts, or channelization.
Kissimmee River Restoration: A large-scale Florida project that reconnected a channelized river with its floodplain. It illustrates the reversal of flood-control channelization through reconstruction and water management.
Restoration ecology: The science and practice of assisting the recovery of degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. Its principles frame what counts as ecological recovery in river projects.
Environmental flow: A managed water regime designed to sustain freshwater ecosystems and the benefits they provide. Flow schedules can restore seasonal cues and habitat conditions below dams.
River daylighting: The uncovering of a river that was previously routed through an underground pipe or culvert. Daylighting restores surface habitat where urban streams were buried.
Sediment transport: The movement of mineral and organic particles through a river system. Restored flows and barriers alter sediment delivery, erosion, and downstream habitat.
Elwha River restoration: The ecological recovery effort following removal of two dams on Washington's Elwha River. It documents rapid sediment movement and renewed access for migratory fish after dam removal.
Shifting baseline syndrome: The gradual acceptance of degraded environmental conditions as normal across generations. Historical loss can make restoration targets too modest or poorly grounded.

Linked from 26 pages