Code N05 Year of Issue none Sector Hydro Morphology Other sector(s) Urban The complete description of the NWRM n5-_streambed_re-naturalization.pdf Summary Streambed (or riverbed) represents the floor of the river, including each riverbank. In the past, riverbeds were artificially reconstructed with concrete or big stones, therefore modifying flows and decreasing fauna habitat and vegetation diversity. Those modifications were aiming at flood prevention or supporting changes of agricultural practices for example. This has led to uniformed flows in the rivers and often having effect of reducing travel time along the river. Streambed re-naturalization consists in removing some concrete or inert constructions in the riverbed and on riverbanks, then replacing them with vegetation structures, in order to avoid these damages and restore biodiversity.The re-naturalization of river beds and banks could have a high impact on the erosion process. Stabilisation techniques are among the main measures to be implemented. The maximum impact is reached when the stabilisation technique restores the vegetation cover and the naturalness of the banks. Most of the time, techniques use plants for bank stabilization. According to their degree of complexity, these techniques can be grouped into two categories:- bank re-naturalization- plant engineeringBank re-naturalization is a stabilisation technique used to correct mild erosion problems and that does not require a high degree of expertise to be implemented.Plant engineering is defined as the techniques combining the principles of ecology and engineering to design and implement slope, bank and bank stabilisation works, using plants as raw materials for making vegetable frames. Illustration(s) River before renaturalizationRiver after renaturalizationSource: http://chandrashekharasandprints.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/restoring-an-urban-river-bed-to-its-natural-eco-system-a-singapore-experiment/ Possible benefits with level Benefits Level BP3 - Store river water Medium BP4 - Slow river water High BP5 - Increase evapotranspiration Low BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge High BP7 - Increase soil water retention Low BP9 - Intercept pollution pathways Medium BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery High BP11 - Improve soils Medium BP12 - Create aquatic habitat High BP13 - Create riparian habitat High BP14 - Create terrestrial habitats Low BP16 - Reduce peak temperature Medium BP17 - Absorb and/or retain CO2 Low ES1 - Water storage Low ES2 - Fish stocks and recruiting Low ES3 - Natural biomass production Medium ES4 - Biodiversity preservation High ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge Low ES7 - Flood risk reduction Medium ES8 - Erosion/sediment control High ES9 - Filtration of pollutants Medium ES10 - Recreational opportunities Medium ES11 - Aesthetic/cultural value Medium PO1 - Improving status of biology quality elements High PO2 - Improving status of physico-chemical quality elements Low 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 Medium 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 PO13 - Better management of fish stocks High PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss High Case study(ies) Revitalization of the upper Drau River in Austria Órbigo River ecological status improvement, Spain Small scale measures under the 'Waters neighborhood Days' in Hamburg, Germany Restoration of the Cerny Potok stream, Czech-Republic Renaturation of the Seymaz river, Switzerland Fluvial and ecosystem restoration of the Arga-Aragon Rivers, Spain Revitalisation of riverbanks and connection of hydraulic annexes alongside the Scarpe river in France Conservation on Lake Cerknica, Slovenia Restoration of river Hermance, France River basin management of the Ill, France Increasing water retention through afforestation, landscaping and reducing the stream gradient in Xiropotamos River Basin, Greece Full Context Pathway(aka Context) Default view Area(aka Level or Site) ALL Crosslinks Pair Record Grassed waterways Destination Context NSWRM(Sections) - Default view - ALL - 7463 Crosslink Type Proximity with Pair Record Grassed waterways Destination Context NSWRM(Sections) - Default view - ALL - 7476 Crosslink Type Proximity with