*5.2. Replicating Natural Channels*

Government agencies and regulators now demand higher standards of river relocations. This is evident in several of the case studies presented above. Not only must the diversion not harm the river environment up-and-downstream, but the river relocation itself must eventually behave and function like a natural river channel. There is typically a conflict between establishing these natural values in diversions, and the functionality or engineering stability of the river relocation channel [91]. For example, smooth uniform channel beds do not encourage species diversity within the channel [92] ye<sup>t</sup> provide the most efficient flow conveyance.
