Advances in River Restoration and Sediment Transport Management

Dear Colleagues,

Many of our rivers worldwide were impaired in the past through human interference including, but not limited to, monocausal engineering projects, and are in need of restoration. The aim of river restoration projects is to reverse river degradation and target an intact river ecosystem by removing artifical structures and reinstating natural abiotic and biotic processes. A highly important component of river restoration are the sediments present in the river. Natural river morphodynamics requires sufficient sediment availability. Often sediments are trapped in upstream reservoirs, causing a sediment deficit downstream which leads to a degraded riverbed through erosion. Restoring rivers which suffer from erosive processes is a particular challenge which requires well-conceived management concepts. On the other hand, due to climate change some rivers in the world also face challenges from increased flow and sediment discharges, thereby causing an excess of sedimentation processes, which in turn may endanger flood protection, navigation or hydropower generation.

This Special Issue aims to present solutions for river restoration, such as dam and weir decommissioning, removal of regulation structures (e.g., riprap, groynes, guiding walls), reconnection of side channels, and implementation of nature-based solutions in river engineering. The analysis of the effects of the presented solutions may consider benefits for abiotic processes (e.g., flow dynamics, morphodynamics) as well as biotic indicators of restoration success, such as fish or macroinvertebrates. Moreover, the understanding of sediment transport and morphodynamics in rivers, from fundamental transport processes to sediment budgets to management aspects in rivers and reservoirs will be targeted in this Special Issue. Studies investigating the role of sediment transport processes and morphodynamics in the context of river restoration projects are therefore particularly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Michael Tritthart
Guest Editor

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• river restoration
• sediment transport
• hydrodynamics
• morphodynamics
• ecohydraulics
• field measurements
• numerical modelling
• hydraulic engineering
• rivers
• reservoirs