River restoration in Australia

Rivers are essential ecosystems

There continues to be an increase in the demand for water to cater to the growing population, and this demand has led to overexploitation of rivers leading to their degradation. This calls for river restoration projects and techniques that can be used to restore rivers. River restoration is essential in both the ecological and economic aspects of a country. 

Degradation of rivers

The diverse use of rivers and their floodplains with the dominant use as a source of fresh water is no secret. It is for this purpose that discharge characteristics and river habitats have been overexploited to meet human needs. In most cases, human beings interfere with river components unintentionally, and thus the aspect of river degradation becomes underestimated. 

What is river restoration?

River restoration aims to restore the natural and original state and operation of a river before human interference or degradation. River restoration involves the use of human interventions and techniques to restore the normal functioning of rivers. Various human activities interfere and contribute to river degradation, such as disposal of wastewater into rivers, and the construction of dams that interrupt the aquatic ecosystem.

River restoration aims to restore a river’s normal functioning by restoring the river’s originality and ecosystem. It is vital to concentrate on projects in the future that focus on river management techniques, particularly human activities that do not interfere with the river or its ecosystem. 

Why river restoration?

Rivers have been exploited to meet other human needs apart from a source of water. Rivers are primarily used for the production of hydropower and some are transformed into highways used for shipments. These functions have exploited rivers, thus the need for river restoration.

Functions of the river system

The table below shows river functions with their percentage: 

Problems in the river system and objectives for river restoration

The most common issues that affect river systems target safety, water quality and availability, and degradation in aquatic life and the ecosystem.

Common issues that affect river systems

• Changes in climate and hydrology affect river flows.
• The control of flow regimes by dams interferes with habitats.
• It is a challenge to restore pre-dam flow regimes.
• Funding of river infrastructure projects is a challenge.
• The high value of protecting rivers that are naturally not interfered with human activities as the EU does not recognize them.
• Lack of interdisciplinary approaches to protecting rivers.
• Riparian forests are affected due to interference with dams, deepening rivers, and a lack of river management strategies.
• Impact on native fish species such that exotic fish species take over due to changes in the river.

Psychological objectives

For river restoration to be accepted, the following are important

• Illustrate the benefits of restoration.
• Inform stakeholders and the public of the project.
• Offer solutions for identified problems affecting rivers.
• Collaborate with stakeholders for ways to implement a river restoration project.

Conclusion

Restoring river basins has also been an ongoing issue for authorities for the past decade. Environmental organizations and ecologists have also argued the importance of natural water systems in the ecosystem, thus conserving natural water systems. Ecological rehabilitation is under consideration for preserving water systems.

The conservation of nature is essential and a more significant part of sustainable water and managing river systems.

Nature serves as a vital building stone for flood protection, improving water quality, and economic growth. If this can be proven, then goals relating to conservation and restoration can be made possible.