Urban River Basin Enhancement Methods – A Call for Participation

Urban River Basin Enhancement Methods – 

A Call for Participation

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“Urban River Basin Enhancement Methods” (URBEM) is a research project of the European Commission to develop a methodology for the rehabilitation of urban rivers. It follows the recent passage of the ”Water Framework Directive” (WFD) of the European Parliament and of its Council, the equivalent of the US “Clean Water Act”. The Department of Landscape Construction of the Dresden University of Technology and the Institut für ökologische Raumentwicklung in Dresden, Germany, will prepare “Case studies of successful river rehabilitation” and are issuing a call for participation.

Worldwide, two communities that have implemented successful river rehabilitation programs will be chosen from each of the following countries; Austria, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the USA. Case studies will share experiences from the programs in these communities through (1) documentation on the World Wide Web, (2) an illustrated publication of the European Commission, and (3) presentation at an international conference in Europe.

Case studies will not only feature the river and riverfront of a community but also the tributaries and sub-catchment areas that affect water quality and flow in the main stem of the river.  Management of rivers basins to achieve “good ecological and chemical status” is a new edict of the EU Water Framework Directive, and can be achieved only through a basin-wide approach. 

Successful river rehabilitation is more than the restoration of a river section.  It involves a comprehensive effort by municipal governments to protect and restore water quality and flow, and the ecological value and biodiversity of water as an ecosystem. It also includes recognition of the amenity value of rivers, as well as social and economic planning implications.

 Water quality – Over the past decades many communities have successfully improved the chemical quality of surface waters through upgraded sewage treatment. Previously, many rivers had been degraded to little more than open sewers, and cities often turned their backs to their waterfront. Improved sewage treatment makes it possible for the public to benefit from clean water in urban rivers.  However, overflows during storm events from combined sewer systems continue to be a problem, although many cities have taken corrective steps, installing separate storm sewers, attenuating storm-water volumes, and encouraging decentralized storm-water treatment to reduce non-point source pollution.

Ecological Value and Biodiversity - Chemical water quality improvements have resulted from advanced sewage treatment. The next step is to strive for the “maximum ecological potential” (WFD) of rivers, by protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems to improve “biological quality”. Biological quality combines objectives to improve water quantity and quality, with objectives to restore species abundance and diversity.  Other “hydromorphological” aspects emphasise the ecological continuum, in protecting the migration of fauna and spawning and breeding grounds. Several cities have achieved remarkable success by providing fish passages, protecting floodplains, re-establishing riparian vegetation, constructing wetlands and re-naturalizing stream courses. 

Amenity Value - Both historic paintings and modern postcards illustrate the scenic importance of a river to a city, appreciated by residents and visitors alike.  Areas of water highlight views and landmarks and create major prospects and vistas. The river itself has often played a central role in the history of a city, and historical sites along the river attest to this. The special aesthetic values associated with the riverfront are reflected in substantially higher property values. 

Social and Economic Well-being – An important role of municipal government is to protect public health and safety. Flooding, resulting in the possible loss of life and property damage is often a major concern along rivers. Municipalities have found a range of measures make a successful flood control program.  These may include the construction of levies, flood proofing of structures, and flood warning as well as stormwater control through runoff detention and other devices. A EU objective is for communities to develop a transparent, all-inclusive decision-making process that integrates stakeholders and the community at large, and that results in a well-informed public. 

Cities also have assisted public advocacy and stewardship programs by creating stream partnerships and by encouraging environmental education. Many parks departments have initiated programs to ensure better access to the water for all its citizens.  However, some urban waterfronts are in areas of towns where changes in land use have let to abandonment and decay. Here waterfront development programs can offer opportunities for adaptive reuse, increases in real property values and a general upgrade in the quality of life for neighbourhoods.

Summary – A river can and should be a wonderful asset to a city. Even rivers and riverfronts that have suffered serious deterioration can become major attractions. The objective of case studies in the EU URBEM project is to highlight cities where successful programs have been carried out as examples for others. A call for participation will go out to selected cities chosen to highlight internationally what can be achieved locally.