European Center for River Restoration
European rivers and their floodplains
are used for many purposes and, as such, are severely affected by human activity, possibly more than any other ecosystem.
Excessive loads of organic matter, nutrients and other contaminants have detrimentally affected most European rivers. Even though intensified wastewater treatment has significantly reduced the concentration of organic matter and phosphorus, the nitrogen concentration in European rivers has been increasing and has a general high level causing eutrophication in the marine environment. The main reason for that is the intensification of European agriculture and associated increased loading of nitrogen from fertilisers and manure. Damming, channelisation , embankment, straightening of rivers, together with water abstraction and land reclamation by drainage of wetlands and riparian areas, has compounded the problem.
Poor physical conditions have a negative impact on water quality because oxygenation and self-purification is less effective; the same time, habitats for the flora and fauna are limited in number and quality, and the aesthetic and recreational value of rivers may be greatly reduced. But the works that provoked the physical alteration of rivers (artificialization) have too often worsened the problem of bank/bed erosion, flooding and associated land-sliding, that was the main driver for such works. Today, we have to bear increasing maintenance costs and increasing damages. Read more...
News
Secretariat ECRR in the Netherlands
As per 1st January 2010 the secretariat of the European Centre for River Restoration (ECRR) is hosted by DLG Government Service for Land and Water Management in The Netherlands.
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Lelystad declaration
Download the Lelystad declaration draft during the seminar "Synergies between River Restoration and River Management focussing on Natura2000 and Ramsar sites" - Lelystad, The Netherlands, 28/29 May 2009.
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